Now that farmer’s markets are in full swing – at least I think most of them have finally started! – I thought it would be a good time to ask this question from Brittany:
I was wondering how the local farmer’s markets compare as far as prices and quality? Are there any locally grown foods that are available for great deals at farmer’s markets?
What type of deals are you seeing at local farmer’s markets this year? What time of year should we be on the lookout for the best selection of certain items?
Here’s a list of local farmer’s markets. Which one seems to have the best vendors so far this year?
I haven’t been to all of them, but we went to the CFAM (Farm and Art Market) over by the Margarita at Pine Creek last Saturday and I was pretty please with the selection of vendors. There was a good mix of plant items (non certified organic and beyond organic), meat producers, health and body products, and then artists. We were totally unprepared and didn’t bring cash or a cooler (what were we thinking?!) so we didn’t get anything, but I am really excited to go back and get some grass fed and pastured pork and beef.
I’m also going to try out the market in the Powers shopping area. I believe it is on Thursdays, but I haven’t gone yet this year. It was listed in the gazette when they did the article about all the markets in Colorado Springs, so I’ll let you know how it goes!
That one and the one at America the Beautiful park (CFAM also) are great because they only allow local Colorado vendors. None of the produce has been shipped in from other states or Mexico and most of it was picked that day. The one at America the beautiful park is on Wednesdays from 3-7 pm and the fountain is on until 5:30 so you can bring the kids and they can have fun too. This last Wednesday they had a bakery from Denver that was selling giant fresh cinnamon sugar soft pretzels and they were really good.
I second what Alyce said. We have been to the FM in Old Colorado City and that was good. The one at Memorial Park is ok too but a lot of the stuff isn’t from Colorado. We went to the Powers area one and there was only 1 or 2 farms present. I always ask the person who I am buying from where the produce was grown because lots of times they get it from all over the place. If you know when things are in season that helps too i.e. if a farmer is selling watermelons at the beginning of June, they are probably not from Colorado! If a farmer is selling limes, there is no way those were grown here! :)
OCC is our favorite, and Woodland Park is bigger this year. I guess Woodland Park is always my fav because you can really get lots of local foods and unique things you cant get elsewhere.
OCC was looking great this year too – I LOVE that there is a certified organic farmer there!! All the way on the end by Colorado Ave – he has LOTS of good stuff too.