By Sydia Bell
Farmers market seasons kicks off this month with old favorites like the Green Market at Piedmont Park and East Atlanta Village returning to provide fresh produce, artisan goods, chef demonstrations and more.
East Atlanta Village Farmers Market
Every Thursday beginning April 18 from 4 to 8 p.m., East Atlanta Village Farmers Market pursues its mission to create opportunities that strengthen the local economy and encourage healthy lifestyles. Located at 561 Flat Shoals Ave., the market provide weekly chef demos and events in addition to supporting vendors like past participants Big Daddy Biscuits, an all natural and organic dog biscuit company to The Edgewood Farm Crew, a leadership program that trains 14 to 21 year-olds from the neighborhood in urban agriculture. The market continues weekly until December. For more information visit farmeav.com.
Morningside Farmers Market
Open year-round, this neighborhood market provides a place for community members to forge a bond with local farmers every Saturday from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. What started in a former farm cooperative with Cynthia Hizer’s herb garden at the old Atlanta Waterworks has blossomed into a certified organic market. This year, the organizers will introduce the “Farmers Market Dinner Series” in conjunction with some of the finest chefs in the city. The series, held at the participating chefs’ restaurants, will feature the best of what is in season at participating farms. The market is at 1393 N. Highland Ave. For more information visit morningsidemarket.com.
Grant Park Farmers Market
Grant Park Farmers Market opens April 28 and will be open on Sundays until December from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There will be locally grown fruits, vegetables, artisan produced breads, cheeses, and other delicacies. Visitors will also find art, education tables and more. For more information visit grantparkmarket.org.
Green Market at Piedmont Park
Celebrating its 10th season, the Green Market at Piedmont Market has expanded with an estimated 40 vendors with lots of local farmers, bakers, sauce makers, crafters, chef demonstrations and live music. In addition, visitors can take part in canning workshops. Each participant will receive a notebook with recipes and full instruction in canning along with tips and guidelines. The market is open now from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday morning near the park’s 12th Street entrance. For more information visit piedmontpark.org.
The Market at Howell Mill
The creators of the Atlanta Food Truck Park are once again hosting the The Market at Howell Mill this Spring. At press time an opening date had not been announced, so check atlantafoodtruckpark.com for more details. The weekend farmers market will be open Saturdays from 3 to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. where people can enjoy live music and buy fresh produce.
Peachtree Road Farmers Market
Located in the parking lot of The Cathedral St. Phillip at 2744 Peachtree Road, the market will open for its seventh year on Saturday, April 6, from 8:30 a.m. to noon and continue until December. There will be 50 weekly vendors and more than 35 scheduled demonstrations by local chefs this year, as well as programming for children to learn about the earth, environment and how food grows. For more information visit peachtreeroadfarmersmarket.com.
East Lake Farmers Market
The East Lake Farmers Market (ELF Market) begins another year of providing the distressed and less prosperous in their community with food literacy, community building and healthy eating on Saturday, April 13, which is also the day of the 4th annual Collard Green Cook Off benefiting Wholesome Wave, a food assistance program. Located on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Hosea L. Williams Drive, the market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information visit elfmarket.org.
Farm Mobile
This mobile farmers market’s motto is “We stop, You shop.” The market on wheels allows shoppers to choose from shelves stocked with organic, locally grown produce, free-range eggs, breads from H&F Bread Co., grit, polenta, cornmeal and sustainable meats. Every week, Riverview Farms partners with locations, area businesses and farmers markets and makes stops throughout Atlanta. Updates on where to find the Farm Mobile are provided on grassfedcow.com and Twitter @farmmobile.