Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that more than 1,000 new farmers' markets have popped up across the country since last year, making a total of 7,175 markets operating in the U.S. currently. This news came just days before National Farmers' Market week, which began August 7. The week-long celebration of markets providing locally grown produce and the farmers and food vendors that make them possible serves as a reminder of just how many markets we have access to in St. Louis county alone.
We talked to some local market managers and found out what they have planned for the national week-long holiday in their honor. Find the schedule of local National Farmers' Market Week events after the jump.
Clayton Farmers' Market: Saturdays 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Brian DeSmet's Truck Farm Time will visit.
Ferguson Farmers' Market: Saturdays 8 a.m.-Noon Forty-six vendors will be there, thirty-one of which are farmers/food vendors. Thies Farm Corn & Veggie Roast & Sampling 10 a.m. Northern Arts Council Art Activities & Demos 9-11a.m. Live music from the Maple Jam Band 9-11a m.
Kirkwood Farmers' Market: Mondays-Fridays 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday hours vary by vendor. On Saturday: Live music at 10 a.m. Kid's Craft Corner, where the children will make a National Farmers' Market day-themed craft project.
Overland Farmers' Market: Saturdays 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The Overland Market will be serving a Mexican breakfast as well as hosting live entertainment. There will also be jewelry vendors in addition to the produce vendors.
Sappington Farmers' Market: Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Sundays 7 a.m.-8 p.m. CSA boxes that week will have a special surprise gift in honor of Farmers Market Week. They will be running a special offer on Facebook all week: $2 off $20 worth of local food purchased if you tell the cashier "I support local farmers." Special farm profiles all week on Facebook and a farmers' market week blog post about some of our newer farmers.
Soulard Farmers' Market: Wednesdays and Thursdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Fridays 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturdays 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, the Soulard market will host live music and hourly product giveaways.
A directory of Missouri's farmers' markets can be found here.
