Farmers Markets are not only a great source of local fresh fruits and vegetables, but they’ve become a place for good old-fashioned family fun and entertainment. Most farmers markets offer artisan crafts, food sampling, refreshments, and entertainment, along with a variety of fresh produce. These markets have become so popular in the United States, that some of them, like Pike Street Market in Seattle, is now open year round. We at Rick McGill’s Airport Toyota appreciate a good farmers market as well. In fact, we think these are the five best farmers markets in the Knoxville metro area.
Market Square Farmers Market
The Market Square Farmers Market began as a place for local farmers to offer fresh produce to their neighbors. Since then it’s grown to become something more. The market is open every Wednesday and Saturday from May through November. Customers enjoy the locally grown fruits and vegetables, along with decadent baked goods, eggs, fresh herbs, delicious honey, locally raised meats, artisan crafts and local entertainment.
The market continues on until Christmas during the month of December, providing a nice family friendly holiday atmosphere. The holiday market at Market Square provides many of the same things found during the rest of the year but also adds a bit of a holiday cheer. Root vegetables, late autumn greens, hydroponically grown produce, and festive arts and crafts are all crowd favorites for the season.
The Winter Farmers Market
The Winter Farmers’ Market is open every other Saturday from January to April. It’s located in the Historic 4th and Gill neighborhood near the Central United Methodist Church on East 3rd Avenue in Knoxville. The Winter Farmer’s Market features a variety of farm and food merchants selling pasture-raised meats, eggs, fresh winter produce, honey, baked goods, and much more. It also provides a nice selection of food trucks offering lunch made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
Lakeshore Park Market
For over 40 years the East TN Farmers Association (FARM) has provided fresh, local food and farm-based crafts at three different farmers markets in Knoxville. The Lakeshore Park Market is probably the most well-known of the three. It’s located across from the Knox Youth Sports Building and provides a great variety of hand-picked produce, artisan bread, locally raised grass-fed beef, farm fresh eggs, and handicrafts.
You can expect a fun-filled, family friendly atmosphere at all these local farmer’s markets. Since everything for sale at the farmer’s markets is handcrafted, made, or grown by your Tennessee neighbors, it’s a wonderful way to support your community and make new friends. Every week brings new and exciting products, so prepare to be amazed. You’ll find yourself browsing through the various vendor stands, sampling the local delicacies, feeling happy to be alive. It’s always a good idea to take your own cloth shopping bag or wicker basket, so you can load up all of your bounties in an earth-friendly way. Also, check the weather and hours of operation before you head out. Be safe, have fun, and enjoy your time in the markets.
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