A guide to Birmingham Farmers’ Markets
By Molly Folse
Believe it or not, you can eat fresh beyond the confines of a sandwich counter. Even more than eating organically, eating fresh and local food is all the rage due largely to its positive environmental and economic effects. Local and regional products travel shorter distances, therefore using less fuel and energy, while buying those products stimulates local economies. The fact that fresh food tastes better and is good for you is just the proverbial cherry on top.
So where can you find fresh products here in Birmingham? Outside of restaurants that boast fresh ingredients, farmers’ markets are the place to find products from local and regional farmers, growers, beekeepers, bakers and other artisans. Use the list below to find a market near you.
Pepper Place Saturday Market
Every Saturday
May 16-October 10
7 a.m.-Noon
2829 2nd Avenue South
(205) 802-2100
Find vegetables, fruit, flowers, bread and cookies, cakes and pies, honey and more at the Pepper Place Saturday Market. The market also features live music on two stages, plus fresh coffee, breakfast and cooking demonstrations from local chefs every Saturday at 9 a.m. Pepper Place Saturday Market is a rain or shine event.
Mt. Laurel Farmers Market and Craft Sale
Every Saturday
8 a.m.-Noon
June 6-October 31
1 Mt Laurel Ave.
(205) 408-8696
Local farmers and crafters set up tables and tents selling everything from produce, organic eggs, plants, fresh cut flowers, baked goods, hand painted signs, home sewn clothes, locally made soap, honey and more. Four-legged, furry friends are welcome.
East Lake Farmers Market
Every Saturday
8 a.m.-Noon
May 23-October 10
7753 1st Ave. South
(205) 836-3201
The East Lake Farmers Market is held in the parking lot of East Lake United Methodist Church and features recently harvested produce, including strawberries, peaches, squash and tomatoes, as well as home-baked cinnamon rolls, single-serve pies, cookies, cheese straws and yeast rolls. Shoppers can also enjoy live music and activities for children.
The market also sponsors the Market Basket Program. Baskets contain enough seasonal produce to feed two to four people for a week, in addition to recipes, preparation tips, and occasional specialty items such as honey or pastries. Baskets must be picked up at the market on Saturdays and are $25 per week or $400 for the season. Proceeds support P.E.E.R. Inc.’s inner-city market and community, which furnishes baskets to neighborhood seniors and area feeding agencies. Senior Nutrition coupons are distributed and accepted at this market. The market also accepts EBT cards and WIC coupons.
Fresh Market on the Green
First and third Saturday of each month
June 6–September 19
8 a.m.-Noon
2101 Grand Ave.
(205) 680-5372
The Fresh Market on the Green is a social event for the entire family, featuring all Alabama-grown produce, locally harvested honey, jams, sauces and plants. Local artists and craftsmen display wares such as handmade jewelry, furniture, hand-smocked children’s clothes, fine art, birdhouses and hand painted note cards, The Coffee Café is provided by The Sweet Stop and serves up delicious items from the local café menu. Market also boasts live music and children’s activities.
Finley Avenue Market
Open 24 hours daily, year-round
Vendors on hand 5 a.m.-8 p.m. (Summer); 6 a.m.-5 p.m. (Off-season)
344 Finley Ave. West
(205) 251-8737
The Jefferson County Truck Growers Association, a nonprofit corporation, formed in 1921 and has run the Alabama Farmers Market ever since. The market has been in its current, 49-acre location on Finley Avenue for 53 years. The Alabama Farmers Market has warehouse space of 61 bays, 14 of which are rented to dealers who sell various types of produce; six open sheds are reserved for Alabama farmers only, two sheds for retail produce dealers and three sheds for wholesale produce dealers.
The association’s membership includes 207 growers from as far north as Limestone County and as far south as Geneva County. The market is solely owned and operated by the Alabama farmers. It is fully self-supporting and receives no outside funds.
Edwin Marty, director of Jones Valley Urban Farm. Photo by Jonathan Purvis.
Jones Valley Urban Farm
Monday-Thursday
May 4–October 29
4-6 p.m.
701 25th St. North
(205) 322-0542
www.jvuf.org
Jones Valley Urban Farm is a community-based, nonprofit organization that utilizes more than three acres of vacant downtown property, to grow organic produce and flowers, in addition to educating the community about healthy food. From May through October, the farm sells in-season, fresh-picked organic produce, herbs and flowers at the After Work Farm Stand. The farm also participates in the Pepper Place Saturday Market.
Jones Valley Urban Farm offers the Food Box Community Supported Agriculture Program, making healthy food available and affordable for a broad spectrum of the community. The Food Box CSA Program sells low-cost subscriptions to a weekly box of in-season produce grown on the farm. Each box contains a family-sized variety of organic fresh vegetables and fruit, as well as a newsletter and healthy recipe ideas for using the food.
Oak Street Local Market
Monday-Saturday
9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
115 Oak Street
(205) 870-7542
Oak Street Local Market sells an assortment of locally raised fruit, vegetables, flowers, honey and more, in addition to a complete selection of fresh produce to fill in the gap as the local season develops. Oak Street Local carries Alabama favorites such as Belle Chevre goat cheese and McEwen & Sons polenta, plus other regional products.
