Summer is all about fresh, local foods and produce, and no
matter what neighborhood of Atlanta you’re near, there’s a farmers market
around the corner. Here are a few highlights of the city’s best local
offerings:
Grant Park Farmers
Market
A pilot program of the Grant Park Conservancy in 2011, the
Grant Park Farmers Market has a mission to create a healthy and vivacious
community space by providing education and access to local nutritious food.
It is a platform for local farmers, charity groups, artists and food producers
to bring their hard work to the community. They accept cash, credit, debit and
double EBT/SNAP.
Location: The area
surrounding the Miledge fountain at the Corner of Cherokee Avenue and Miledge
Avenue, approximately 600 Cherokee Ave.
Green Market at the
Piedmont Park Conservancy
A real urban farmers market, the Green Market is a program
hosted by the Piedmont Park Conservancy in partnership with the City of
Atlanta. Bringing the freshest produce to the downtown and midtown areas, the
average turnout is about 30 farmers, bakers and juice and sauce makers. The
farmers pick their produce the day before the market to ensure freshness, and
you can’t beat the local prices.
Location: 1071
Piedmont Ave. NE, at the 12th Street entrance to the park. Parking is available
on Juniper and 13th as well as Juniper and 11th.
East Atlanta Village
Farmers Market
In addition to local produce, meat and dairy, this
interactive little market features cooking demos, local artists, activities for
the kids and live music. The EAV market pursues local vendors and programs that
have environmental and community integrity. They accept cash, credit, debit,
and double EBT/SNAP.
Location: 561 Flat Shoals
Ave., across from The Midway Pub—limited parking! EAV is a great place to walk
around.
Hours: 4–8 p.m. on
Thursdays from April 19–December 13. Closed on Thanksgiving.
Sweet Auburn Curb
Market
The Sweet Auburn Curb Market has no shortage of great local restaurant,
produce, meat and seafood, baked goods and retail vendors. This urban food
market operates as a self-sufficient celebration of local agriculture, the
history of the Sweet Auburn neighborhood and the diversity of Atlanta.
Location: 209 Edgewood
Ave SE by Georgia State University, Grady
Memorial Hospital, and the historic Auburn Ave./MLK district.
Morningside Farmers
Market
To sell here, you must be 100 percent certified organic, a standard
Morningside takes pride in. With organic farms, restaurants, artisans, gardens
and creameries, you’ll be sure to get everything you’re looking for at
Morningside. From mid-April through November you can see live chef
demonstrations at the market, so check out
their event calendar for specific dates.
Location: 1393 N.
Highland Ave
Peachtree Road
Farmers Market
This open-air venue is where Atlanta small farmers and
growers, as well as regional producers of traditional foods and craftspeople, can
bring their products to the community. A few of their offerings include locally
grown produce, eggs, meats, award-winning cheeses, honey, artisan breads and
pastas, herbal soaps, prepared foods, locally roasted coffee and crafts.
Location:
Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Rd. NW. Free parking available!
Decatur Farmers
Market
This unique market features a list of vendors that can be found
bi-weekly on its blog, which also lists the market’s offerings on Wednesday and
Saturday. They
strive to provide the Decatur community with local, organic, sustainable foods
in order to enrich cultural standards,
protect ecological integrity, support regional economies and decrease dependence
on nonrenewable resources.
Location: The Saturday location is across the street from the
DeKalb Courthouse on N. McDonough in downtown Decatur, about at 498 N McDonough St.,
Decatur GA 30030. The closest address for the Wednesday location is 163
Clairemont Ave. Decatur, GA 30030 at
the corner of Commerce Dr. and Church St. in the Bank of America parking lot
for the drive-through ATM.
Jacqueline Frasca just received her B.A. in Writing, Literature and Publishing from Emerson College and works as an editorial intern at New South Publishing in Atlanta, Ga.
