St. Paul Farmers' Market

We had the best time checking out all of the different items at the farmer's market in downtown St. Paul. We ended up with some duck eggs, barbecue cheddar pineapple beef sticks, and purple brussels sprouts. If you have time definitely check it out!

This is a pretty good farmers market... lots to choose, fresh local raised meat, yummy tacos, great honey and bread options, beautiful flower options. Something for everyone! Parking is challenging AND FYI no dog's allowed unless you have 1 of the fake "emotional support" vest for your dog. 😂

Great place to get fresh veggies on the weekend! Free parking is available as well.

St. Paul Winter Farmers Market is ON!! Great way to spend a Saturday or Sunday morning! Awesome super friendly vendors! You get to know them, and they you, over time. Awesome items, and there is also the Holiday winter INDOOR vendors right across the street, with awesome giftable things for the season! This Dehydrated Teriyaki is from the indoor holiday building, and this guy is AWESOME! I bought 3 of these, I bought them all! I need more!!! 😋 Dehydrated food is my new favorite thing, and his dehydrator machine on site is gigantic!.. I want one, lol I wish I could remember his name, but he is at the very end inside the building, probably waiting to give YOU a free sample, and talk about his FD items! Grab your bestie, and go check him out! Oh!! I would be remiss for not adding, FRESH CUT CHRISTMAS TREES! Smells devine walking around! EBT users get bonus! If you put $10 on your card, you get $20 to use with the vendors. Very cool deal to double your benefit..I think Blue Cross pays the extra! Wonderful benefit during the holidays!

This farmers market was small & compact but packs a variety of vendors... From fresh produce to flowers, food and everything in between. Parking was a struggle as the minor league game was scheduled across the street. Bring a bag or cart as the items offered are irresistible!!! 5⭐️'s on uniqueness and diversity.. 1#💯🏆

We visited on a cold Saturday in February. I haven't been to the market before, and I was impressed by the number of vendors present and the prices of items. I feel like about half of the sellers were offering different kinds of meats. There were also two cheesemongers, two bakers, a fresh tortilla seller, a few people with tables of vegetables, and a smattering of other farmers and makers. The selection that day was likely impacted by the fact that the Super Bowl was the next day, and Valentine's Day a few days after that. I left with a lot of cheese, two packs of bacon, and two delicious pastries. I'd love to visit this market in the summer when there is even more available!

Fresh produce, good prices, parking can be tricky. Happens over weekends from 7 am to 1 pm. Check the calendar to make sure. Bring a bag. At the end of 5th St, Lowertown. St. Paul. Loved the Hibiscus variety, haven’t seen those elsewhere. Flower bouquets are just beautiful for just $10.

Wonderful to visit always. The vibe is so positive and beautiful. Great local produce

Went opening weekend , was rainy so nice that lot of it is covered They didn't have all the veg and fruits I was looking for as early in the season Did snag some good asparagus and some pretty tulips- they needed more flower options though Did manage to go to Soyen Desserts as walking distance form market Street parking was free on day of the market so that was a bonus

We visited on a cold Saturday in February. I haven't been to the market before, and I was impressed by the number of vendors present and the prices of items. I feel like about half of the sellers were offering different kinds of meats. There were also two cheesemongers, two bakers, a fresh tortilla seller, a few people with tables of vegetables, and a smattering of other farmers and makers. The selection that day was likely impacted by the fact that the Super Bowl was the next day, and Valentine's Day a few days after that. I left with a lot of cheese, two packs of bacon, and two delicious pastries. I'd love to visit this market in the summer when there is even more available!

This is by far the best farmers market! I love that they are open on Saturday and Sunday(: you can always find a great selection of flowers and wreaths for a great price and you can't forget the great prices for all the produce they offer. You also have food stands so if you want to enjoy breakfast while shopping that is totally do able. I would love to highlight that since it's fall Honeycrisp apples are in season and I'm so happy I found a vendor that has a section for so called "ugly apples" which as the apples that don't make it to states because they aren't "pretty" enough. I decided to buy a bag as these are perfect apples and am glad to help out this way! This passed Saturday I learned that if you want eggs you are going to have to wake up early and get there first because by the time o arrived which was like 10ish am they were all gone. I will continue to support local farmers and vendors as I make this my main stop for grocery shopping! Parking will always be tricky since it's downtown but it's worth figuring out to get great deals!

Love love love the St Paul Farmers Market. They have a great selection of everything - flowers, fruits and veggies, bread and baked goods, plants, and much more. I have found that most vendors only take cash, however if you don't have cash on you, there is a stand where you can use your debit card to get cash in the form of coins that are only usable at the market, but all vendors take! Beautiful selection of flowers always - some vendors are cheaper than others (I always find the bouquets that are $10 instead of $12 or $13). Seasonal produce always in stock. This is a pretty big farmers market and I go every weekend for flowers and to stroll through.

So many vendors with great produce, clothing, and food! It feels great to buy from them knowing you are supporting small businesses. Plus, the items are very affordable, fresh, and the produce is cheaper than regular markets! They have a great bagel place to grab some breakfast and an amazing bao place (Minnebao) to get some delicious Chinese buns! Better than dim sum baos!

Place was a bit smaller than I hoped. But still pretty good selection of produce to choose from. Overall nice market

Excellent farmer's market with friendly, knowledgeable local seller's! I stopped by with my family on a quick morning stroll and we had an awesome experience. Just look at these steamed buns! There is definitely something for everyone! Don't forget to bring cash and a shopping bag :)

If you haven't been to the St. Paul Farmers Market, check it out! I prefer this market vs. Minneapolis markets because most, if not all is grown in MN. It is MUCH smaller, but I'm okay with that. My biggest shout out is to Chef Earl's booth -- I've consistently been getting BBQ sauce from them for years now. They have a bunch of flavors and it's super simple just to tell them what you like and then they'll make recommendations. It is more money than you would spend in a grocery store, but quality is amazing, so much better AND let's all support small businesses, right?!

Minneapolis farmers market is a lot bigger with many vendors. However St Paul have somewhat same stuff with less vendors. Also they have Minnebun, very delicious buns. Walking by i can smell the homemade dough and yeast. So worth trying! The pork bun and custard are our favorites.

This was my first time at the St Paul Farmers' Market and I had a really good time. All the vendors were kind and offered samples and took questions. I think they were doing a scavenger hunt for the kids for Halloween and I just thought that was adorable. I want to go in the summer when I'm sure even more vendors are there!

I have been twice this spring (in summer like weather) and have loved each time! The vendors are so friendly and not pushy. They answer any questions and appreciate that folx want to mill about and not be pressured to buy. I love how each time I have been able to buy fresh, delicious food and know that I am supporting local! I am always willing to pay more than if I were at the grocery store as I know that it is supporting the farmers directly. Yesterday I walked away with some meats, cheeses, granola, pierogis and flowers. Previously I have gotten vegetables, cheeses, eggs and a succulent. Friends I go with have gotten micro greens and bones for their dogs (as well as some of the above mentioned items I have picked up). Yesterday there was live music which I hadn't seen previously, but I attribute that to the mask mandate being lifted. I will absolutely be back many more times this summer!

Great farmer's market. For being downtown, this farmer's market wasn't a total pain to get to/park at and I wasn't shoulder to shoulder with people. There is surrounding street parking (very limited) and a pay lot about a block away. I parked on the street about a block away and walked. I'd suggest bringing your own bag or wagon for lugging goods back to your car. It's the standard, covered, urban market set up with a great variety of vendors. They space everything out nicely (maybe this is just because of the pandemic) but it made it so much easier to get around. Can't wait to make this a weekend tradition!

I've heard great things about the farmers market and was excited to take my parents here when they were in town visiting. Parking was challenging because they had one road closed and there only seemed to be a little lot to park. We did eventually find someone pulling after and got a spot after waiting a bit. There wasn't that much actually at the farmers market but maybe because it's early on in the season. It's pretty tiny and not quite what I had envisioned but the vendors are all really nice and friendly and there is a nice little variety. I feel like it's hard to give a farmers market a bad review but I've definitely been to better farmers markets.

Great place to shop for fresh veggies and flowers! The breakfast bagel booth is also a must-try! I love the atmosphere here, everyone is so nice and all the vendors are welcoming and they all love what they do/sell. Parking is limited so come early or park far.

I just love the St Paul's farmers market. I love being able to shop locally with a ton of different vendors. I do wish they had more of a variety of foods because sometimes it does feel like the same thing at each vendor. But I can not hate. It's clean, good prices and the flowers are always amazing.

What a great farmers market this is. I came here late morning on a Saturday, and even though it was busy, we had a terrific time checking out all of the offerings. I was surprised by the size and the variety of items offered, especially because so many of the vegetable prices were reasonable. We were able to get some great looking produce for a reasonable price, plus get a chance to try some locally made cheese, smoked fish, and check out local products. It took us about an hour to walk around all of the aisles and peruse the offerings here. In addition to produce, they have plenty of bread/baked goods, local meat and eggs, local honey, candles, and even a stand to buy coffee. I saw some absolutely beautiful produce and a good amount of variety in some things offered. Fortunately as well, there is a pretty good sized parking lot not far from the market, so it's easy to find a metered space or somewhere to park in the pay lot. It's also not a far walk from the light rail as well. I really love this farmers market and feel fortunate to live fairly close to it.

What sets this market apart from others is (1) a sense of permanency with covered aisles and dedicated structures (2) its setting amidst historic warehouse buildings in lowertown St. Paul (3) the variety of produce reflecting generations of immigrants in the upper midwest, from German to local Hmong farmers who cultivate Asian vegetables (4) a sense of community pride and confidence in the Twin Cities, reflected in economic and social well-being (5) a vast array of cut flower bouquets in the summer--dazzling to the eye There are about 4 aisles chock-full of vendors with excellent fresh produce, meats, cheeses, soaps, and artisanal food products like chocolate sauce and mustards. The produce includes chinese broccoli and Asian gourds not easy to find outside specialty Asian markets. Samples offered throughout the market are fun to try. Breakfast offerings include great wurst, vegetarian Cai Guon (Vietnamese spring rolls) and bagel sandwiches. Excellent live roots music acts provide ambience. I've realized that all farmers markets make me feel good, but that this one feels special; likely due to the dedication displayed by both farmers and customer base. It's full of home-town, yet understated spirit. Its been featured on documentaries about Farmers Markets in the country, in recognition of its special status. Right adjacent are bookstores and antique stores near the Twin Cities Light Rail stop, and future Amtrak Station. Also adjacent is the new Saints stadium. This is really a gem of a market and makes me feel extra good.

When I first moved to the cities almost 11 years ago, I didn't know this place existed until the family I lived with took me there. I was in awwww....like wow this place is amazing with fresh produce. Since then I have been coming here a lot! I enjoy coming here when I run out of tomato, eggplant, bell peppers and chemical-free garlic. They have other vegetables, too. I think it is a great place to get flowers as well because they are cheap, from $5 to $8. Bringing your own bag is helpful, too. It gets packed during the weekend so get there early. If you are not a morning person, they serve coffee too. They only take CASH. There's ATM machine available. People there are very friendly. A great place overall! Meter parking is free on Sundays.

A summer staple! Especially when your own garden is weak AF! There are so many vendors here, I want to say 50? The local fare ranges from fresh produce, stunning flower bouquets, cheese, baked goods, bee products, wool products, farm-raised meat, jerky, sauces, and more. You will of course see many seasonal repeats, but wherever you go the prices are always (more than) reasonable, especially on products and plants. These tables are usually cash only, though. But other more artisanal vendors accept cards. Golden's is here grilling up meats if you get hungry (inevitable) and live bands and entertainment are sometimes featured as well. Take a stroll through Mears Park carrying your fresh produce and flower bouquet and probably see some butterflies and feel like a Disney f'ing princess.

This is a good market! The vegetable and meat selection are better than any other fm I have been to in the area and the fact that it is open Saturday and Sunday is even better. Flowers were great too, go on Sunday around 11am and they are basically giving bouquets away. The set up at the pavilion is just unique and makes it a really cool setting. Like everyone says it would be cool if there were more street food options, this market doesn't really have one other than bakery items, kettle corn and beef jerky... Wait a second that actually sounds pretty dang good!

Love this farmers market. It's in lower town which is a great area in St. Paul. The isle are wide enough so you aren't running into people and they offer a variety of items. I love going early to grab a bagel sandwich or donut as I walk around to pick up veggies for the week. Also a great pot for plants! The only down fall is if you don't know where the nearest lot is to park navigating lower town can be tricky. Defiantly worth it tho!

Best Farmers' Market in St. Paul (don't get me started on the Mpls-vs-St Paul dichotomy).

Probably one of the best farmer's markets in the twin cities. Definitely come with cash and shop around the three aisles to make sure you get the best produce. We also get grandmas donuts (when we are early enough-we arrived at 10am today and got 4 donuts for $5.50. We bring the kids and there is usually a craft or something for kids (today it was paper making). We also get 25 cent honey sticks to keep them going. The fresh cut flowers are stunning and affordable. They usually last us a week and cost about $8-9 and the variety is outstanding. An amazing farmer is in the middle section selling juicy pears and plums this time of year-Buy the small bucket-you'll finish them, trust me. We also buy exceptional veggies-cauliflower, sugar snap peas, fingerling potatoes, tomatoes. Parking can be a challenge-there is a lot East of the market for $2, but it is about 90 cents to park at a meter for an hour. We've parked near and taken the green line in the past (parked in a neighborhood South of the Victoria station)-the kids love the train ride and that they get to play at the playground near the depot. It is a fun family activity-unless the kids are tired. :(

The best in town! Better prices and product and you know that everything is either grown or made locally. The rule, be grown or made within 50 miles of the Twin Cities. Unlike the one across the river where you can get whatever, whenever. Plus I can still get an inexpensive piece of roasted corn...of course, only when in season. Yum!

My favorite farmer market to go in the Twin Cities! This is one of the farmer's markets that is open the longest year long and its open on the weekend. Depending on the time of year that will dictate how many vendors and what items will be sold. In the fall you will find tons of apple vendor, root vegetables, and this past weekend was a potted herb plants (5/28/17) and starting to find many vegetables. This place has great deals with vegetables and herbs. You can also find this amazing Cave Aged Goat Cheese (typically on Saturday)! It is 10 dollars a chunk BUT SO GOOD! You can also buy different types of meats too. This is a great place to buy and eat local. Only downside is that it is hard to get parking if you go anytime after 10am as this market is popular. If you come on Sunday, you will find parking. You could also take the lite rail to avoid the parking struggle. Overall amazing place to go and I would highly recommend!

The Saint Paul Farmers The St. Paul Farmers Market makes me feel better than Free Willy after he was set free from the tank. The St. Paul Farmers Market prime time is early June through late September. There's plenty of free street parking at designated meters (read the sings), as well as a great variety of produce, meat/ dairy, flowers and yummy local goods. The Farmers Market is easily accessible by car, bus, light rail and next to the Saint Paul Saints Stadium (CHS Field). The earlier you get to the Farmers Market the better; more parking and the "better" produce and plants/ flowers available. Tips & Tricks: Crowd Wise, the market gets a little busier around 10:30 AM Bring Cash EBT Accepted Street Parking, Ramps and Surface Lots close by Location: Lowertown Saint Paul. Next to the Saint Paul Saints Stadium, Union Depot and Mears Park Price: Typically cheaper than most chain grocery or chain stores. I suggest walking around the Market once to scope out prices and quality Market makes me feel better than

Not only is it the best market in the Twin Cities, it's the oldest continuously running market, too. Besides, you can't find a farmer's market in a cuter neighborhood than lowertown. This market requires that everything sold here is local! Not all markets are doing this. You'll find local produce, meats, eggs, honey, flowers. There is also an assortment of locally made gifts, spices, bakery, and soaps. 18/100

I love this farmer's market. We were able to snag baby melons, tomatoes, squash, onions, eggs, flowers, etc. etc. Less expensive than the grocery store, helping local farmers and artisans, and getting much fresher ingredients to elevate your home culinary creations. Parking can be a bear but there is something very communal and relaxed about hitting this market up on a Sunday morning. You can enjoy coffee and a treat there so save some room.

Saturday mornings in the summer with Annie D.: -The beast stirs. She says something like, "Tooooo much beeeeer." and rolls over. -She wakes up an hour later and paws at her beast of a boyfriend with something like, "Get up... I'll make you an omelet... or something." and then proceeds to the fridge, where there are no ingredients for promised omelets. -She readies herself for cave departure. This usually means putting fur in ponytail. On good days, it means a sundress. -The beast gets in her beast-mobile and heads due east to Lowertown (usually making the man-beast drive). The beast-mobile is then parked in the free lot around the corner from the St. Paul Farmer's Market and cash is extracted from the ATM at Black Dog. -The BF-GF beasts make a bee-line (or a beast-line?) to the Toast to Bread table for an empanada breakfast and sometimes bring garlicky focaccia bread home as well. -Slightly less beastly now that they've feasted, the pair prowls the market with their Yelp tote bags for items like herbs, greens, seasonal vegetables and fruits, local meats, cheese, flowers, honey, gelato and balsamic vinegar. Sometimes they say hi to their favorite Hmong farmers and ask what's good that week. They taste the "fish food" cheese from Trade Lake. They buy honey sticks. They feel weird about tasting the hummus because they are never ever going to buy any, so they profusely thank the taster for the sample as if that is going to make it OK. Sometimes they say what-up to the artist on the corner. If they had a lil' beast, they might buy organic baby food. -The beasts return west to the cave to stock the fridge with local, sustainable omelet-making ingredients, only to find that they are too full to do anything but hibernate for an hour or two while watching episodes of Party Down on Netflix.

Enjoyed scanning what's offered at the Farmers Market before we made our purchases. Prices were much better than Kowalskis and veggies appeared freshly picked from the MN farms. I am def a fan and may be thinking of menu ideas for the week as we frequent here weekly to support our local farmers while having quality product for the dollar spent. example: $1 mint, $3-4 basket of peppers, $1 baby bokchoy bunch, $2 baby creamers. We even stopped by to have a spring roll $2 as a quick snack, which was fresh and hit the quick craving we needed to HS us over for brunch.

I am shamelessly biased when it comes to the St. Paul Farmer's Market. So even though I only have to walk 50 feet out my front door to enjoy this St. Paul staple, I feel I can still justify singing the market's praises because of the following: - It's open year round (9 AM - noon on Saturdays in the normal space and inside Golden's Deli during the winter). - All wares are produced locally. - High quality selection of meats, cheeses, organic produce, breads and knick-knacks at reasonable prices. - Decent street food (Asian food, cheddar dogs and roasted corn are usually in attendance). - Within walking distance to many other enjoyable activities in Lowertown. - Convenient parking. - They often have live music. It's quite possible that comparable markets exist in the Cities, but the St. Paul market has plenty of appeal for your common localvore and things only appear to be getting better every year - especially if the city moves forward with resumming construction on the indoor farmer's market/flats across the street.

I don't recall ever being to a farmers market where the produce is so cheap and fresh. So if you're thing is produce, then this is where it's at. However if you like prepared foods and pastries, then you might be a little bit disappointed. There were maybe three pastry vendors all together. If I lived here, I will come here every week to replenish my produce. As a tourist, visiting once was enough. We drove to hmongtown nearby for lunch.

We love the Farmers' Market and we need to come here more often. The prices here are often less than you pay in the store and the items are fresher and last longer. Funny story about the Farmers' Market. When I cook, I make everything from scratch. Several years ago my mother in law wanted a pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. Personally I'm a pecan pie guy but I've got a super mother in law and so pumpkin pie it was going to be. Along side my pecan pie. So the plan was to go to the Farmers' Market and get some pie pumpkins so I could make my pumpkin. Well as turns out the morning of the market we get a killer ice and sleet storm. This however is not going to deter me. I make the drive to St Paul. What usually takes 15-20 minutes takes an hour. When I arrive there are hardly any vendors. Yeah didn't think about that. They were clearly smarter than I was this day. I drove home and visited 3 local orchards before going to the local grocery store which is about 5 minutes from our house. Sure enough they were open and had the pie pumpkins. I thought about throwing one of them while getting what I needed for my pie! Aside from that adventure we love coming to the market to get fruit, vegetables, herbs and meats from our favorite stop Bar 5. Here's a tip about Bar 5. Their smoked Thanksgiving turkey is the best I have ever had! Crazy good. I love to cook and bbq however I cannot come close to making a smoked turkey like they do. How good is it? When we host Thanksgiving I make a deep fried or roasted turkey for the family and keep the smoked turkey for my wife and I after everyone leaves. Hey I love my family but this turkey is outstanding! Check out the Farmers' market. Cash only however some of the vendors do accept credit. Parking is street parking around the market.

This market is amazing! Great, fresh, cheap veggies and beautiful flowers, what more could you ask for?! It is second only to Pike Place Market in my book (and that is coming from someone who just moved from Seattle and thinks Pike Place is one of the best places on earth!). Definitely go check it out, and look at my picture. I got the whole island full for about $20!

We had a great time!! There was so much to look at, we had a great time. Two things: make sure to bring a lot of cash, small bills. Also, be patient there are so many people, Go Early!! Can't stress that enough, the closer it gets to closing the more people they get. Other than that we loved it and will defiantly be back next week! Cauliflower as big as your head is an awesome buy, cucumbers as big as your four arm. Fresh Organic produce was wonderful. Oh! Don't forget a bag to put all of your purchases in, we forgot ours and could have totally used one.

When it comes to farmers markets in general, I tend to be a long-time listener, first-time caller kind of gal. I love farmers markets and believe in everything they stand for. But actually getting to one? Happens a couple times a year. I know -- tragedy. But if I DO make the effort, the St. Paul Farmer's Market is one of my favorites. Among my personal highlights: -the farmers -- always friendly with good prices, you just can't get much fresher. I love walking around the whole place first and then running through to make my purchases. I find them to be incredibly generous, funny and fun to be around. -the flower vendors -- amazingly beautiful flowers at totally cheap prices. I love to bring a bouquet home with my produce. -the guy who makes his own granola. Costly compared to the stuff you buy in the store, but so delicious. -the jerkey guy. -the atmosphere (laid-back, fun and communal) a great place to be on a Saturday. Every time we go, we are pleasantly surprised by something new. And I guess that means I ought to try to go more often.

Love the selection of flowers. Every now and then a girl needs to treat herself to a big bouquet of color. If I'm feeling overly adventerous I will pick up a bunch of stuff, but sadly the adventurous cooking momentum fades fast and I end up with way too much or end up tossing half of it. Wish they had fruit here, but that's alright. Love the dill french bread from the bread stand. Nice and informative vendors.

Best place on earth to get the best produce from local farmers and craftspersons!!

I love this market compared to Minneapolis because it smaller and it's just a great area to walk around in and there's tons of random spots to park. I can't wait till it opens back up!

The St. Paul Farmers' Market is my favorite in the twin cities, since it has a perfect balance of everything. There are tons of options for fresh produce. There are booths selling more value-added food products, such as specialized cooking sauces or premium granolas. There are small eateries offering snacks, meals, and beverages for instant consumption. The entire market is large and varied without being overwhelming or difficult to navigate. And it's all nestled in a charming part of downtown St. Paul. If I have one complaint, it's that parking can be difficult to find. But parking aside, the experience here is delightful. Check it out on Saturday or Sunday mornings, and I'm confident you'll enjoy it too!

I buy assloads of kale each weekend when I stop by. We usually get here right at 7am or a little bit prior. Everyone has been super friendly, and of course we enjoy helping out the local growers. Farmers markets have that wonderful ability to make getting out of bed on a weekend worth doing. Walking amongst the tables of fresh veggies and meats, you get to look forward to a week of cooking (at least I do) and eating such a wide variety of amazing products. I'm psyched this place is here.

The downtown farmer's market in St. Paul is always a joy to visit. It is nice having a layout with the roof over the walkway, and parking (I use the Union Depot ramp off Kellogg) is close by. If you are lucky enough to take a bus or light rail, those are just a block away, perhaps 2 if you walk from the bus. The selection of vendors is good, even in the winter when the market goes indoors. There are frozen items, jarred sauces and salsa, quilts and cheeses, meats of all sorts, and plants and vegetables. It is still largely a cash operation, so you may want to visit your favorite ATM before you visit. Also, bring your own bags if you like. If you want to avoid being hungry before buying stuff, there are some ready-to-eat options there, which you could visit first. A hot-dog and bratwurst cart is always on the southeast corner, with very tasty wares. Keep in mind that the produce is seasonal. While the weather may be nice enough to visit, it may not have been nice enough for long enough for crops to have grown to the point of harvest. It is also a good idea to walk the whole market first, noting the prices of various items, because you will then know if you are getting the best price for the quality you want. There can be a many-dollar range for the same amount of some produce from different vendors, but quality or individual size of the produce may be the deciding factor.

FIND THE FRIED PIEROGIS AND BUTTERED CORN! Everything else is nice as well (especially all of those fresh flower bouquets)! As a tourist, the farmer's market next to Minneapolis' Mill City Museum might be more exciting in variety, but this comes at a close second because fried pierogis and corn always wins hearts.

We go every week weather permitting. Try Bar 5 for about six generations of passionate organic free range fresh chickens. Great for roasting, broasting, you name it. The thing I love the most about the SPFM (even if it isn't true, I maintain that it is) is that you cannot have a stall here if your farm is more than 75-100 miles away. That and there are actual farmers here. I swear I went to the Mpls version off off 55 and 94 and it was a bunch of stuff I could get at super target or cub. Why would I want to buy bulk mangos? Give me what is in season and fresh please!

Another 5 star review of course! This market is amazing, all the produce, herbs, flowers, meats and breads are GORGEOUS. Everything is local ( a requirement of the market itself, which is awesome. Minneapolis market is NOT all local, btw. ) Great prices, I came home with quite a lot for only $17, then spent another $10 on the most AMAZING juniper & peppercorn chevre. OMG. It's so good. Get some honey sticks to suck on while you walk around, it's a good time! Some people have mentioned parking can be troublesome, I can see how it could potentially be an annoyance but I have never had an issue with it myself. It's pretty much all street parking, and it's metered BUT it's electric meters and when I go pay for my stall, the machine says it free for the first 2 hours for "Farmer's Market Special" And I've never parked more than a block away. p.s. bring cash! duh.

Only 2 stars, I'll save that for then end. I like so many things about the SPFM- the great produce, the meats, cheeses, flowers, plants....It's so cool to get a bag of fresh basil for $2, or a neat cave aged cheese that's made nowhere else- in the world! What I dislike about the SPFM is the price fixing. I'm not a grower, so I don't know if there's a memo that comes out, or an early morning conspiracy meeting, but I do know that prices are the same from every grower on the same items, regardless of quality. Why no variation? Why no success based on superior products? When competition is taken out of the equation, complacency settles in and average becomes the norm. I'll still go down on Saturdays, looking for that one vendor wth the guts to show their stuff and give the finger to The Man, but mostly, I'll go so we can stop at Manana on the way home for pupusas.

I *love* this farmers market. -Local produce - Every stand is a real local farm and everything is grown within a certain distance of St Paul. And, the stands aren't allowed to resell things they bought wholesale. -Convenient Design - The market covers one city block and the stands are set up leaving large aisles. This is perfect for me - I take one pass around checking out each stand, then a second pass to purchase.

Don't shy away because it is downtown--it's St. Paul! There are barely any cars! Don't stress about parking. The first 2 hours of street parking are free during Farmers Market hours. That's plenty of time. There are parking lots and ramps nearby on 6th St, but why give them your $5 you could be spending on yummy-ness instead??? Do bring cash or use your EBT card at the token booth. Some vendors take credit cards, but it costs them at least 5% of your purchase to accept that credit card... So, please be nice and bring cash if you can. Definitely walk all the way around the market and check prices and quality before you choose to buy. You may find most items for the same pricing, but the quality and quantity for the same price can vary dramatically! You can especially find great deals on the lower shelves in front in the bulk baskets. Last week I bought a whole gallon sized bucket of mini cukes for only $4!! The cut flowers are amazing and your assistant at work deserves some Monday morning... So do you. :) My only wishes are that the market be open at least 1 day during mid-week, and that they be open later in the day as well, say until 4pm. Oh-- and have hydroponic farmers in the winter!!! Then I would never have to step foot in a commercial grocery store!

Despite the arctic wind yesterday morning, I was happy to go to market to see all the lovely flowers and new produce available. I was even more happy to find the honey guy (Spring Valley, WI) from whom I purchased my 6# jar filled with honey last year because I wanted to return the empty jar to him and buy another one filled with honey. However, due to the windchill factor, I was most happy to walk back to my car, climb inside and sit in a sun-warmed cockpit.

Moving to St. Paul from Minneapolis there are a lot of differences - and this was one of them. The St Paul market is a lot smaller, and less crowded. The food here is all local - where as Minneapolis is not. So even if you're trying to buy local you're not necessarily buying local at the Minneapolis one. The St. Paul is all local - and thus very seasonal. That may take some getting used to if you're from a different state that isn't in this grain belt. But that's the wonder of Minnesota - and the St Paul market - your food travels less that 50 miles to get to you. The St. Paul market is also, and maybe it's biggest selling point - it's year round. rain or shine. Snow or not. It's there. The vendors are really informative - one guy who sells herb plants, would give you a recipe card, or may have it written on his blackboard. Last weekend I was there and got a quick lesson in the various apple species, which ones were great for pies and which ones were ready for eating. Gotta love it. You just gotta.