This year I’ve embarked on a tour of what are considered some of the best farmers markets in the country.
I consulted a variety of sources that rank the best markets, including:

• An Alice Waters interview with USA Today
• Eating Well
• Huffington Post
• MSNBC
• American Farmland Trust

 

I marked their favorites on a big map of the U.S. to look for the common choices and began visiting them as I had the opportunity.
 
This spring I made it to the Sunset Valley market in Austin, Texas just before it relocated. I also spent a glorious morning at Ferry Plaza in San Francisco — the gold standard at this point — and to two different markets run by the Crescent City organization in New Orleans.
Of course I’ve spent time at Union Square in New York — the flagship market in our adopted hometown is amazing.
This weekend we’re road tripping up to the Capital City market in Montpelier, Vt.
Some others on my map include:

• University District in Seattle
• Dane County market in Madison, Wisc.
• Boulder County market in Boulder, Colo.
• Santa Fe Farmers Market, N.M.

What do you think the best farmers markets in the country are? And what do you think makes a market not just good but great?
Want to find a market near you? Or find an excuse for a fall excursion? Check out Local Harvest’s directory.