Minnesota Local Farmers Markets

There are a number of good farmers markets in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The area includes Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Bloomington and other surrounding suburbs. The Twin Cities is located within 30 minutes of a large number of farms producing a variety of products from asparagus to zucchini.

Minneapolis Nicollet Mall Farmers market

The Minneapolis Nicollet Mall Farmers market is located downtown Minneapolis on the Nicollet Mall between 6^th street and 12^th street. Products include a wide variety of locally grown and imported fruits and vegetables which include apples, berries, flowers, plants and much more. There is a bread maker and a place where you can get fresh honey as well. This market is open on every Thursday from 6am to 6pm. It opens for the season in late April and closes in early November. There is up to 60 vendors at this farmers market with the greatest number during the height of the Minnesota growing season.

Lyndale Farmers Market

Lyndale Farmers Market is located at 312 East Lyndale Ave North Minneapolis, Minnesota. You'll find one of the largest selections of products in the Midwest at this location. It's open 7 days a week from 6am to 1pm between April and mid November. There are even some year round vendors. The best times to get there are early in the morning, and Friday afternoons. There are up to 170 vendors and a variety of vendors from all walks of life.

You have to be choosy at both markets since some of the products are just repackages produce that you could get in the grocery store. I was walking in the skyway one day at the Nicollet Mall market, looked down and saw the vendor unpacking boxes of strawberries from a California producer. Remember, if it's not in season in Minnesota, it probably wasn't grown here by a local farmer. We have a relatively short growing season, unless you are looking for snow peas and ice berg lettuce.

Both of these farmers markets are handicap accessible. Some take credit cards, but most prefer cash and few will take checks. ATM machines and bathrooms are located near both sites. There are places to escape to indoors at both sites if the weather changes.

Going to the source

In Minnesota, we have a large farmer population right outside the Twin Cities. You can drive about ½ hours in any direction to purchase just about anything that can be grown here. Check out the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for more information about Minnesota area farms. Look for the Minnesota Grown Food & Farm Directory to find local information. Some great resources can be found at the following web sites.

http://www.mda.state.mn.us/food/minnesotagrown/directory.htm

www.mfma.org

www.mplsfarmersmarket.com

www.localharvest.org