Farmers markets opening around Twin Cities metro area

By Danielle Dullinger • Special to the Star Tribune

The scent of fresh-baked goods fills the air. Tender greens cover tables. A band plays as visitors tap their feet. And taste buds water at the prospect of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Now that spring has arrived after one of the longest, hardest winters in memory, outdoor farmers markets are opening around the Twin Cities metro area. Each week this month and into June more markets will open, expanding the number of places to find locally grown foods, handmade arts and crafts, and cheerful company. Here's a list of many farmers markets around the area. If you know of others, e-mail events@startribune.com.

Location: Central Park along Main Avenue.

Hours: Thursdays from June 19 to Sept. 25, 3 to 7 p.m.

Location: Grace Lutheran Church, 13655 Round Lake Blvd.

Hours: Tuesdays from May 6 to Oct. 28, 2 to 6 p.m.

Location: 7100 W. 147th St.

Location: Minnesota Zoo, 13000 Zoo Blvd.

Hours: Wednesdays from July 9 to Aug. 27, noon to 4 p.m.

Location: St. Timothy's Catholic Church, 707 89th Av. NE.

Hours: Saturdays from 7 a.m. to noon starting May 3, and Tuesdays from 2 to 5:30 p.m. starting July 15.

Location: Bloomington Civic Plaza in the east parking lot at 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd.

Discover Farmers Market

Location: Discover Church parking lot, 1400 81st Av. N.

Hours: Tuesdays from May 20 to Oct. 14, 3 to 7 p.m.

Brooklyn Park Farmers Market

Location: Zane Sports Park, 8717 Zane Av. N.

Location: 200 W. Burnsville Pkwy.

Hours: Saturdays from June 14 to Oct. 25, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Location: Mary, Mother of the Church, 3333 Cliff Rd.

Hours: Thursdays from May 8 to Oct. 30, noon to 5 p.m.

Location: City Center Park, 78th Street and Market Boulevard.

Location: Carver County Government Center parking lot.

Hours: Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. No official start date is set, but it is slated to begin in June and go through October.

Location: Eagan Festival Grounds at Central Park, 1501 Central Pkwy.

Hours: Wednesdays from June 4 to Sept. 24, 4 to 8 p.m.

Location: Centennial Lakes Park on France Avenue S.

Location: Downtown Elk River at Park Plaza on Main Street.

Hours: Thursdays from June 26 to Oct. 2, 2 to 6 p.m.

Location: Water Street between 2nd and 3rd streets, downtown.

Hours: Thursdays from May 1 to Oct. 30, 2 to 6 p.m.

Location: 7800 Golden Valley Rd., by City Hall under the water tower.

Location: On 9th Avenue a half block south of the Mainstreet Clock Tower, downtown.

Hours: Saturdays from June 14 to Oct. 25 from 7:30 a.m. to noon.

Location: Veterans Memorial Community Center, 8055 Barbara Av.

Hours: Sundays from June 22 to Oct. 5, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Location: 208th Street W. and Holyoke Avenue.

Location: AMF Saxon Lanes, 61 Little Canada Rd.

Hours: Mondays from June 16 to Oct. 13, 3 to 6:30 p.m.

Location: 12951 Weaver Lake Rd.

Hours: Thursdays from June 12 to Oct. 23, 3 to 7 p.m. through September, 3-6 p.m. in October.

Location: 1850 White Bear Av. N.

Linden Hills Farmers Market

Location: Settegren Ace Hardware parking lot, 5405 Penn Av S.

Hours: Sundays, June 1 to October, 7 to 9 a.m.

Mill City Farmers Market

Location: 704 S. 2nd St., between the Guthrie Theater and the Mill City Museum.

Minneapolis Farmers Market

Location: 312 E. Lyndale Av. N.

Hours: Every day from April 26 to mid-November, 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Nicollet Mall Farmers Market (downtown extension of Minneapolis Farmers Market)

Location: Nicollet Avenue from 5th to 12th Avenues S.

Northeast Farmers Market

Location: St. Boniface Church parking lot on University and 7th Avenues NE.

Hours: Saturdays from May 31 to Oct. 25, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Fulton Farmers Market

Location: 4901 Chowen Av. S.

Kingfield Farmers Market

Location: 4310 Nicollet Av.

Hours: Sundays from May 18 to Oct. 26, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Midtown Farmers Market

Location: Lake Street E. and 22nd Avenue S.

University of Minnesota Farmers Market

Location: University of Minnesota East Bank Campus, Church Street pedestrian mall.

Hours: Wednesdays from July 9 to Oct. 8, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

West Broadway Farmers Market

Location: 900 West Broadway (West Broadway and Emerson).

Location: Minnetonka Civic Center Campus, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd.

Hours: Tuesdays from July 1 to Sept. 30, 3-7 p.m.

Location: New Hope's City Center at 4300 Xylon Av. N.

Hours: Saturdays from June 21 to Oct. 4, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Location: Riverside Park on W. 7th St. downtown.

Location: 5th Street NW. next to Boerboom Park.

Hours: Tuesdays, July to September from 2 to 6 p.m.

Location: Plymouth Ice Center parking lot, 3650 Plymouth Blvd.

Hours: Wednesdays from June 18 to Oct. 1, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Saturday Market

Hours: Saturdays from May 17 to Oct. 25., 7 a.m. to noon until September and 8 a.m. to noon during October.

Wednesday Market

Location: 6400 Lyndale Av. S.

Hours: Wednesdays from June 4 to Sept. 10, 2-7 p.m.

Location: Parking lot on Oakdale Avenue at North Memorial Medical Center

Location: New location for 2014 at 12724 Main St. near Veterans Memorial and Triangle Park Community Gardens

Hours: Wednesdays from June 11 to Oct. 8, 3 to 6:30 p.m.

Location: 13885 S. Robert Trail.

Hours: Tuesdays June 17 to Sept. 30, 1 to 5 p.m.

Location: Church of Corpus Christi, 2131 Fairview Av. N.

Location: Quentin Avenue and Hwy. 13.

Hours: Sundays from June 1 to Oct. 26, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Location: Shoreview Community Center, 4580 Victoria St. N.

Hours: Tuesdays from June 17 to Oct. 14, 3 to 7 p.m.

The city doesn't have a "true" farmers market, but it does have Fresh Tuesdays outside the recreation center. It features one vendor selling fresh produce and flowers.

Hours: Tuesdays from June 17 to Sept. 23, 2:30 to 7 p.m.

Lowertown

Location: 290 E. 5th St.

Hours: Saturdays from May 3 to Nov. 22, 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Sundays from May 4 to Nov. 23, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

7th Place Mall, downtown

Hours: Tuesdays from June 10 to Oct. 14, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Thursdays from June 12 to Oct. 16, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

St. Thomas More Church

Location: 1079 Summit Av.

Hours: Fridays from May 2 to Oct. 31, 1:15 to 5 p.m.

Location: 1151 Southview Blvd.

Location: Signal Hills Mall, 1201 S. Robert St.

Hours: Fridays from June 13 to Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to noon.

Location: Off Hwy. 61 and 4th Street on Washington Avenue, downtown.

Hours: Fridays from June 27 to Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to noon.

Location: 2175 Radio Drive

Danielle Dullinger is a University of Minnesota student reporter on assignment for the Star Tribune.