Erin Thursby
Jacksonville Farmers Market
Daily, dawn to dusk, jaxfarmersmarket.com
Because so many produce providers are there each day, there’s competition, so prices are excellent even if you don’t haggle. What they have over other farmers markets is an incredible selection, but of course that means not everything is locally grown. If it was, there wouldn’t be enough of a variety to sustain such a great market, with choices from exotics like durian and jackfruit to a booth that specializes just in varieties of peaches! There are locally grown booths to be found, and sometimes a booth that’s largely from other states and countries will have a section of eggplants or sweet potatoes grown here. Do ask!
Rosa Parks Produce Market
Fridays 10am-2pm, facebook.com/RosaParksProduceMarket
If you’d like to give back to our community and encourage a farmers market in a food desert area, this is the market to try. The I’m A Star Foundation, which helps homeless students, has partnered with JTA to open this weekly market at the Rosa Parks Transit Station. Hours are limited to during the day on Friday, so if you work Downtown and can pop in during lunch, it might be a good fit for you!
Fernandina Beach Market Place
Saturdays 9am-1pm, fernandinabeachmarketplace.com
Lovely local tastes from the bakers at Country Pies, olive oils from Golden Olive Press, local produce from Cabbage Creek Farm, fresh eggs, rice from local growers at Congaree & Penn, shrimp fresh from the sea, and more, depending on the week. The Fernandina Beach Arts Market, with local artsy wares, is an expansion of the Marketplace every second and fourth Saturday of the month.
Riverside Arts Market
Saturdays 10am-4pm, riversideartsmarket.com
While the arts section and the local food artisans make this the largest one day market in the area, the produce section is limited. That’s because RAM has high standards, so that everything must be grown locally if it is on their Farmer’s Row. While you will know for sure that everything here has been curated to be from local farms, the drawback, of course, is a lack of variety. Besides the produce and local food vendors, expect multiple entertainers, street performers, community events, and a wide selection of artistic wares.
Beaches Green Market at Jarboe Park in Neptune Beach
Saturdays 2pm-5pm, beacheslocalfoodnetwork.org
As is indicated by the name, this farmers market is all about being green. There’s an emphasis on locally grown organic produce at this small to mid-sized market (it shrinks and grows depending on the season). The produce vendors generally grow what they are selling, and the produce is local.
Nocatee Farmers Market
3rd Saturday of the month 10am-1pm, nocatee.com/events
The Nocatee Farmers Market offers fresh and local produce along with themed family activities, arts & craft vendors, organic herbs, locally crafted foods, and more. It’s like a mini-fair with produce in the Nocatee Town Center. For the locals, it’s an event they look forward to every month, even with all the activities on the Nocatee calendar.
Orange Park Farmers Market
September-June Seasonal Market, Saturdays 10am-2pm, orangeparkmarket.com
Despite being in a mall parking lot, this mid-sized and fairly busy market outside the Orange Park Mall has become a spot for some surprisingly good local vendors and growers. Produce and plants are the main draw here, with a few oddities often seen at craft shows. It is a seasonal market, and it isn’t currently open, but you might want to keep it in mind when September comes.
While you can’t always find produce at local flea markets, if you’re already going to a place like The Pecan Park Flea Market, Beach Boulevard Flea Market, or Ramona Flea Market, you can always bring your produce bag on the off chance you’ll be able to find what you need.
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