Has Your Local Farmers' Market Opened Yet?

Happy Monday, and happy spring! We are curious: has your local farmers' market opened yet?

Many markets around the country are open all year (hello, California!). Others, like in Florida and some in Texas, are open during the winter growing season and actually closing right now. Others of us in the North are still waiting for the first market of the season. We had a special plant and garden farmers market a couple weeks ago in our neighborhood, but we are still waiting for the first delivery of real spring produce.

What about you? Where do you live, and what is your market scene like right now?

(Image: Flickr member thedigitel licensed for use under Creative Commons)

Comments (22)

The Boulder, Colorado Farmers Market opened the first Saturday of April (we had a lot of snow and cold days the first few weeks). The Wednesday version of the market opened the first week in May. And the unofficial farmers market at the 29th street mall on Sundays opens in mid-June.

The FreshFarm markets in DC have a DuPont Circle Sunday market that's open year round... but I can't ever seem to get there (10am-1pm is prime snoozing time). They opened up their Foggy Bottom location at the beginning of April and I've been in heaven ever since! (It's on the way to the subway from work, so I just get cash and stock up for the week)

Farmer's markets close in places that are not California!?!?!? This is why I can never move. : '-( :::tear:::

Chicago--open.

Me--ashamed,

because I haven't been to one yet.

I have been really wrapped up with "inside work" and hope to spend some quality time devoted to the newly green natural world around me!!!!

The Portsmouth, NH market opened 2 weeks ago (the 1st Sat. of May). Not much of a selection -- greens, seedlings, etc -- but still it's nice to be able to go.

The one here in Annapolis, Maryland, has been open since the first weekend in April. Rules on the books read that it can only sell things grown/produced in this county, and since we've had a long, cold, rainy winter/spring...well, there hasn't been much outside of the bakeries and the crafters (not that I mind them, I just generally don't go to the farmers' market for that kind of stuff).

Two weekends ago I got some yummy fresh asparagus, this past weekend I got some spring onions and a couple bunches of lettuce (there were other leafy greens as well, and a smattering of Swiss chard at one table), but the strawberries haven't shown up yet, nor have tomatoes. Generally when the strawberries start to come in it's a sign that spring has really come (they started mid-April last year) and the harvest season is really starting, and it looks like that may not be until almost the start of summer!

in florida the farmers markets are scaling back after thriving all winter (late fall and early spring). thankfully we planted our raised bed late and will have tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers for the first half of the summer.

The Asheville City Market opened April 18, but I wasn't able to make it until the following week. So much beauty! Wonderful produce, vendors galore. Lots in season here in the south. I put together a little picture story of my adventure, which can be viewed here: Full (Gastronomic) Tilt.

Luckily we have several farmers markets in the Santa Barbara, CA area weekly, year round... I feel so fortunate to always have access to fresh produce grown locally!

not for a month... as a relatively recent new england transplant, this is shocking and disturbing to me...

Yep! Ours opened on Saturday. I went but was disappointed by the cherries. Maybe next weekend will be better!

Ours opened up last week but I didn't find out until this weekend. You know I'll be there tomorrow. I doubt there is much beyond greens available. Maybe radishes, spring onions, and garlic too. I know the breadman will be there and he's my favorite. Might get some very early cherries. I have spotted the cherries on my tree starting to blush a bit. Wont' be long now....

art -- it's ok, they just opened, you've got time. ;)

not much is available yet, the usual early-market things: asparagus, green garlic, rhubarb, some lettuce... really slim pickin's still.

The one in park forest, illinois just opened. They have two wonderful cheese vendors! Must get cheese every weekend now! :)

chicago only opened last week, and only a select few that are centrally located. the true neighborhood markets won't get rolling until june. you can find your local chicago-area market and its dates and hours on the local beet: http://www.thelocalbeet.com/

Sacramento has year'round markets on Saturday AND Sundays. Our budget may be a mess but California has one thing going for it!

Mine opens this Saturday!

I just got the job as the market manager, so I'm going to be busy...

Madison has been open about a month. We northerners brave the cold air for the biggest producers-only farmers' market in the nation!

Vancouver, BC just had its first farmer's market of the season last Saturday! hurrah!

Yes! The West End Farmer's Market in Alexandria, VA opened on May 3 and I've been there every Sunday since. It's open from 9am-1pm in Ben Brenman Park.

Usually don't open until June where I live in Massachusetts, and then close by Thanksgiving (if not before). It makes me sad. I miss the Union Square Greenmarket.

The one here @ the Cleveland Clinic opens next week