Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Northwest Arkansas boasts many farmers markets
Farmers markets give consumers the ability to buy their fruits, vegetables, meats, and much more, directly from area farmers and vendors. Many prefer farmers markets because of the knowledge that the products being bought are locally grown or made, and the money will remain local as well.
There are many opportunities in Northwest Arkansas to shop the booths of a farmers market, with several cities or towns hosting their own.
Bentonville
The Bentonville Farmers Market is held on the downtown Bentonville square from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Saturday, from April through October. The producer-only market offers a wide variety of high quality local foods, produce, meats, art and crafts. The market manager conducts farm and workshop visits to ensure the items sold at the market are grown, produced or made by the seller. All meats and cheeses at the market are USDA and FDA inspected and certified, and all food product is approved by the Benton County Health Department and falls within state certified guidelines.
The market makes fresh food available to the entire community by accepting WIC, SNAP, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers.
Centerton
The Centerton Farmers Market is open 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, in the park at Centerton City Hall Park.
Eureka Springs
The Eureka Springs Farmers Market is open from 7 a.m. to noon, April through November, at 44 Kings Highway (the old Eureka Springs High School).
Fayetteville
Since 1973, the Fayetteville Farmers Market has offered fresh and locally grown produce, flowers, plants, meats, baked goods, honey, eggs, jams, juried crafts, and fine art from the four-county area. The Farmers Market is open year round on the historic Fayetteville downtown square. From April to October it open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday, and from April to November it is also open on Saturdays, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Saturday market, or the “Crown Jewel of Fayetteville” as it has come to be known, brings life to the Fayetteville downtown with local musicians, community organizations, and performers. With SNAP, WIC and Senior Vouchers being accepted, fresh produce and products are available to everyone in Northwest Arkansas.
Green Fork
Green Fork Farmers Market in Fayetteville, Ark., is made up of a group of small family farms committed to providing the local community with naturally grown food and artisan products. Farmers at the market grow without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and use high quality, natural ingredients in their handmade products. Products available include locally and naturally grown beef, chicken, pork, duck, eggs, honey, Shiitake mushrooms, microgreens, vegetables, herbs, fruits, herbal products, plants, and baked goods.
The market is located at 205 W. Dickson St., in Fayetteville, in the Breezeway at Nightbird Books. The market is open from 4 to 7 p.m., year round.
Gravette
Gravette Farmers Market’s primary goal is promoting the local economy and healthy eating by selling only locally grown foods. The market also has a big variety of plants, raw local honey, USDA pork and beef, eggs, creative and artistic craft items and wholesome baked goods.
Gravette Farmers Market accepts USDA WIC vouchers, Senior Nutrition Program vouchers, Double-the-Money Senior coupons and tokens. The market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturdays, May through September, at 110 Park Drive in Old Town Park.
Greenland
The Greenland Farmers Market is located at the Greenland Community Center and is open from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, May through October.
Madison County
The Madison County Farmers Market is open from 7 a.m. to noon, Tuesdays and Saturdays, May through October in the Huntsville Square.
Prairie Grove
The Prairie Grove Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, May through October in Mock Park.
Rogers
The Rogers Farmers Market has been serving the local community for 30 years. Depending upon the season, the market offers a large selection of fresh vegetables, fruits, baked goods, meats, honey, jams and jellies, eggs, herbs, and flowers. Nonfood items include hand crafted hardwood kitchen items, knitwear, home and garden décor, and more.
Open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturdays and Wednesdays, the market is located in the parking lot at 100 N. Dixieland Road at the Frisco Station Mall.
Springdale
The Springdale Farmers Market is an outdoor market established at the Jones Center in 1997, and is open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, May through October. Located on the Memorial Walk of the Jones Center for Families, vendors feature all kinds of vegetables, fruits and herbs in season as well as local honey, farm fresh eggs, frozen USDA inspected meats, plants, and a variety of crafts. All items at the Farmers Market are home grown or homemade by members of the market who live in Benton, Carroll, Madison, or Washington counties. No items are bought and resold.
Springdale Farmers Market has a market EBT machine that will accept SNAP/ EBT and debit cards. Cash, personal checks, WIC and Seniors Farmers Market coupons are also accepted. The market also participates in a Double Your Dollars program funded by a grant from the Wal-Mart Family Foundation to the Northwest Arkansas Farmers’ Market Alliance.
Siloam Springs
Located at 110 W. University St., the Siloam Springs Farmers Market is a producer-only market offering foods grown directly at farms in Northwest Arkansas and Northeast Oklahoma. Local artisans offer handmade wares ranging from woodcarvings and jewelry to hand-knit household goods, beautiful artisan soaps, and more. Fresh pasture-raised meats include pork, chicken, turkey and beef, as well as pastured chicken and duck eggs. Baked goods include handmade granola, scones, cookies, breads, pizza crusts, jams, kolaches, and much more.
The market also offers online ordering through siloamsprings.locallygrown.net anytime Sunday through Wednesday. You order items online, then simply pick them up the following Saturday morning at the Market Welcome Booth between 9 a.m. and noon. The Siloam Springs Farmers Market gladly accepts EBT and SNAP.
The market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Saturday, and runs April 15 through Oct. 7.
West Fork
West Fork Farmers Market offers USDA meats, organic vegetables and artwork. The growers are expanding to year-round production and working to implement a “Farm to School” program with the West Fork Schools. The market is open 7 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, April through first frost. Then it is open from 3 p.m. to dusk, Wednesdays, June through September, and 3 p.m. to dusk, Mondays, July and August. The market is located at Highway 170 and Campbell Loop.
Winslow
The Winslow Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon, beginning in April, at the train depot in downtown Winslow.
Wren Thicket in Fayetteville
The Wren Thicket Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, year round in the Fayetteville Firefighters’ Association building at 1041 S. School St. Pre-orders are encouraged.