This is a big week for local food lovers, with several farmers markets opening for the season—and a few other events sprinkled in as well. Here’s a quick run-down:
Wednesday, April 17
8 a.m.-noon. Dunwoody Farmers Market opening day. Now in its 9th year, Dunwoody Green Market has moved to a new location, the Shops of Dunwoody at 5500 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, behind the Bank of North Georgia. Vendors may only sell what they’ve produced, and all food is grown using organic methods. Today’s opener features bluegrass music and treats in addition to an array of farmers and artisans.
3-7 p.m. Douglasville Farmers and Artisans Market opening day. After a test-drive last year, this year the market will operate for the full season. It even has its own Facebook page. 6695 Church St. (O’Neal Plaza), downtown Douglasville.This market is so local, participating farms must be in Douglas or adjacent counties. the market is now claiming the spot as its permanent home.
Thursday, April 18
4-8 p.m. East Atlanta Farmers Market opening day. 561 Flat Shoals Ave. This vibrant market offers a great balance of farmers, whole-food vendors and prepared foods for a quick weeknight supper. New vendors include CalyRoad Creamery, Protea Wild Crafts, La Calavera Bakery, Simply Seoul Kimchee, Good Food Truck Indonesian Soup Cart, Sparta Imperial Mushrooms, and Doux South pickles.
4-8 p.m. Tucker Farmers Market. Its opening day, April 4, was cold and wet. Last week it was canceled due to anticipated severe weather. So this week, market organizers promise to produce good weather. Bring the kids to try out musical instruments, courtesy of Atlanta Music Education. 2333 Main St., Tucker.
Saturday, April 20
8 a.m. to noon. Cotton Mill Farmers Market opening day. Even if you don’t live near Carrollton, this robust market, chock-full of high-quality farmers and vendors, is well worth the drive. This year, the market will accept EBT SNAP (food assistance) benefits. 401 Rome St., Carrollton.
8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Alpharetta Farmers Market. The market was supposed to move to its new location this week … but actually it ended up moving there last week. You can find it at the corner of Old Canton St. and Milton Avenue.
8:30 a.m. to noon. Peachtree Road Farmers Market. This week the market welcomes four new vendors: Simply Seoul- Korean BBQ, Banner Butter compound butters, Doux South pickles, and Johnston Family Farm cheeses. 2744 Peachtree Road NW.
9 a.m. to noon. Chamblee Tucker Farmers Market opening day. The website for this small market at Northeast Baptist Church, 4046 Chamblee-Tucker Road, mentions “fewer synthetic pesticides and fertilizers on the food.” (We’d prefer none, but it’s a start.) Vendors include Miss Betty’s Kitchen, Taylorganics, Our Coffee, Atlanta Bake Shop, Adore Chocolates, Front Porch Sweets. Atlanta Music Education will be there, too.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Love is Love Farm plant sale. Dreaming of growing your own food this summer? Love is Love has the good stuff: tomatoes and peppers, squash and eggplant, herbs and salad fixins. beautiful heirlooms and reliable hybrids. All Tomatoes, Peppers, Egglant, Zucchini, and Sweet Basil are $3/plant. Lettuce, Kale, Chard, and Fennel are $2/plant. At Gaia Gardens, 529 Summit Drive, Decatur.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Serenbe Farms Annual Open House & Plant Sale. Activites and games all day long, plus plants, plants, plants! Farm tours at 10:30 and 1:30; tomato workshop at 11:30. 8457 Atlanta Newnan Road, Chattahoochee Hills.
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Umoja Farm Community Work Party. Food grown in this garden run by the Georgia Citizens Coalition on Hunger goes to the residents of South Atlanta, via the coalition’s Farmers Markets and Emergency Food Pantry. Volunteers will be prepping beds, sowing seeds and transplanting tomatoes and peppers. 9 Gammon Ave, behind the New Schools at Carver.
Sunday, April 21
9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Grant Park Farmers Market opening day. This hoppin’ market with a pretty view of the park kicks off the season with an 11 a.m. cooking demo by chef Kevin Gillespie. New vendors include Octane Coffee, Phickles Pickles, the Good Food Truck Indonesian Soup Cart, Sparta Imperial Mushrooms, and Many Fold Farm. At the Milledge Fountain, 600 Cherokee Ave.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Clarkston Farmers Market opening day. Held at the Clarkston Community Center, 3701 College Ave., this market features several local (and international) vendors you won’t see at every market. SNAP (EBT) benefits are doubled.
FOR A COMPLETE LIST of area farmers markets, check out our Market Guide. And follow my daily Tweets for each day’s market hours! @ATLlocalfoods.
