Twin Cities farmers markets: Turning grocery shopping into an outing

By Anna Pratt • Special to the Star Tribune

The Fridley Farmers Market has a mission to "enrich body and soul" by connecting people to the land in more ways than one.

That could also be said of many local farmers markets, which provide not only a wide array of fresh fruits and vegetables and other goods, but also occasional live entertainment and the chance to mingle with neighbors.

Paul Hugunin, who coordinates the Minnesota Grown program through the state Department of Agriculture, said the markets offer an experience: "It's more of an outing as opposed to just a shopping trip," he said.

It's a formula that seems to be working, as more and more markets are springing up every year, a trend that gained momentum in the early 2000s, he said.

To date, Minnesota Grown counts 182 farmers markets statewide, which are searchable at www.minnesotagrown.com/member-directory/. (Some also have indoor markets in the wintertime, which was unheard of 15 years ago, Hugunin said.)

Hugunin attributes the growth in part to the fact that communities are seeing markets as a way to "to retain their identities and get people together and support local businesses," Hugunin said.

"People want to make improvements to their lifestyle and make better choices about what they eat."

Farmers markets are a good venue for that, as shoppers can chat with a farmer about the best way to store their apples or find out how to cook a certain type of vegetable, Hugunin said.

Here's a roundup of metro-area farmers markets, including many that are getting underway in the coming weeks.

Albertville: Central Park, 5801 Main Av. NE.; Thursdays, June 19 to Sept. 25, 3 to 7 p.m.

Andover: Grace Lutheran Church, 13655 Round Lake Blvd. NW.; Tuesdays, May 5 to Oct. 27, 2 to 6 p.m.

Blaine (Anoka County Farmers Market): St. Timothy's Catholic Church, 707 89th Av. NE.; Saturdays 7 a.m. to noon starting May 3, and Tuesdays 2 to 5:30 p.m. starting July 14

Brooklyn Park: Zane Sports Park, 8717 Zane Av. N.; Wednesdays, June 17 to Oct. 14, 3 to 7 p.m.

Coon Rapids: Coon Rapids Ice Arena, 11000 Crooked Lake Blvd.; Wednesdays starting July 15, 3 to 6 p.m.

Champlin: Champlin Ice Forum, 12165 Ensign Av. N.; Wednesdays, July 8 to Oct. 7, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Elk River: Parking lots at 716 and 720 Main St. in downtown Elk River; Thursdays, June 25 to Oct. 1, 2 to 6 p.m.

Fridley: Fridley Community Center, 6085 7th St. NE.; Saturdays, May 9 to Oct 31, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lexington: 4175 Lovell Rd.; Wednesdays, June 17 to Oct. 8, 3 to 7 p.m.

Maple Grove: 12951 Weaver Lake Rd.; Thursdays, June 11 to Oct. 22, 3 to 7 p.m. through September, 3-6 p.m. in October.

New Hope Community Farmers Market: St. Joseph's Church, 8701 N. 36th Av.; Saturdays, June 20 to Oct. 3, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (9 a.m. start time beginning Sept. 12).

Osseo: 5th Avenue NE. north of Boerboom Park in downtown Osseo; Tuesdays, July 8 to Sept. 23, 2 to 6 p.m.

Robbinsdale: North Memorial Medical Center, 3300 Oakdale Ave N.; Fridays starting in July, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Rogers: 12724 Main St. near the Veterans Memorial and Triangle Park Community Gardens; Wednesdays, June 10 to Oct. 7, 3 to 6:30 p.m.

Zimmerman: Lions Park, 25850 Main St.; Tuesdays, June 2 to Oct. 6, 2:30 to 6 p.m.

Apple Valley, location 1: 7100 W. 147th St.; Saturdays, June 13 to Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Apple Valley, location 2: Minnesota Zoo, 13000 Zoo Blvd.; Wednesdays, July 8 to Aug. 26, noon to 4 p.m.

Burnsville, location 2: Mary, Mother of the Church, 3333 Cliff Rd.; Thursdays, May 7 to Oct. 29, noon to 5 p.m.

Eagan: Eagan Festival Grounds, 1501 Central Pkwy. (adjacent to the Eagan Community Center); Wednesdays, June 3 to Sept. 30, 4 to 8 p.m.

Lakeville, location 1: Near the corner of Holyoke and 210th St.; Saturdays, June 20 to Sept. 26, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Lakeville, location 2: At 208th and Holyoke in downtown Lakeville; Wednesdays, June 10 to Oct. 28, noon to 5 p.m.

Prior Lake: Main Street, downtown Prior Lake just off of Hwy. 13 and County Rd. 21; Saturdays, May 9 to Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to noon.

Bloomington: Bloomington Civic Plaza, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd. (east parking lot); Saturdays, June 6 to Oct. 17, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Carver: Community Park, 800 6th St. W.; Thursdays, June 4 to Sept. 24, 3 to 6 p.m.

Chanhassen: City Center Park, 7700 Market Blvd.; Saturdays, May 10 through October, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Chaska: City Square Park, 300 N. Chestnut St.; Wednesdays, June 3 to Oct. 14, 3 to 7 p.m.

Edina: Centennial Lakes Park, 7499 France Av. S.; Thursdays, June 13 to Sept. 26, 3 to 7 p.m.

Golden Valley (Market in the Valley): 7800 Golden Valley Rd., by City Hall under the water tower; Season starts in June, dates to be determined.

Hopkins: On 9th Avenue a half-block south of the Mainstreet Clock Tower in downtown Hopkins; Saturdays, June 20 to Oct. 31 from 7:30 a.m. to noon.

Minnetonka: Minnetonka Civic Center Campus, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd.; Tuesdays, June 30 to Sept. 29, 3-7 p.m.

Plymouth: Parkers Lake Playfield, 15500 County Rd. 6; Wednesdays, June 24 to Sept. 30, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Richfield: Veterans Memorial Park, 64th Street and Portland Avenue S.; Saturdays, May 16 to Oct. 24, 7 a.m. to noon until September and 8 a.m. start time in October.

Linden Hills Farmers Market: Settergren Ace Hardware, 2813 W. 43rd St.; Sundays, May 17 through October, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Mill City Farmers Market: 704 S. 2nd St., between the Guthrie Theater and the Mill City Museum; Saturdays, May 9 to Oct. 31, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 9 a.m. start time in October.

Minneapolis Farmers Market: 312 E. Lyndale Av. N.; daily, May through October, 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hennepin Avenue Farmers Market: (downtown extension of Minneapolis Farmers Market) Hennepin Avenue from 5th St. to 10th St. (moved from Nicollet Avenue for the 2015 season); Thursdays, May to November, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Northeast Farmers Market: St. Boniface Church, 629 2nd St. NE.; Saturdays, May 30 to Oct. 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Kingfield Farmers Market: 4310 Nicollet Av. S., Minneapolis; Sundays, May 17 to Oct. 25, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Midtown Farmers Market: E. Lake Street and 22nd Avenue S., Minneapolis; Saturdays, May 2 to Oct. 24, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Tuesdays from June 2 to Oct. 27, 3-7 p.m.

Nokomis Farmers Market: 5167 Chicago Av. S., Minneapolis; Wednesdays, June 17 to Sept. 30, 4 to 8 p.m.

University of Minnesota Farmers Market: Gateway Plaza outside the McNamara Alumni Center, 200 S.E. Oak St., Minneapolis; Wednesdays starting July 8, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

West Broadway Farmers Market: 1000 W. Broadway, in Minneapolis; Fridays, June 19 to Oct. 9, 3 to 7 p.m.

Little Canada: AMF Saxon Lanes, 61 E. Little Canada Rd.; Mondays, June 22 to Oct. 12, 3 to 6:30 p.m.

Maplewood (Aldrich Arena Farmers Market): Aldrich Arena, 1850 White Bear Av.; Wednesdays, May 13 to Oct. 28, 8 a.m. to noon

Rosemount: 13885 S. Robert Trail (community center parking lot); Tuesdays, June 16 to Sept. 29, 1 to 5 p.m.

Roseville: Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 2131 Fairview Av. N.; Tuesdays, May 5 to Oct. 27, 8 a.m. to noon.

Shoreview: Shoreview Community Center, 4600 N. Victoria St.; Tuesdays, June 16 to Oct. 20, 3 to 7 p.m.

7th Place Mall: At 7th Place Mall in St. Paul; Tuesdays, June 9 to Oct. 15, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Thursdays, June 9 to Oct. 15, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

St. Thomas More Church: 1079 Summit Av., St. Paul; Fridays, May 1 to Oct. 30, 1:15 to 5 p.m.

South St. Paul: 1151 Southview Blvd.; Wednesdays, July 1 to Sept. 30, 2 to 6 p.m.

West St. Paul: Signal Hills Mall, 1201 S. Robert St.; Fridays, June 12 to Oct. 30, 8 a.m. to noon.

White Bear Lake: Off Hwy. 61 and 4th Street on Washington Avenue, downtown White Bear Lake; Fridays, June 26 to Oct. 30, 8 a.m. to noon.

Anna Pratt is a freelance Minneapolis writer. She can be reached at annaprattjournalist@gmail.com.