Food for Thought: Farmers Markets Offer a Fresh Shopping Experience

Doug Reynics

I’ll tell you something about me. I love to shop for groceries and food items. I love spices and try to shop at places that offer me a wide array of flavor choices. We are so fortunate to have so many options for the larger farmers markets and smaller specialty food markets. I’m going to share a small list of places I either frequent or have heard about. I invite you to try one (or more) you haven’t shopped before.

First is Your Dekalb Farmers Market. The market launched in 1977 as a small produce stand before moving into its current digs, a massive 140,000-square-foot warehouse in Decatur. They serve over 100,000 customers every week! My favorite item is the massive selection of incredibly cheap and high-quality spices. I can buy enough smoked paprika to fill my spice jar five times for less than the price of one jar from the supermarket. I also continue to be impressed with the wide array of produce from all over the world. If you look closely at each produce item, they list the state or country of origin. I am fascinated eating zucchini grown in Guatemala when the local Georgia produce is hot in season. They also have an extensive selection of wines, breads and desserts, florals, cheeses and meats. It’s a fun visit but one you should time to avoid peak weekend mid-day crowds.

I also am a big fan of the Buford Highway Farmers Market. It’s a very different shopping experience versus the DeKalb farmers market. The produce layout is a little bit more pedestrian-friendly. They also carry pots and pans and home goods items. They are the only local farmers market where I can find my kaffir lime leaves which I use in Thai dishes. The selection of pirogi is unparalleled in the area. It’s worth trying a few different types that seem more authentic than the traditional store-bought supermarket chain type varieties. They also carry a decent selection of herbs and spices. It’s a place you can easily spend several hours wandering around.

I also would recommend that you try any number of smaller, local farmers markets. The Tucker Market is located on the grounds of Saint Andrews Church on Lavista Road. They operate late Thursdays from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. online and in-person. It’s nice to be able to talk directly to your farmer as you buy their produce. The Avondale Estates Farmers Market, located at 22 N. Avondale Road, operates on Sundays year-round from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Freedom Farmers Market, located on the grounds of the Carter Center Library, at 453 Freedom Parkway Northeast in Atlanta, operates Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. until noon. The location itself is worth the drive; the grounds of the Carter Center are just lovely. The Brookhaven Farmers Market, located at 1375 Fernwood Circle NE in Brookhaven, operates from March to November. The Peachtree Road Farmers Market, located at 2744 Peachtree Road, is open Saturdays 8:30 am to 12 noon.

For those that would prefer an online-only shopping experience, Norcross Community Market currently is online only, with pick-ups Wednesday afternoons. For more info on their unique shopping experience, visit norcrosscommunitymarket.com.

There are literally hundreds more markets throughout the Atlanta area. Google to find others and let me know your experiences!

Doug Reynics is a longtime Tucker resident and self-described “foodie.” Many know him as “Doug the Driver,” who provides rides to and from both the domestic and international airport terminals. (To date, his service has provided 1,650 airport rides!) If you have a food story or question you would like to see him write about, email him at dougthedriver1@gmail.com.