If you’re new to town (and even if you’re a townie) you might not know the easiest spots to find veggies, fruits and flowers grown in the Athens area. As a farmer, I’ve sold at a few of these markets and do have some biases. Taking that into account, here’s a rundown of where to find fresh, local produce:
Athens Farmers Market (Saturdays 8 a.m.–12 p.m. at Bishop Park; Wednesdays 5–8 p.m. at Creature Comforts)
The Saturday version at Bishop Park (705 Sunset Drive) is the biggest farmers market in the Athens area. Expect to see dozens of vendors, hear live music, pet dogs, smile at babies, munch on prepared food and peruse flowers, produce, art and more. Biking is your best option. Though there’s plenty of parking, there are a lot of cars, too, and football Saturdays usually make any traffic worse. Athens Transit is free, and the No. 7 bus runs past Bishop Park. Dogs are allowed in the park, but must remain outside the main market area. Expect long lines for the most popular vendors. If you don’t get up early, prepare to miss out on favorites. It’s a great place for an early date with a friend or romantic entanglement, but not a good idea for a quick in-and-out grocery run.
The smaller Wednesday market downtown (271 W. Hancock Ave.) is within walking or biking distance from campus. If you are under the age of 21, you can enter and shop at the farmers market stalls, but you’ll be unable to drink. This market contains a smaller number of more experienced farmers, and boasts a wide variety of produce. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are allowed in the outside market, but not inside the brewery.
West Broad Farmers Market (Saturdays 11 a.m.–2 p.m. at 300 S. Rocksprings St.; Tuesdays 5–8 p.m. at Athentic Brewing Co.)
Organized by nonprofit the Athens Land Trust, the West Broad Farmers Market sports a collection of newer farmers and smaller businesses. Vendors usually have time for a conversation, and generally are eager to answer questions. Again, I’d suggest biking—though there are hills that might make you wish you’d ridden the available bus. It’s a great place for supporting the diverse Athens community of people who are building their businesses from the ground up. I regularly ordered from Mannaweenta (Eritrean and Ethiopian food) when the owner ran a food cart at the West Broad Farmers Market years ago. Now, I eat the same delicious food in a brick-and-mortar restaurant as the business has grown. I watched the dollars I spent at a smaller market help a local business succeed. Feels pretty good!
Athentic (108 Park Ave., off Prince Avenue) has designated parking spaces behind the brewery. Biking, the bus and walking are also options. Again, if you’re under 21, this is not the time to try out your big sibling’s ID. Local breweries are strict when it comes to underage drinking because of the penalties they can face.
Marigold Market (Saturdays 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at Pittard Park)
Though in Winterville, Marigold Market is quicker for some Eastside residents than Bishop Park, particularly on game days. It’s a car-only destination, unless you’re more than a casual cyclist. Smaller, newer farmers and businesses are the general rule of thumb here. This park is my favorite market location. It’s shaded, has plenty of places to sit, and dogs are allowed throughout the market. Marigold is the best place for Saturday produce shopping alongside your four-legged friend. It’s also the furthest from the university.
Daily Groceries Co-op (8 a.m.–9 p.m. at 1190 Prince Ave.)
Daily is a cooperative business owned by community members and employees—though open to everyone—selling local produce, prepared foods, flowers and other grocery store items in a flying saucer-shaped former drugstore it recently moved into. Farmers who sell at all the markets are side-by-side here, complete with big, easy-to-see “local” signs. They stock shelves with produce from both newer, small farmers and well-established, bigger producers. The downside? It likely will cost a little extra than directly buying from the farmer. A great option if you need to pick up some tempeh or quinoa along with your veggies.
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