FARMERS MARKETS

Alpharetta Farmers Market

Opens April 15; Saturdays: 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 11770 Haynes Bridge Road, Alpharetta, alpharettafarmersmarket.com/

Avondale Estates Farmers Market

Opens April 23; Sundays: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 22 N. Avondale Road, Avondale Estates, avondaleestatesfarmersmarket.org/

What’s new? Opening day will feature music, a chef demo and an open pit lunch with Springer Mountain Farms chicken, Riverview Farms beef and pork and produce from the market’s vendors. Circle M Farms will be back, and the market is confirming other farmers and vendors.

Brookhaven Farmers Market

Opens April 22; Saturdays: 9 a.m.-noon 1375 Fernwood Circle, Brookhaven, brookhavenfarmersmarket.com/

What’s new? The 2017 market season will bring new vendors, returning favorites and even more familyfriendly activities. You’ll find grass-fed meats, eggs, local produce, fresh-baked breads, ready-to-eat prepared foods, artisan goods and more.

Cotton Mill Farmers Market *

Opens April 22; Saturdays: 8 a.m.-noon Plaza at Carrollton Cultural Arts Center, 251 Alabama St., Carrollton, www.cottonmillfarmersmarket.org/

What’s new? The Cotton Mill market is moving to a new location as it starts its 16th year. There’s an “impromptu” market each week during the off season, but beginning April 22, the market is in full swing with Power of Produce kids’ activities every other week and children’s vendor days each month.

Decatur Farmers Market *

308 Clairmont Ave., Decatur, cfmatl.org/decatur/ Wednesdays: 4-7 p.m.; Saturday markets open April 8, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

What’s new? The market’s educational chef will be there every week with easy, healthy recipes for seasonal produce. Throughout the season, there are kids’ activities and occasional barbecue picnics. The picnics are fundraisers for their“Fresh for Less”program, helping make fresh and local food more affordable for everyone.

East Atlanta Village Farmers Market *

Opens April 13; Thursdays: 4-8 p.m. 572 Stokeswood Ave. S.E., Atlanta, cfmatl.org/eav/

What’s new? The market is in the same location but has a new address, which should make it easier to find via your GPS. They’ll continue to host seasonal community potlucks, and chef Carolynn Ladd of A Date With Figs will demo recipes each week. Look for the always fun Free Fried Okra Day, Chili Night and Kale Fest and get your hands dirty in the market’s educational garden.

East Point Farmers Market *

2757 East Point St., East Point @ Fire Station #1, www. EastPointFarmersMarket. com Wednesdays: 4-7 p.m.

What’s new? There’s live music this year along with the produce, baked goods, meat, coffee, eggs, organic snacks and pet care products. The market is just a block away from the East Point MARTA train station.

Fairburn Farmers Market *

Opens May 19; Fridays: 5-8 p.m. Stage and Courtyard, 15 W. Broad St., Fairburn,

What’s new? This market, in its third year, brings together a range of local growers and food vendors including longtime Fairburn farmers Tony and Linda Scharko with Gilliam’s Community Garden, Pearson’s peaches and pecans, and Bliss Creek Farm and its goat milk bath and body products.

Freedom Farmers Market at the Carter Center *

Saturdays: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. March-December; 9 a.m.noon January and February 453 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta, www.freedomfarmersmkt.org

What’s new? Most months, the market hosts a day featuring the fruit or vegetable of the month with restaurant chefs using it in the restaurant pop-up tent, demos and special offerings from farmers and value-added vendors.

Fresh MARTA Markets *

West End Station, 680 Lee St. S.W., Atlanta, opens May 9, 3-7 p.m. H.E. Holmes Station, 70 Hamilton E. Holmes Drive N.W., Atlanta, opens May 24, 3-7 p.m. College Park Station, 3800 Main St., College Park, opens May 25, 3-7 p.m. Five Points Station, 30 Alabama St. S.W., Atlanta, opens May 12, 3-7 p.m. cfmatl.org/marta/

What’s new? The Fresh MARTA Markets will include even more locally sourced produce from Georgia and Atlanta farmers this year, as well as introduce value-added products to the stations including pre-cut fruit cups and salads.

Grant Park Farmers Market *

Opens April 2; Sundays: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 600 Cherokee Ave., Atlanta, www.grantparkmarket.org

What’s new? This market has more than 40 weekly vendors. Spread out across the western end of Grant Park, it has ample space to picnic and shop. Look for local cheese, meats and vegetables including some grown right in Grant Park. This year, there will be an educational chef every week, more Community Yard Sales and Brunch in the Park for Mother’s Day.

Green Market at Piedmont Park

Opens March 18; Saturdays: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 12th Street and Piedmont Avenue, Atlanta, www.piedmontpark.org/programs/ green_market.html

What’s new? The Green Market at Piedmont Park will have new vendors this year, including Baker Springs Farm, Artisan Ghee from Saivori and locally sourced Pecan Milk from the Pecan Milk Cooperative. Weekly chef demonstrations focus on the “how to” of cooking, and there are monthly cooking demos with a registered dietitian.

Heritage Sandy Springs Farmers Market

Opens April 15; Saturdays: 8:30 a.m.-noon 6100 Lake Forrest Drive, Sandy Springs, heritagesandysprings.org/3485-2/ events/hss-farmers-market/

What’s new? The market has added new vendors such as King of Pops, Mountain Earth Farms, Front Field Farm and Wild Alaska Salmon and Seafood among others. The market has plenty of room for vendors and plenty of parking. There’ll be live music again this year to entertain you while you shop.

Historic Downtown Acworth Farmers Market

Opens April 7; Fridays: 8 a.m.noon 4583 Church St., Acworth, acworthparksandrecreation. org

What’s new? The market is sponsored by the Acworth Downtown Development Authority, and they’re still reviewing vendor applications for the new season. But in addition to their traditional mix of folks selling vegetables, eggs, honey and bedding plants, they will be adding locally roasted coffee and perhaps even a vendor with mushrooms.

Kennesaw Farmers Market

Opens May 1; Mondays: 3:307:30 p.m. 2820 Cherokee St., Kennesaw, www.facebook.com/ KennesawFarmersMarket/

What’s new? The market is planning fun events for the season. Check Facebook for information. New this year will be vegan prepared food options, and the market continues to run in conjunction with its food truck event, Dinner at the Depot, so visitors can have dinner and shop.

Lilburn Farmers Market *

Opens June 2; Fridays: 4-8 p.m. 1400 Killian Hill Road, Lilburn, www.lilburnfarmersmarket. org/

What’s new? The Lilburn market offers chef demos every week using ingredients available from its farmers and other vendors. Come watch the demo and take home a new recipe and the ingredients to make it. Other special activities include tractor-pulled hayrides, face painting and a Little Free Library.

Mableton Farmers Market *

Opens June 1; Thursdays: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton, www.mableton.org/community-projects/farmersmarket

Marietta Square Farmers Market

Saturdays: 9 a.m.-noon; Sunday markets opening May 7, noon-3 p.m. 65 Church St., Marietta, www.mariettasquarefarmersmarket.com/

What’s new? The Marietta Square Farmers Market has more than 65 vendors offering everything from fruits and vegetables to home goods and kitchen staples. Arrive empty handed and leave with everything you need to make from-scratch meals at home. You can even dress your dinner table with freshly cut local flowers.

Morningside Farmers Market

Saturdays: 8-11:30 a.m. 1393 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta., www.morningsidemarket.com

What’s new? This certified organic market is making a few changes this year, including adding a chef pop-up, benches for enjoying your Cafe Campesino coffee and La Calavera snack and children’s activities. Chef David Sweeney will do the market’s first chef pop-up on Saturday, March 4.

Norcross Community Market *

Opens June 3; Saturdays: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Lillian Webb Park, 5 College St., Norcross, www.facebook. com/norcrosscommunitymarket

What’s new? This is the second season for this market that sits at the top of Norcross’ five-acre Lillian Webb Park. They’re also hosting a pre- and post-season market at Summerour Middle School in connection with the school, its PTA and Gardens for Growing Community, which has a teaching garden there.

Peachtree City Farmers Market

Wednesdays and Saturdays: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 215 Northlake Drive, Peachtree City, www.ptcfarmersmarket.org/

Peachtree Road Farmers Market *

Saturday markets open April 1, 8:30 a.m.-noon; Wednesday markets open April 19, 4:30-8 p.m. 2744 Peachtree Road N.W., Atlanta, www.peachtreeroadfarmersmarket.com/

What’s new? It’s the 10th anniversary year for this large producer-only market. Last year, they added Wednesday night markets with an emphasis on market dinners and local brews. This year, Nick Leahy of Saltyard will open the chef demo series that’s a highlight of the Saturday morning markets.

Ponce City Farmers Market on the Beltline *

Opens April 11; Tuesdays: 4-8 p.m. “The Shed” on the Eastside Beltline trail just outside Ponce City Market, cfmatl. org/poncecity/

What’s new? First Tuesdays each month will be “Tasty Tuesdays” with special vendors sampling their foods grown and made in Georgia. An educational chef will be on hand each week to demonstrate new, easy and healthy recipes using seasonal produce.

Roswell Farmers and Artisans Market *

Opens April 15; Saturdays: 8 a.m.-noon City Hall, 38 Hill St., Roswell, roswellfam.com/

Serenbe Farmers and Artists Market

Opens April 8; Saturdays: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Selborne Lane, Chattahoochee Hills, serenbefarms. com/market

What’s new? The market offers organic produce, fresh pasta, granola, goat milk soaps, textiles and original artwork. There are children’s activities and live music and monthly chef demos.

Snellville Farmers Market

Opens June 3; Saturdays: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. On the Town Green in front of Snellville City Hall, 2342 Oak Road, Snellville, www.snellvillefarmersmarket.com/

Stone Mountain Farmers Market *

Opens April 18; Tuesdays: 4-7 p.m. Municipal Parking Lot, 922 Main St., Stone Mountain, www.stonemountaincity. org/

What’s new? The market is still working on its vendor list but expects to have lots of fresh food and artisan goods at this community gathering place. Suwanee Farmers Market Opens May 13 for the weekly market; Saturdays: 8 a.m.noon Town Center Park, 330 Town Center Ave., Suwanee, www. suwanee.com/whatsnew. farmersmarket.php

What’s new? This year, the Suwanee market began hosting a monthly market during the “off season.” On March 11 and April 8, the market will be open 9-11 a.m. The regular season will run from May 13 through September, and then the monthly markets will be in place for October, November and December.

Sweet Apple Farmers and Artisans Market

Thursdays: 2-4 p.m. 320 Hardscrabble Road, Roswell, www.sweetapplefarmersmarket.com

What’s new? This yearround market is on its seventh season. New this year has been the addition of Loud Mouth Farms with its supply of specialty mushrooms, including medicinal varieties such as reishi. As the weather warms up and days get longer, the market will extend to 6 p.m. beginning March 16.

Tucker Farmers Market

Opens April 6; Thursdays: 4-8 p.m. 2333 Main St., Tucker, tuckerfarmersmarket.com/ Wholesome Wave Georgia partner market

West End Beltline Farmers Market *

Opens June 2; Fridays: 4-8 p.m. Gordon White Park, 1354 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. S.W., Atlanta, www.webmarket6.org

What’s new? The market is expanding its offerings with eggs and more value-added products such as salsa, jam and desserts. Things are still being finalized, but you might find fresh chicken as well. Master gardener and resident chef Sister DeBorah Williams will show you how to cook up quick and simple dishes like peppers and onions and tomatoes with basil. She’ll even cook up your purchases so you can take home a ready-made meal.

Woodstock Farm Fresh Market

Opens May 6; Saturdays: 8:30 a.m.-noon Market Street in downtown Woodstock between Mill and Maple streets, visitwoodstockga.com/portfolio/farm-fresh-market/

What’s new? The market is still taking applications for vendors for the year. All produce vendors are required to grow at least 85 percent of the produce they bring to market.