One of the great treasures of New York.
http://www.cenyc.org/HTMLGM/xmaingm.htm

Bring a very full wallet to this one - first place I've ever seen local apples $8/lb in season.

Best one is in Mountain View - year round, Sundays 9 am to 1pm, right across from the train station. We get our produce, cheeses and fresh breads, pick up beverages at one of the many local cafes, and have a picnic.

Not true about Ferry Building prices. You need to know farmers markets and appropriate pricing for produce, organic and not. Prices were fine, and in some cases very good. Especially for example, dried organic fruits, which were among the most exotic i've ever seen anywhere, and quite reasonable in price.

Actually, I do know farmer's market pricing - I've shopped at a variety of them weekly for about 15 yers now, and buy mainly organic. Ferry Building market hands down is the most expensive produce I've ever seen, including that in local specialty/upscale groceries. Perhaps it is all in perspective: mine is that apples, same variety and same quality, should not cost in San Francisco over twice what they cost in Mountain View.

sorry, but respectfully disagree. i've been a part of the calif. farmers markets since they began (early 80's), and was myself an oregon tilth certified organic grower in the 80's. stand by what i said. overall, better things there than at most farmers markets, and reasonable prices (OVERALL). one obviously needs to be a savy shopper wherever you go, including farmers markets.

update on hilo wednesday market
 

was great this week, as usual. wish the ones here in kauai were half as good. best finds were :
- longon. lychee like. small, brown, jumbo grape-sized. these were among the best longon i've ever tasted. $3/lb.
- rambutan (hairy lychee). a little late in the season, but still excellent, and way cheap at $1-$2/lb.
- mango. early (not hayden) varieties. some were great. $2/lb. (best mangoes though are from kauai's westside, where some of the trees still producing are over 100 years old).
- waimea strawberries. i like these better than any other kind. remind me of chandler variety that is no longer grown commercially in california. high acidity. $3/box.

We have a nice open air Saturday market here in Coppell from June to October. The downtown Dallas Farmers Market is also nice.

Fort Worth for years had one out of the old Tandy subway lot - not sure if they still run one down there or not (my mom would know).

There are also a couple of great daily "indoor" type Farmers Markets around - two I like are in Lake Dallas (off 35E by Corinth) and Euless (Glade Road - attached to the store with the AMAZING beer selection... and they also make wonderful sandwiches on weekdays at the deli counter in the attached convenience store)

I have been known to schedule extra time on the last day of a west coast jaunt to visit the market and haul home fresh veggies for dinner that night. I remember once checking my bag from SEA-DFW because I was carrying a bag full of fresh artichokes, asparagus, apples, and flowers.

Brisbane and Melbourne, Australia
 

Brisbane (QLD Australia) Foodies flock to the Farmers Markets – every 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month http://www.janpower.com/ Open air markets held outside the Powerhouse performing arts complex next to New Farm Park.

For seafood in Brisbane, Sam's just near the airport at the mouth of the Brisbane river is the go: http://www.sams.com.au/Locations.htm The queues here on Christmas Eve for prawns and crabs are such that they hire a band to keep the crowds happy, but gee is it worth it.

In Melbourne, Queen Victoria Markets http://www.qvm.com.au

Mad City Farmers Market
 

Wisconsin America's dairyland has the cheeses and vegtables that will truly amaze you.

Hilo - enjoyed the Wednesday morning farmer's market. Great fruits and for those who love Orchids, they hv Orchids for $8 a pot and lotsa variety. The cut flowers are also cheap. Bought a beautiful arranged bouquet of local flowers for only $5 for my B&B host.

Best Farmers' Markets?
 

Over the past few years, I've been a huge fan of farmers' markets, particularly when you can pick up fresh organic produce. Any suggestions of some of the better markets across the US?

Ann Arbor, Michigan, has a great Farmer's market. It is open Wednesdays and Saturdays. I go every Saturday that I'm not traveling somewhere. In the spring they have an excellent selection of plants, and through the summer all of the fresh produce you could ever hope for, most of it organic. It is pricey, but worth it, and most people are really friendly. It is one of my favourite things about living here.

Britt

Anywhere in central or southern NJ from late June to early September. I don't know about organic as I don't do organic. I am sure there are good ones in the northern part of the state, but I don't go there much and certainly not for farmers markets when I have two or three within 5 miles of where I live.

http://www.state.nj.us/jerseyfresh/

I love Wednesday Santa Monica Farmers Market. All of the best restaurants in town buy their produce there. One can be assured of finding great fruit and vegetables when dining out on Wednesday nights.
http://santa-monica.org/farmers_market/wednesday.htm

Central/Southern Jersey has some great farmers' markets; however, I really love the one on Fairfax in LA!

Union Square, Manhattan, four days a week.

Best Turkeys ever.

I beileve it's all organic too, though may be wrong on that one.

Thanks for the Ann Arbor reminder! Been a few years since I've been to that one, but I remember loving it so. I'll definitely have to try Santa Monica and Hilo next time I'm there ... :)

..and should you ever find yourself in VCE,--
shop at the Rialto. ^
(Apologies to the OP,as I know this question was directed to U.S. Farmers' Markets.)

Aaah...but who could ever be upset about someone mentioning Venice, or anywhere else in the whole of Veneto? You're right, excluding the international scene was an incomprehensible misstep! Thanks for putting me back on track ...

You are very kind, JBlaine
Thanks

Soulard Farmer's Market in St. Louis.

Farmer's Market at the Corner of Fairfax & 3rd in L.A. ^ As a matter of fact it has turned more than just an ordinary open air produce facility as Barnes & Nobles, brand name clothing shops, and many others have popped up in the territory just to name a few.

There's a really lovely farmer's market in downtown Olympia, WA. Everything is WA grown and much of it is organic. They're also open most of the year, Th-Su. Probably one of the better farmer's markets I've been to, at least relative to the size of the town. Johnson Berry Farms (which also has a stall up at Pike Place) has some of the best raspberries you'll ever have. I've seriously just eaten an entire 1/2 pint to myself at one sitting.

Here's an old thread for reference:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=308251

cordelli, not everything in Union Square is organic, but the people who work at the stands are usually happy to tell you if it is or not.

While Union Square is the biggie of the NYC markets, there are many others throughout the city--you can see the schedule and map here:
http://www.cenyc.org/site/

Santa Barbara Farmer's Market in downtown SB. Saturday morning from 8 or so to 12:30pm. Until late Fall I believe (and late Fall in S. Cal is sometime around Thanksgiving)

And the good thing about Union Square, is most of the vendors will be more then happy to tell you which of the others is not organic, and how to tell.

Forget my absolute favorite - Arles on Saturday mornings

Campbell and Los Gatos on Sundays just outside San Jose, CA. fresh produce, organic produce and eggs. Great seafood. All brought in fresh from the fields/ocean.

Thanks for the previous thread ... very useful!

Borough Market, London. Open to the public only on Fridays and Saturdays. The usual outstanding array of meats, fish, and veggies....plus phenomenal cheeses, breads, sausages, etc. from various points of the UK and elsewhere in Western Europe.

(And if you get bored with the market, there are several pubs within a block or two!)

Napa. I bought some white peaches from the woman who grew them. Three years later I have yet to find any that compare.

Sunday morning Hollywood farmers' market (intersection of Selma and Ivar) and Wednesday morning Santa Monica farmers' market. Each has great seasonal produce (plus bread, pastries, etc.) all year round.

Seattle - Saturday morning - U District Market - at 50th NE and University Way. Go early for best parking or take the bus from Downtown.

Wednesday - Columbia City Market - South Seattle. Yum and full of great restaurants for dinner afterwards.

Sunday - West Seattle is very much like U. District - don't forget to check out Eats or Cupcake Royale. Lots of free parking around and much less hectic than U. District.

The Seattle Markets are well run and mostly all organic. There are very strict rules of what can and cannot be sold, so no gack or crafts.

In E. Bay --
I am partial to the Oakland Farmer's Market and lunch at cafe 817 and if we can't make that, Berkeley Saturday market, but a bit too, well, dogmatic.

France and beyond:
In Paris, I'm fond of the Sunday Raspail Market on Boul. Raspail (all organic). The one up by Batignolles on Saturday is also good. I like the little markets everywhere as well. Some are not so little...

The Marylbone Farmer's Market on Sundays behind the Waitrose is great and not touristy like Borough. You can actually walk around and feel like you are about to get trampled.

I am never going to recommend the Seattle Pike Place Market, because very little of it is locally grown and its aimed at tourists.

As usual, I'm going suggest you all go to egullet.com and look up farmer's markets.

They know their stuff.

lala

I second the Borough Market (although I do understand lala's feeling of potentially being trampled...somehow the yummy chorizo sandwich makes up for that!).

I am very partial to Portland's Farmer's Market, particularly the Saturday market at Portland State -- great produce, cheese, meats, oysters, fresh fish & food demonstrations!

I agree. I adore Seattle's Markets. Worth the trip. :)

Santa Rosa, Ca. Sat. am Vets parking lot.
Sunday am, Marin Farmers market in San Rafael at civic center.
Both great markets.
Bob

Thanks for all these insights! I'd also mention Monterey, CA.

I just found link too ... I wonder if all the markets listed here are included?

http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarke...California.htm

San Luis Obispo, CA on Thursday nights!

Best Farmers Markets - Chicago
 

I went to 7 Farmers Markets in Chicago on saturday.

They are smaller and more limited but they had c=some great produce and great flowers.

One company was at 3 markets with honey and bread.

Great to see the markets in a big city.

The Monterey Market is great!! I remember the fresh fruit! :)