10 Best Farmers' Markets in the USA

Pike Place Farmers Market is one of the most popular attractions in Seattle as well as a top farmers market in the US.

This was actually the first Seattle farmers market when it opened in 1907. It began with the idea of letting people interact with farmers without a middleman, and the tradition continues today.

You can find over 80 Washington farmers in the market, which is open seven days a week, except for three holidays each year.

The farmers market even includes the Atrium Kitchen, where a Seattle chef does a cooking demonstration every Saturday.

The Union Square Greenmarket takes place on Monday all year round and is open from 8 AM to 6 PM. You can also visit the market on Wednesdays, Fridays, or Saturdays, but the selection is best on Mondays.

This market started small in 1976, but now during the peak season, you will find 140 different regional fishers, farmers, and bakers.

You can get everything from organic produce to fish to heritage meats to artisan bread to flowers, plants, ciders, and maple syrup.

The typical market day attracts 60,000 shoppers, and to help plan your day or to keep track of stalls you want to visit, there are maps of the market on their official website.

Green City Market was started by Abby Mandel in 1998 after seeing sustainable farmers' markets in Europe. It began with only nine local farmers but quickly grew.

Today, the market is in Lincoln Park, along the south end, between May and October on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Between August and October, there is a second location in Fulton Market District. The market is still open during the colder months, but only two Saturdays a month at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.

The Santa Fe Farmers Market first opened during the late 1960s with just a few farmers and is now the largest market of its type in New Mexico.

There are more than 150 active vendors that sell a variety of fruits, vegetables, plants, and other agricultural products.

The market switched from seasonal to year-round in 2002, and all products are locally grown by their vendors, with no reselling allowed.

Visitors to this farmers market can also enjoy the artisans market or relax in one of the cafes that supports the market.

The Des Moines Farmers Market is open every single Saturday between May and October in the Historic Court District of Downtown Des Moines.

There, you will find 300 local farmers, artists, bakers, and producers from 58 counties in Iowa. The market covers an area of nine city blocks.

While it used to only be open during the summer, the farmers market is expanding, and there is now a Winter Farmers Market between November and December.

This market has a slightly more limited selection but still features 130 vendors.

In addition to the typical stalls, there are also those selling seasonal items, such as poinsettias and fresh Christmas trees.

The Portland Farmers Market is one of America's best farmers' markets which actually consists of seven different markets spread throughout the city.

The farmers market at Portland State University is open on Saturdays year-round; King is open on Sundays; Pioneer Courthouse Square on Mondays; Shemanski Park on Wednesdays; Buckman on Thursdays; Northwest on Thursdays; and Kenton Market on Fridays.

Portland Farmers Market began in 1992 with 13 vendors, and today there are over 250 vendors at eight sites, with up to 33,000 weekly shoppers.

If you want to go to the biggest farmers market in Boston, head to the Copley Square Farmers Market.

This market is open on Tuesdays and Fridays and has more than a dozen local farmers selling various products and meat.

In addition to fresh items, you can buy things such as fresh bread, pasta, hummus, and cheese as well as freshly caught fish.

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market is run by the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA), a non-profit.

This top market has vendors selling fresh farm produce, prepared foods, and artisan products.

Every week, there are around 25,000 visitors to the market, and it is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

The Dupont Circle FRESHFARM Market was established in 1997, and it is open on Sundays year-round, with slightly shorter hours between January and March.

This farmers market is one of the several run by FRESHFARM Markets within Washington, D.C. and the metropolitan area.

The market runs a total of 11 markets, all of which only allow the producers themselves to be vendors.

There are over 110 farmers from 5 states and between all of the markets, there are 360,000 annual shoppers.

The Morningside Farmers Market prides itself on selling fresh certified organic produce from local sellers.

This is currently the only Atlanta farmers market that requires all vendors to sell certified organic produce and it was the first of its kind when it opened in 1995.

There are fresh local fruits and vegetables as well as locally-produced meat, which was raised on GMO-free organic feed.

If you prefer to buy prepared items, you can find food or bread. There are also artisan crafts and seasonal flowers for sale.