While it may be cheap and easy to find strawberries from South America or tomatoes from Mexico in the produce sections of big grocery stores, for those committed to eating local there are still plenty of options for finding fresh, local and organic options right here in Georgia. Winter produce opens up a whole new realm of locally fresh items, and there are plenty of locations in Atlanta to find them and support your local farmers!
Decatur Farmer’s Market is an east side staple which offers local, organic and sustainable produce, meats and cheeses, prepared and baked goods. The hours are 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturdays and 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. on Wednesdays from November through February. Notable participating farms and businesses include Mercier Orchards, Darby Farms, Pine Street Market and Johnston Dairy. The location is different on Saturdays and Wednesdays but directions and locations can be found here. You can also check them out on Facebook or join their e-mail list to get updates on product availability.
Another locally sourced market, The Local Farmstand, is currently featuring Georgia-grown apples, muscadine grapes, greens such as arugula, kale and brussel sprouts, as well as potatoes, turnips and beets. The farmstand is within Westside Urban Market at 1198 Howell Mill Road. The love child of Crystal Organic Farm and Love is Love Farm, the market's stated goal is to be a reliable, convenient and trustworthy produce stand with organic and sustainable items. Hours are Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Decatur Farmer’s Market is an east side staple which offers local, organic and sustainable produce, meats and cheeses, prepared and baked goods. The hours are 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturdays and 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. on Wednesdays from November through February. Notable participating farms and businesses include Mercier Orchards, Darby Farms, Pine Street Market and Johnston Dairy. The location is different on Saturdays and Wednesdays but directions and locations can be found here. You can also check them out on Facebook or join their e-mail list to get updates on product availability.
Another locally sourced market, The Local Farmstand, is currently featuring Georgia-grown apples, muscadine grapes, greens such as arugula, kale and brussel sprouts, as well as potatoes, turnips and beets. The farmstand is within Westside Urban Market at 1198 Howell Mill Road. The love child of Crystal Organic Farm and Love is Love Farm, the market's stated goal is to be a reliable, convenient and trustworthy produce stand with organic and sustainable items. Hours are Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Sponsored by Georgia Organics, Slow Food Atlanta and the Virginia Highlands Business Associations (among others), Morning Side Market has been a source for organic produce since 1995. It runs year-round and can be found at 1393 N. Highland Ave. Hours are 8 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Get there early (9:30 a.m.) and you can shop with a local chef and benefit from an expert’s knowledge on what you’re buying. Click here for the schedule, and you just might get to shop with your favorite Atlanta chef!
Not keen on waking up early or driving all over town? Joining a Community Supported Agriculture or CSA could be the answer. CSAs are cooperatives with a number of local farmers, each growing a specialty and selling their items together. These include organic cheeses and meats, produce and a number of specialty items such as salsas or juices. CSAs in Georgia often involve farmers from Tennessee, Alabama and Florida as well, though large farms can offer enough variety to support their own CSA. Being a part of a CSA ensures that you have the freshest produce - usually picked up from an agreed upon location weekly or sometimes even delivered right to your door - and the farmer is able to invest the dues into the farm. It's truly a win-win. Some that deliver to the Atlanta area are Farmers Fresh CSA, Moore Farms and Friends, Atlanta Locally Grown, and TaylOrganic. Riverview Farms is worth mentioning separately as it provides organic, grass fed meat and poultry and also features the “Farm Mobile,” a small mobile market of organic and sustainable foods that travels the Atlanta area including stops around the perimeter.
Happy local eating!
Compiled and written by Sara Goodell, Flavors Editorial Assistant.
Not keen on waking up early or driving all over town? Joining a Community Supported Agriculture or CSA could be the answer. CSAs are cooperatives with a number of local farmers, each growing a specialty and selling their items together. These include organic cheeses and meats, produce and a number of specialty items such as salsas or juices. CSAs in Georgia often involve farmers from Tennessee, Alabama and Florida as well, though large farms can offer enough variety to support their own CSA. Being a part of a CSA ensures that you have the freshest produce - usually picked up from an agreed upon location weekly or sometimes even delivered right to your door - and the farmer is able to invest the dues into the farm. It's truly a win-win. Some that deliver to the Atlanta area are Farmers Fresh CSA, Moore Farms and Friends, Atlanta Locally Grown, and TaylOrganic. Riverview Farms is worth mentioning separately as it provides organic, grass fed meat and poultry and also features the “Farm Mobile,” a small mobile market of organic and sustainable foods that travels the Atlanta area including stops around the perimeter.
Happy local eating!
Compiled and written by Sara Goodell, Flavors Editorial Assistant.
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