Minneapolis or Saint Paul Farmers’ Market?

by dez on June 18, 2010 · 15 comments

in Personal, Reviews

I’m going to reach out to you local folks and ask the simple question: “Which farmers’ market should I be going to?”

I’ve only ever been to the Saint Paul farmers’ market and I appreciate the variety of not only the same foods but also of the different types of food available. Now that I’m living in Saint Louis Park the drive to the SP market is about 20 miles (which I don’t mind) but with the Minneapolis market being 5 miles away I am going to try it out this weekend.

Photo by: Andrew Ciscel

Saint Paul Farmers' Market

Saint Paul Farmers' Market

Photo by: Horace S. Patoot

Minneapolis Farmers' Market

Minneapolis Farmer' Market

Tagged as: Farmers' Market, Minneapolis Farmers' Market, Saint Paul Farmers' Market

  • http://connermccall.com Conner

    Neither!

    Not that either of the two markets are bad, and to be honest I’d take St. Paul over the Minneapolis market if it wasn’t so far away. But, if you are going to come to Minneapolis for the Farmers Market, you owe it to yourself to do a bit more exploring. There are three markets on Saturday and Two on Sunday along with the Minneapolis Market.

    Saturday:
    Mill City Market – Perched between the Guthrie and the Mill City Museum, this market is run by Brenda of Cafe Brenda and Spoonriver. They have all local and organic products. Run as close to a zero waste market as possible and are a lot of fun. I don’t consider this a good grocery market, but it’s a good destination and a great place to get a bite to eat with Chef Shack, Spoon River, and a few other fantastic food vendors there.

    Northeast – This market just started up this year and therefore is a little small. But it’s pretty good, great produce in the last few weekends and some neat local vendors selling things like salsa and soap. It’s located on University ave NE and 7th.

    Midtown – This is the shoppers market, lots of produce, good prices, and the place to be if you want to do all of your shopping in one day. It’s located right across from the YWCA on Lake.

    Sunday:

    Kingsfield – This is a little market in the Kingsfield neighborhood. Solid selection of vendors, great bread, good prepared food with Chef Shack again and Foxy Falafel. One you should check out at some point during the summer.

    Uptown – This is another new kid on the block, there were a few markets there last year but they are starting their weekly markets this Sunday (20th). It starts at 11 and runs until 4 and should be a fun time.

    Anyway that is my 25 cents. Don’t limit yourself to the main markets, branch out. Minneapolis Farmers Market is the biggest, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best.

    • http://connermccall.com Conner

      Realized I didn’t leave the location of the last two Markets. Kingsfield is on Nicollet at 43rd. The Uptown Market will be on 29th Street between Nicollet and Dupont.

      • http://iamdez.com dez

        Thanks Conner! I think this weekend or next may be a good time to do a market crawl to check them out.

        • http://connermccall.com Conner

          Glad to be of service. I’m actually considering doing a market bike crawl sometime this year. Not sure if we’d hit St. Paul, but the rest for sure.

  • http://www.becauseemilysaysso.blogspot.com Emily

    I go to the Kingfield market, but that’s mostly because it’s walkable/bikeable from my apartment. It’s small, but it’s got most of the things I want and lets me avoid both crowds and parking disasters.

  • http://www.2-times-beautiful.be Sarah

    Thanks, great post & nice blog!
    Take care

  • http://www.mplsfarmersmarket.com Minneapolis Farmers Maket

    Dez, come and get to know us. We’re big, we’re crowded. We don’t have lots of amenities or touristy things. But we’re big-hearted and warm-hearted. We’re here 7 days a week as we’ve been for 134 years and we’d love to have you join us.

    • http://iamdez.com dez

      I’ll head over there this weekend. Thanks for responding!

      • http://www.mplsfarmersmarket.com Minneapolis Farmers Maket

        Take it slow. Enjoy the journey. And stay in touch, ok?

        • http://connermccall.com Conner

          I do love the Minneapolis Farmer’s Markets. But the I love all the markets, and each have their own charm, personality, and pluses (and minuses). Hopefully I didn’t come across as saying not to visit the largest of all the markets. I usually make it over there at least twice a month. I just have to visit the rest of my favorite places to be on the weekend.

  • http://www.uptownmarket.org Uptown Market

    Hi Dez, we’re close to SLP! 29th St. and Lyndale, one block North of Lake St. And open till 5 on Sundays in case you like your Sundays lazy. All local produce! Plus lots of lunch choices. Come by and meet us or follow @UptownMarket!

    Thanks to Conner for the mention!

  • Robyn

    Conner – the Northeast Market has been around a few years. So yes, it’s small. But it’s not brand new.

    • http://connermccall.com Conner

      I knew that, I don’t know what I was thinking. I never made it last year so apparently that means it didn’t exist until I visited this year, in my head. Sorry!

  • shahrzad

    it’s nice to learn about other markets from conner, especially the sunday ones, but i’d love to see the advantages and differences between the two big ones that you ask about initially. i guess i’ll finally venture to st paul to find out myself!

  • Mellers

    The St Paul Farmer’s Market is LOCAL (100% of everything sold is grown within 50/70 miles of St Paul), something that definitely can’t be said for the Mpls farmer’s Market. Another bonus, the St Paul Farmer’s Market is open year-’round! They start their winter hours this weekend, 9am-1pm on Saturdays. Most of the vendors are indoors within Golden’s Deli, but a few brave meat vendors stay outside in the “traditional” farmer’s market area. C’mon down this Saturday!

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