Alison M.
Yelp
This market outranks the Rivermarket in my opinion, but it all depends on your shopping style and goals.
The Brookside Farmers' Market is an all organic market with local vendors. There are usually 8-10 farmers represented, 2 bakeries (Heirloom and Ibis), a coffee man, an ice cream maker, and a meat vendor. If you're savvy, you could do most of your grocery shopping here for the week. Most of the produce is vegetable heavy - there aren't the peach growers you'll find in abundance at the Rivermarket. However, you will find that the vegetables are of great quality and variety - lots of heirloom tomatoes, garlic scapes (had never tried these until this market), broccoli rabe, every type of potato you could ask for, pumpkins/squash, and more! For fruit, you'll mostly find berries - strawberries, blackberries, mulberries, etc and the occasional pear.
It's usually easy to park here (relative to other markets) since there are several lots across the way, and street parking all around. If you need a market to get in and out of quick, this is probably it. However, if you also want to spend time talking to your local farmers and asking questions, that's cool too. It's not so busy where you can't take your time and leisurely walk about to see what your options are. You won't feel rushed, and you won't be bumping elbows with everyone in the attempt to purchase your food. There's usually some type of live music playing, so sit with your morning cup of coffee and enjoy it!