The end of summer doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying fresh produce and other locally made goodies. The travel experts at The GO Group, LLC, the nation’s largest ground transportation company, suggest these winter farmers markets to keep the culinary doldrums away.
Founded in 1980, the 32nd Street Farmer’s Market in Baltimore is a non-profit organization offering baked goods, produce, fruit, prepared foods, and flowers. It’s mission includes making fresh produce and other edibles from independent vendors available to an under-served city community. The market is open from 7 a.m. – noon every Saturday, year–round.
Chicago offers several market, including Green City Market, a nationally recognized market place model which moves from its summer location to the Peggy Notebaert Museum from Nov. 5 through April. Attendees will find seasonal vegetables, eggs, breads, pickled items plus events such as chef demonstrations. Other neighborhood markets include the Anderson Winter Farmers Market, located in the Swedish American Museum. The South Side 61st Street Farmers Market moves to Experimental Station offering the freshest produce, meat, eggs, cheeses and prepared foods from local farmers.
During winter, the Schlafly Market in St. Louis becomes the Winter Market and moves inside to Schlafly Bottleworks. Local farmers extend the growing season to offer customers fresh produce plus a great selection of meat and cheese vendors, baked goods and other locally-made specialty products. Winter Markets are held one Saturday a month from November through March from 8:30 a.m. – noon.
Known as a top foodie destination, Portland, Ore., has many markets to choose from. The Portland Farmer’s Market downsizes to one big winter market with more than 35 vendors. The People’s Farmer’s Market is the only one operating mid-week in the evening just outside the People’s Co-op grocery store. If you don’t have time to shop, pick up a box of seasonal favorites from the 47th Ave Winter CSA Shares, at various drop-off spots.
Toronto’s Montgomery’s Inn was once part of a 400-acre farm. Though the farm is gone, the Inn remains and has been restored as a museum. It now offers farm-fresh produce at the Montgomery’s Inn Farmers’ Market. Open every Wednesday, with the indoor season beginning. Nov. 2. The Dufferin Grove Organic Farmers Market in the Dufferin Grove Park rink house is open every Thursday, year round. One of Toronto’s oldest farmers markets, it offers an exceptional selection of local produce, meats, dairy, fair-trade and wild options, as well as other farm products.
The GO Group serves all the cities listed above.