Today marks the beginning of National Farmers’ Market Week, a “week” I enjoy celebrating because I do most of my shopping at the farmers’s market.

Farmers markets are an integral part of the urban/farm linkage here in St. Louis and have continued to rise in popularity … new farmers’ markets are popping up around our area—and across the US—all the time. As of mid-2009, there were 5,274 farmers markets operating throughout the US, and I can only think that number has grown over the previous year.

Not sure if there is a farmers’ market in your area? In 1994, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) began publishing the National Directory of Farmers’ Markets which list farmers’ markets known to operate in the US. In 2008, the USDA began comprehensively updating the directory every year. (The above graph shows the number of markets at each update.)


Where will I be shopping during National Farmers’ Market Week? I’ll be at the Maplewood Farmers’ Market on Wednesday and at the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market on Saturday. Will I see you there?

Those who know me know I love shopping at farmers’ markets, and once the markets in St. Louis are in full-swing, I rarely shop at “traditional” grocery stores. These days, St. Louisans have plenty of shopping options as more and more farmers’ markets are popping up all over the region, mostly due to the growing consumer interest in obtaining fresh products directly from the farm.

Tomorrow marks the start of the farmers’ market season here in St. Louis with the opening of the Maplewood Farmer’s Market at Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood (7260 Southwest Avenue), which runs from 4:00 pm to 7:00pm every Wednesday. You know I’ll be there!

Here is a list of the other farmers’ markets in St. Louis that are set to open soon:

Clayton Farmers Market (8282 Forsyth Avenue, west parking lot of Straub’s)
Saturdays from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm, starting May 22nd

Downtown Farmers Market (Locust Street between 8th & 9th Streets & the Old Post Office Plaza)
Thursdays from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, starting June 3rd

Ferguson Farmers Market (20 S. Florissant Road, at the Victorian Plaza just south of the train trestle)
Saturdays from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, starting May 1st

Overland Farmers Market (2500 Woodson Road in the Overland Market Center)
Saturdays from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, starting May 8th

Tower Grove Farmers’ Market (Tower Grove Park, west of the Pool Pavillion)
Saturdays from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, starting May 8th

Wildwood Farmers’ Market (Town Center Plaza off Missouri Hwy 100)
Saturdays from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm, starting May 15th

And fresh off the Sauce Magazine blog comes a report that a new farmers’ market is set to open in Webster Groves in the Old Orchard Shopping Center off Big Bend Boulevard near Lockwood Avenue. The market will operate on Thursdays from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm and is slated to open June 3. Details about the Webster Groves Farmers’ Market will soon be available on the City of Webster Groves’ website.

Not only do farmers markets allow consumers access to locally grown, fresh produce from small family farms, they give farmers the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with their customers and cultivate consumer loyalty with the farmers who grows their produce. In addition, farmers’ markets support healthy lifestyles, strengthen communities, and stimulate local economies.

Do you need any other reasons to go?