USA TODAY 10Best
West Palm Beach GreenMarket named Best Farmers Market
Best Farmers Market (2021)
According to the Farmers Market Coalition, a farmers market is "a public and recurring assembly of farmers or their representatives, selling directly to consumers food which they have produced themselves." The explosion of the farm-to-table movement in the U.S. has led to a steadily growing number of markets — more than 8,600 registered in 2021.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Farmers Market are as follows:
- Chattanooga Market - Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Coastal Alabama Farmers & Fishermens Market - Foley, Alabama
- Ballard Farmers Market - Seattle
- Santa Monica Farmers Market - Santa Monica, California
- Santa Fe Farmers' Market - Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Pearl Farmers Market - San Antonio
- Peachtree Road Farmers Market - Atlanta
- Collingswood Farmers' Market - Collingswood, New Jersey
- Green Dragon Farmer's Market - Ephrata, Pennsylvania
- West Palm Beach GreenMarket - West Palm Beach, Florida
Photo courtesy of Debbie Wilson Photography / Chattanooga Market
No. 10:
The Chattanooga Market, the region’s largest producer-only farmers’ market, takes place on Sundays from April to December at the First Tennessee Pavilion. More than 50 farms sell their produce, cheeses and meats, alongside more than 130 artisans offering handmade crafts and artisan food goods.
Photo courtesy of Coastal Alabama Farmers & Fishermens Market
No. 9:
At the Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermen's Market, shoppers will find locally-grown fruits and vegetables, as well as fresh seafood from the Gulf Coast. The market takes place in a covered pavilion each Saturday throughout the year, as well as Tuesday mornings in winter and Tuesday afternoons in summer.
Photo courtesy of Ballard Farmers Market
No. 8:
"Seattle's Ballard Farmers Market is a year-round hub for fresh produce from Washington state farmers, as well as goods from other purveyors and makers," explains 10Best Local Expert Corinne Whiting. Open since 2000 as the city’s first year-round farmers market, this market features produce from Washington state farmers exclusively.
Photo courtesy of Santa Monica Farmers' Markets
No. 7:
When California Certified Farmers' Markets (CFM) were first established in 1978, they became an overnight success. On any given Wednesday, some of Los Angeles' top chefs and restaurateurs can be found poring over the fresh fruits, vegetables and baked goods at the Santa Monica Wednesday Market. Open year round, it is considered southern California's largest and most diverse grower-only farmers' market and draws some 9,000 shoppers to its bountiful stalls every week.
Photo courtesy of Santa Fe Farmers' Market
No. 6:
What began with a handful of farmers selling produce in the 1960s has blossomed into New Mexico's largest market - and one of the most widely recognized in the US. More than 150 vendors offer fresh local produce, while a collection of shops sell wine, tea, coffee, chocolate and gifts. "If you're lucky, you'll be there when they're roasting fresh chiles, filling the market with an intoxicating aroma," says 10Best contributor Eric Grossman.
Photo courtesy of Julia Keim / Pearl Farmers Market
No. 5:
The Pearl Farmers Market in San Antonio bills itself as “an open-air grocery store, held rain or shine.” The market takes place each Saturday and Sunday. While you’re shopping for local produce, meats and cheeses, you can listen to the sounds of live music or watch a cooking demo for ideas on how to use your fresh ingredients.
Photo courtesy of Peachtree Road Farmers Market
No. 4:
Atlanta's Peachtree Road Farmers' Market has been the largest producer-only farmers' market in Georgia since it opened in 2007. Every Saturday from March to mid December - rain or shine - the market showcases some 50 weekly vendors with their abundant array of fresh fruits and vegetables, in addition to a host of cooking demonstrations. Local artists showcase their talent - including wearable art - alongside artisanal foods ranging from salsas to tamales and other gourmet treats and coffees.
Photo courtesy of Collingswood Farmers' Market
No. 3:
The Collingswood Farmers’ Market was founded in 2000 as a way to connect the community with the food they eat and the people who grow it. Every Saturday from May through Thanksgiving, you’ll find Jersey-grown fruits and vegetables, as well as meat, poultry and eggs, Pennsylvania cheeses, plants, honey and bee products, natural soaps and other artisan goods.
Photo courtesy of Green Dragon Farmer's Market
No. 2:
The Green Dragon Farmers Market & Auction takes place each Friday throughout the year — a local tradition since 1932. The indoor/outdoor market in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country features seven market buildings with vendors selling a huge variety of produce, baked goods, crafts and furniture.
Photo courtesy of West Palm Beach GreenMarket
No. 1:
Inspired by visits to the public markets of Europe, former West Palm Beach Mayor Nancy Graham helped establish the first weekly public farmers market in Palm Beach County in 1995. These days, the West Palm Beach GreenMarket takes place every Saturday from October through May with more than 90 vendors along the Intracoastal waterfront.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all the winning farmers markets!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Aimee Heckel
Aimee Heckel's passion for storytelling has... Read More
Aimee Heckel's passion for storytelling has brought her around the world as a journalist, writing award-winning articles. Aimee has also edited, written and contributed to more than 70 books, including her own travel guide on Colorado and many travel books for Fodor's, Lonely Planet, and more. She has earned dozens of national and state writing awards and also is a content manager and editor for REP Fitness.
Aimee Heckel
Aimee Heckel's passion for storytelling has brought her around the world as a journalist, writing award-winning articles. Aimee has also edited, written and contributed to more than 70 books, including her own travel guide on Colorado and many travel books for Fodor's, Lonely Planet, and more. She has earned dozens of national and state writing awards and also is a content manager and editor for REP Fitness.
Corinne Whiting
Corinne hails from the other Washington, where she... Read More
Corinne hails from the other Washington, where she caught the travel bug early on. Corinne studied abroad in Strasbourg, France (undergrad) and in Edinburgh, Scotland (graduate school). She's backpacked around Australia, taught English in Argentina and explored (so far!) countries from Cambodia and Egypt to Turkey and China. Corinne served as associate editor at Where magazine for five years; as a freelancer, she now writes for publications like National Geographic Traveler and Amtrak's OnTrak. Here in the lovely Northwest, she's attempting to debunk the rain myths, up her coffee and live music quotient and find her Zen near/on the water.
Corinne Whiting
Corinne hails from the other Washington, where she caught the travel bug early on. Corinne studied abroad in Strasbourg, France (undergrad) and in Edinburgh, Scotland (graduate school). She's backpacked around Australia, taught English in Argentina and explored (so far!) countries from Cambodia and Egypt to Turkey and China. Corinne served as associate editor at Where magazine for five years; as a freelancer, she now writes for publications like National Geographic Traveler and Amtrak's OnTrak. Here in the lovely Northwest, she's attempting to debunk the rain myths, up her coffee and live music quotient and find her Zen near/on the water.
Eric Grossman
Eric Grossman is a travel and food/drink writer... Read More
Eric Grossman is a travel and food/drink writer who has visited more than 60 countries. Always up for an adventure, Eric is constantly searching for new and inspiring experiences, with a keen interest in luxury travel and urban exploration. Memorable experiences have run the gamut from discussing the future of food with Ferran Adrià to sharing a stage with Coldplay.
Eric Grossman
Eric Grossman is a travel and food/drink writer who has visited more than 60 countries. Always up for an adventure, Eric is constantly searching for new and inspiring experiences, with a keen interest in luxury travel and urban exploration. Memorable experiences have run the gamut from discussing the future of food with Ferran Adrià to sharing a stage with Coldplay.
Gerrish Lopez
Gerrish Lopez is a food and travel... Read More
Gerrish Lopez is a food and travel writer/photographer whose adventures have taken her from tiny islands (Isle of Man, Lanai) to mega-cities like Mexico City and Hong Kong. A former vegetarian, Gerrish has grown to appreciate carnivorous fare through sampling the best meats in the world, including smoked pork jowl in Thailand and whole hog barbecue in South Carolina. Gerrish is always looking for products and services to make her travels easier and more efficient.
Gerrish Lopez
Gerrish Lopez is a food and travel writer/photographer whose adventures have taken her from tiny islands (Isle of Man, Lanai) to mega-cities like Mexico City and Hong Kong. A former vegetarian, Gerrish has grown to appreciate carnivorous fare through sampling the best meats in the world, including smoked pork jowl in Thailand and whole hog barbecue in South Carolina. Gerrish is always looking for products and services to make her travels easier and more efficient.
Lydia Schrandt
Lydia, Senior Photo Editor and Readers' Choice... Read More
Lydia, Senior Photo Editor and Readers' Choice Production Manager for USA TODAY 10Best, has traveled to more than 40 countries in Europe, Asia and North and South America, and has lived in Albuquerque, Galveston, Austin, Thailand, Korea, China, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Spain and now Houston. When she's not at her computer in a cafe, she's out photographing the city, writing fiction or cheering on Barça.
Lydia Schrandt
Lydia, Senior Photo Editor and Readers' Choice Production Manager for USA TODAY 10Best, has traveled to more than 40 countries in Europe, Asia and North and South America, and has lived in Albuquerque, Galveston, Austin, Thailand, Korea, China, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Spain and now Houston. When she's not at her computer in a cafe, she's out photographing the city, writing fiction or cheering on Barça.
Marla Cimini
Marla is a writer with a passion for travel, music... Read More
Marla is a writer with a passion for travel, music and culinary adventures (and combining those whenever possible)! As an avid globetrotter, she encourages respecting and learning about other cultures while traveling. She has visited Hawaii multiple times, and has explored destinations worldwide, including the Mediterranean region, South America, Asia and more. Marla is a contributor to Fodor’s Hawaii guidebooks (Oahu and Kauai 2020) and her articles have appeared in a number of international publications. She calls New Jersey (Philadelphia area) home. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter and read her travel tips and adventures on her website.
Marla Cimini
Marla is a writer with a passion for travel, music and culinary adventures (and combining those whenever possible)! As an avid globetrotter, she encourages respecting and learning about other cultures while traveling. She has visited Hawaii multiple times, and has explored destinations worldwide, including the Mediterranean region, South America, Asia and more. Marla is a contributor to Fodor’s Hawaii guidebooks (Oahu and Kauai 2020) and her articles have appeared in a number of international publications. She calls New Jersey (Philadelphia area) home. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter and read her travel tips and adventures on her website.
