Featured Photo by Nokomis Farmers Market
5 Fantastic Farmers Markets In The Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN / St. Paul, MN
Summer, fall, and year round farmers markets are a great way to support local farmers, businesses, and communities. Farmers markets also yield some of the best produce, goods, organic products, and handmade items of great quality and freshness. Whether you want to stock up on fruits and vegetables during the summer or fall, grab some canned or preserved goods that can last all year long, or find the perfect handmade gift for someone special or yourself, farmers markets have it all and are popular in both rural and urban areas.
If you don’t know where to start, you can likely find a farmers market near you with a simple search. But, you could also add a trip to the farmers market to your vacation plans the next time you find yourself on the Great River Road. If you live near the Twin Cities, or you are traveling the Minnesota leg of the Great River Road, this region of Minnesota is a haven for farmers markets, with many running all year round. Here are some farmers markets recommendations in the Twin Cities region to check out this year.
Photo by Minneapolis Farmers Market
This Minnesota farmers market laid its roots in 1876 with a mission to connect farmers and gardeners to the area communities. Today, the Minneapolis Farmers Market continues with a similar philosophy, aiming to build a sense of community over a shared love of food and goods. With over 200 growers on the weekend, it is the largest farmer and producer managed market in Minnesota producing one of the greatest selections of fresh produce, plants and locally made products.
Open daily, rain or shine, all year round, the Minneapolis Farmers Market has all sorts of products and goods from produce and plants to eggs and meat and ready to eat products. Additionally, the farmers and growers are happy to share where their product came from, how it was treated, and how to prepare or use it. The MPLS Market also partners with the Nicollet Mall Market to provide an inclusive space for fresh produce, flowers, and local goods to the downtown area. It features goods from more than 60 local farmers and growers on Thursday between June and October.
Photo by Saint Paul Farmers Market
Like most farmers markets, the Saint Paul Farmers Market aims to bridge the gap between local growers and the nearby communities. But, the SPFM is one of the best in the Twin Cities area at bringing people together over food and products. Along with providing access to healthy foods and hand grown and crafted goods, the market offers a variety of other popular add-ins like Golden’s Bagel Stand and many other prepared food stands, live music, a donut stand, and a scavenger hunt and other fun kid activities from Friendchip Farm. These extras draw in the community and make supporting local businesses and growers an easy and rewarding task.
The Saint Paul Farmers Market also only offers fresh, locally grown produce to be sold directly from the grower to the consumer, which is often a rare exchange to be a part of. You can buy baked goods, artisan foods, flowers and plants, various dairy and meat products, sauces, canned goods, soaps, and much more at the market, which is held every Saturday and Sunday during the summer season. Luckily, the SPFM also runs several markets throughout the metro with a total of 20 different locations, plus a winter market, so you can visit any time of the year to check out what they have to offer.
Photo by Midtown Farmers Market
The Midtown Farmers Market is a smaller market in South Minneapolis open every Saturday and Tuesday evenings. While a smaller market, the Midtown Farmers Market is big on creating a community-based market where all consumers have equal access to healthy, locally produced food. This is why in 2006, the Midtown Market was the first in the area to accept SNAP-EBT, helping more people have access to affordable foods and goods.
At the Midtown Farmers Market, you will find different products and goods depending on the day you go and on which vendors are attending. Typically, vendors sell goods including fresh vegetables and fruits, plants, meats, cheese, eggs, baked goods, bath and body products, gifts, and ready to eat food. A great way to stay updated is to visit the Midtown Farmers Market Facebook page to see what goods are available the day you go. This is also a good rule of thumb to follow before visiting any farmers markets to learn more about the vendors and about any rules you should follow.
Photo by Kingfield Farmers Market
Neighborhood Roots is a nonprofit that brings Minnesota not one, but three farmers markets: the Fulton Farmers Market, Kingfield Farmers Market, and Nokomis Farmers Market. Founded in 2001, Neighborhood Roots has continued to help these and other farmers markets grow in nearby communities. Their goal is to bring neighbors together to buy, eat and learn about local food while supporting local farmers and businesses.
Each of the markets takes place on a different day of the week and they each provide a variety of goods with their own unique twists. The Fulton Farmers Market is open on Saturdays in southern Minneapolis providing traditional & heirloom vegetables, delicious fruits, bread & pastries, and entertainment. The Kingfield Farmers Market is a produce-focused market open on Sundays at MLK Park where you can buy fruits and vegetables, prepared foods, coffee, and handmade crafts. The Nokomis Farmers Market is located near Nokomis Lake and opens on Wednesday evenings for an afternoon of shopping local and socializing.
Photo by Mill City Farmers Market
Open outdoors every Saturday from May to October and indoors from November to April, the Mill City Farmers Market is another great market to check out in the Twin Cities area. Found right next to the Guthrie Theatre, the Mill City Farmers Market works with over 100 local farmers, food makers and artists to sustain local and organic food options in an educational, inclusive marketplace. The market features artwork, body care products, produce and plants, meat, dairy, books, jewelry, and plenty of prepared foods and beverages.
The Mill City Farmers Market is additionally unique because it provides many other opportunities for learning about food and exciting entertainment and activities at the market. In past years the market has offered free cooking classes with professional chefs, learn about seasonal produce, listen to live music or try outdoor yoga all while at the market, but you can visit the website to see what is planned for each week. Plus there are activities and programs for kids! Even if you are crunched for time and have to skip the excitement, MCFM has an option for pre-ordering your groceries from the market, so you can efficiently shop the market all year long.
Content Writer and Social Media Coordinator. I paint, listen to music, and play with my dogs a lot. When I’m not doing all that, I love to read and try new things.
