What National Farmers Market Week Means in South Florida

August 08, 2022

Urban Oasis Project stand at Vizcaya Village farmers market

How special are we in South Florida? At our farmers markets, you might see peacocks and iguanas wandering around. Arils from the Juicy-Fruity jackfruit are presented to sample. And snacks from around the globe – empanadas, potstickers, maamoul, samosas, alfajores –- to name but a very few.

For much of the United States, it’s the height of the farmers market season during National Farmers Market Week (Aug 7-13). Stalls overflow with sweet corn, stone fruits, squash, beans and all the bounty of the season.

Here, local sweet corn won’t hit the markets for another six months or so. Instead, our farmers markets are stocked with local tropical fruits: watermelon-sized jackfruit, avocados in all shapes and sizes, starfruit, dragon fruit, sapodilla and bananas, and veggies that can survive our summer heat, like okra, plus hydroponically grown herbs and lettuce and container-grown mushrooms.

Why Support Your Market?

If you’re a regular farmers market shopper, you know many of the reasons it’s worth your time. You can pick up fresh fruits and veggies, often just harvested; get freshly caught local seafood and ceviche; and buy freshly baked breads and pastries, locally made preserves and jellies, honey, fresh juices, smoothies and kombucha. If you've never tried butterfly pea tea made with local flowers, or gamboge, the farmers market is the place to find unusual local products. Fancy a picnic? Stock up on prepared foods, including vegan choices. And if you’re looking for gifts – think artisan soaps and candles, sweets, plants and flowers – your friendly farmers market offers plenty of choices.

But there are good reasons beyond shopping to make visiting farmers markets a habit. They serve as a community hub, a place to connect with friends and neighbors every week. You can chat over coffee and socialize the pups. You'll get to know our local farmers, artisans and vendors by name (and they might set aside that special babka or fragant guavas just for you.

Photo 1: Juices at Legion Park Farmers Market

Photo 2: Chelle’s Conch

Photo 3: Little River Cooperative stand

Other benefits of markets, according to the Farmers Market Coalition, are critically important to the community and the nation. Farmers markets preserve farmland, a key concern nationally and locally as developers buy up land in our agricultural district. They increase access to nutritious food in the community through SNAP-EBT programs. They promote sustainability in many ways – those green-skin avocados you bought came from a grove 15, not 2,000, miles away, for example.

For regular farmers market shoppers: thanks for your support! Bring a friend or neighbor. If you’re new to our farmers market scene, here’s our regularly updated list of farmers markets here. Follow our social media feeds for regular updates on the markets every weekend. And when you’re wondering what to do with all those beautiful passionfruit you bought – well, we can help too, with recipes plus ways to store and keep them.

South Florida's farmers markets are unique, just like our subtropical paradise here. Make them part of your routine. And happy National Farmers Market Week to all of us!