Metro Atlanta 2018 Farmers Market Guide

ATLANTA, GA — The weather is warming up, the days are getting longer in metro Atlanta, and organizers behind the area's farmers market are just weeks away from opening their 2018 seasons to the public.

Typically held Saturday mornings and some sessions scheduled one day during the week, farmers markets allow area vendors to showcase their hand-crafted, locally sourced and grown produce, pastries, jams and jellies, meats, cheeses, soaps and other items (For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here).

These markets give customers a unique opportunity to take home quality meats, fruits, vegetables and other items virtually grown and cultivated within miles of their homes or from around the state. Some markets also offer special programs and demonstrations for adults as well as children. Here's a roundup of area farmers markets you and your family can check out:

Downtown Alpharetta Farmers Market

• Opening date: April 14
• Schedule: Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Location: 1 South Main Street, Alpharetta
• Other details: the market will be closed on stormy days with wind, rain, and lightning; a one-time Saturday closing will be held on the annual Old Soldiers Day Parade, which is set for Aug. 4.

Green Market at Piedmont Park

• Opening date: March 24
• Schedule: Saturdays from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. March through November
• Location: inside the 12th Street at Piedmont Avenue entrance
• Other details: cooking demonstrations, live music, children's activity area, history tours

Morningside Farmers Market

• Operates year round
• Schedule: each Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Location: 1393 N. Highland Ave, Atlanta (across the street from Alon’s Bakery — next door to Morningside Kitchen restaurant)
• Other details: Requires all produce to be certified organic; free parking in Morningside Village plaza parking lot across the street.

Peachtree Road Farmers Market

• Opening date: April 7
• Schedule: Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to noon through Sept. 29; and 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 6 through Dec. 15
• Location: The Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta
• Other details: market is open rain or shine; in the event of bad weather, market moved inside the church; accepts SNAP benefits; more than 35 chef demonstrations are scheduled for this season and 50 weekly vendors have signed on.

Grant Park Farmers Market

• Opening date: April 8
• Schedule: Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Location: 600 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta,
• Other details: SNAP/EBT dollars are matched at participating farmers markets.

Fresh MARTA Markets

• Pop-up farm stand that takes place at four MARTA Stations: West End, 680 Lee Street SW, Atlanta); Five Points (30 Alabama Street SW, Atlanta); College Park (3800 Main Street); and H.E. Holmes (70 Hamilton E Holmes Drive NW)
• Opening dates: May 1, West End; May 9, Homes; May 10, College Park; May 4, Five Points
• Other details: the market sources locally grown produce from members of the Southwest Atlanta Growers Cooperative, farmers affiliated with Community Farmers Markets and other local food hubs. The markets accept cash, credit and debit cards and SNAP benefits. The use of SNAP is doubled at the market, meaning that $5 swiped is worth $10 to spend.

Freedom Farmers Market at The Carter Center

• Opening date: March 10
• Schedule: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through December
• Location: Carter Center Library, 453 Freedom Parkway NE, Atlanta
• Other details: Each March through December market features live music, a kid's tent, and a local chef with hot prepared foods. The market also holds monthly events featuring the fruit or vegetable of the season.

Ponce City Farmers Market

• Opening date: April 10
• Schedule: Tuesdays, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Location: The shed at Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Avenue NE, Atlanta
• Other details: the market is located along the Eastside BeltLine Trail

Brookhaven Farmers Market

• Opening date: April 7
• Schedule: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon
• Location: 1375 Fernwood Circle NE
• Other details: market includes chef demonstrations and recipes

Decatur Farmers Market

• Opening dates: April 11 for Wednesday markets and April 14 for Saturday markets
• Schedule: Wednesdays, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Location: 308 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur

Marietta Square Farmers Market

• Opening dates: year round for Saturdays (9 a.m. to noon); noon to 3 p.m. Sundays
• Schedule: Sunday sessions start in May and run through October.
• Location: 65 Church St NW, Marietta

Heritage Sandy Springs Farmers Market

• Opening date: April 14
• Schedule: Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to noon through December
• Location: 6100 Lake Forrest Drive, Sandy Springs

Roswell Farmers and Artisan Market

• Opening date: April 14
• Schedule: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays through Oct. 27
• Location: Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill Street

Lilburn Farmers Market

• Opening date: June 1
• Schedule: Fridays, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in June, July and August
• Location: Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 1400 Killian Hill Road, Lilburn

Norcross Community Market

• Opening date: June 2
• Schedule: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through August
• Location: Well Park, 5 College Street, Norcross

Woodstock's Farm. Fresh. Market.

• Opening date: April 21
• Schedule: Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to noon through Dec. 29
• Location: along Market Street near the Noonday Creek Trail head.

Canton Farmers Market

• Opening date: May 26
• Schedule: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October
• Location: Cannon Park (on the square in downtown Canton)

Downtown Cartersville Farmers Market

• Opening date: May 2
• Schedule: 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 31.
• Location: Founders Oak Parking Lot (across from Cartersville City Hall, which is at 10 N. Public Square)

Did we miss any markets happening this year? Tell us in the comments!

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