My favorite farmers market: Depot Parking Lot, Rutland, VT, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Saturday in temperate weather. We stock up on fresh veggies, homemade baked goods, jams, jellies, syrups, etc., every Saturday en route to our weekend place in Killington. A feast!

agree, hilo wed and sat

santa monica wednesday. for straight organic produce, sans frills, this is fantastic. huge crowd.

san francisco ferry bldg. tues and sat. didn't expect it to be that good, but it is. best dried fruits too. lots of attidude , but hey it's sf.

Union Square Farmers Market

The farmer's market on the square in Madison, WI. There is an indoor one nearby in the winter, but it's the summer one that's really amazing, with something like 300 vendors.

Parking lot of Chef Monica Pope's restaurant, T'afia. Open in the summertime. Chef Pope has done great things for local suppliers in Texas...similar to the Alice Waters' Chez Panisse model. High quality foodstuffs, prepared with respect. Made the Bon Appetit magazine list of "50 hot restaurants" or something like that in the April 05 issue.

I hear there is an artisan market in Market Square, DT HOU, North of the new Calpine building (717 Texas), but I've never been there.

I was also reading in the HOU Chronicle that there is a meat market that sells live animals and butchers on site...an antidote for cello-wrapped McFood..also if you're halal or kosher..I'll try to scrounge the cite if anyone is interested. Probably a good source for making your own boudin noir....

Is Union Square year-round?

Your Dekalb Farmers Market (just outside of Atlanta) is quite the experience. The "No Photography" signs when you walk in are always a nice touch

The great part is the live fish tanks - you wait for your number to be called, pick out your fresh fish, and tell them if you want steaks or filets.

Santa Monica Farmer's Market is the best. All of the great chefs from Los Angeles visit this one. Do yourself a favor and go to a good restaurant on a Wednesday or Thursday night in L.A. for the very best vegetables. On the other hand, you might want to skip dining on Tuesday nights when the veggies are not as good.

The Hollywood(Ca.)farmers market is wonderful.Sunday morning people watching,noshing,shopping(I get a lot of gifts for folks here)and the general vibe is great.

Eastern Market in Detroit always had some cool things when I was in town.

Great farmers market at the Ferry Building, at the base of Market Street:

www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com

Other Bay Area farmers markets:

http://www.sfgate.com/food/farmersmarkets/

^ ^ http://www.hilofarmersmarket.com/

A nice size, parking is never very difficult, and there are lots of interesting places to eat within a couple of blocks.

How about a few of my favorites in Central California:

Thursday Night Farmers Market in San Luis Obispo

Old Town Clovis Friday Night Market
Clovis Market Photos

Yep, it's year-round, although the pickings not surprisingly get slimmer during the winter. It's Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (don't know how the earlier days are during the winter, though).

I'm very excited to check out the Ferry Building in San Francisco during my trip in late April!

When I rented an apartment in VCE, my "local farmer's market" was The Rialto. IMHO, it just doesn't get any better than that.