Your Favorite Farmers Markets: HuffPost Readers' Picks (PHOTOS)

HuffPost Green asked you to send in pictures of your favorite farmers markets from around the country and we've been overwhelmed by the response. Here are some highlights -- vote on your favorites!

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Some of the bounty at the Headhouse Farmers' Market in Philadelphia, PA. Picture taken by Benjamin Bergman.

Comments

[lindajoy]

After 21 years in San Francisco I've been in North Carolina for just about 10 years and truly goodness grows in NC. Know thy farmer, know thy food. With five super regional farmers markets - Charlotte-yorkmont is my usual - and untold number of smaller regionals (generally within a mile or two of anywhere that is populated), and a vast network of web-linked road-side and u-pick-em farms and farmstands, there is no need to ever shop in a grocery store.

http://www.ncfarmfresh.com/
http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/facilities/index.htm

Super fresh, local, organic, lots of variety and farmers who share recipes with you and tell you what local restaurants serve up their veggies, meats and dairy.

[daryapino]

Wow! I have hundreds of amazing photos from the San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmers Market over at SummerTomato.com I do a weekly farmers market update.

[flydoghead]

Ferry Building, SF, CA.

[msladydeborah]

The North Market in Columbus, Ohio gets my vote. It is one of the best in the city. Especially during the summer months. In the midwest we do not have the climate to grow veggies and fruits outdoors on year round basis. However, when our growth season begins the North Market provides locally grown organic foods.

[StopGlobalWarmingBeVegan]

Time to make some raw organic smoothie!!

[EagleBenny]

I don't know if even I would go that far.

[chi01]

1. Union Square NY, NY
2. Portland OR.
3. Hollywood CA.
4. Frisco farmers market
5. Oakland CA
6. Ithaca NY
7. Philly PA.

Based on price, accessibility, chemical free/organic/free range choices, locally grown and charm

[singermuse]

There are wonderful farmer's markets in Sonoma County, California. Sebastopol and Healdsburg have some wonderful selections of produce, but the largest and oldest, in Santa Rosa is a great one too. When we support our Farmer's markets we are supporting our local farmers and helping preserve something we should never lose to the monster corporations. Think globally, eat/shop locally!

[legosmom]

woohooo for Sonoma County Farmers Markets! I can't beleive I read the story and scrolled down to see your comment - I have been going to the farmers market at the Veterans Building/Fairground on Saturdays for years! There used to be an aswesome wild/exotic mushroom guy from somewhere near Mendocino.­..Sebastop­ol is fun too - I often pinch myself and remind myself that we live in food heaven in Sonoma County...o­h the cheese, the wine, the tomato festival!!!!

[kimonotouille]

Hands down, the Saturday market at the Ferry Building in SF...the variety, quality, joie de vivre, colours and scents are amazing...­and you can fill up on the samples or buy a delicious breakfast or lunch.

[gretchenart]

I agree--my vote goes to that one too, though the San Rafael, CA and the Walnut Creek, CA are nice as well. Overall, I have seen the best farmers' markets in California due to the overall variety available, size, etc. I did enjoy the 9th street market in Philadelphia quite well though too and I am sure there are other nice markets around the country.
Still my favorite markets are in Europe, such as in Venice or Paris, etc.

[OneLiberalLady]

Bellingham, WA (90 miles north of Seattle) has a delightful Farmer's Market which runs for 8 months of the year, in a partially enclosed space built specifically for the purpose. On Saturdays in high season, there are tons of produce vendors representing small farms all around. Additionally there are some great vendors of artisanal products, edible and not. And great "buskers".­...street musicians. It's a really festive atmosphere.

[johnnynyc]

No Union Square Farmer's Market in NY, NY??

I vote to secede!

http://www.urban75.org/vista/newyork10.html

[katyek]

Dragonfruit and mangos!!!! Yeah Haleiwa Farmers Market no ka oi (is the best!)

[catgirl212]

The Ferry Building Farmer's Market in SF is nice but the produce is so expensive. How can a teacher or fireman with two kids afford eating this well? THEY CANT and that's the ridiculous part of all the celebrations of farmer's markets around the nation. Only the upper middle class and rich can afford them. Just like everything else in this country, if you have money you live well, everyone else can go on living with chemicals in their food.

[PrairieDog]

That's a load of free-range crapola. I have been a regular at farmer's markets for 25 years in Champaign-Urbana & Athens, Ohio. Sure you can get it cheaper in the store but you get what you pay for. I'll buy spinach in a store & it starts going dark in a couple days while I can have market street for over a week & it's still good. I'll still get commercial store produce in season but nowhere near as much when you have a better product available that fresher, tastier & in many cases, chemical free. It's true I can't afford to buy all my stuff at the market. But why settle for second- or third-best for your family?

[PrairieDog]

market street
----
That was supposed to be "market spinach". it was a long grueling day at work. Scuse me while I get a Southern Illinois peach from the fridge.

[maiforpeace]

The San Francisco farmer's market at the ferry building is a big market with a large selection and is pricey for that reason. It's the smaller markets that aren't as interesting, but still have the great produce with good prices.

Try going meatless one or two days a week more a week, and you will easily be able to afford to buy the more expensive produce at a farmer's market.

[chi01]

i never go there, way overpriced, i prefer Civic center, Fillmore st or tiny little Grove st farmers markets, thumbs down on the Ferry Building Market

[Fae Wayard]

Agreed on the Sunday morning "Heart of the City" market at the Civic Center being our source for affordable regular staples in San Francisco, we go to the Ferry Building market mostly just to browse, meet up with friends, and meet a more diverse collection of area farmers, but it's too expensive for us to do much shopping there. My partner blogs & now podcasts about SOLE food in the area also: http://mindfulindividual.wordpress.com/

[Kevanlove]

No Pike Place Market in Seattle?

What are you, nuts?

[OneLiberalLady]

The grandadaddy of Public Markets. Yes, they are nuts all righty!

[SpaceCadette]

The Hollywood CA Sunday farmer's market is good, so is the Mountain View CA sunday FM, and the Montrose CA FM. These are all my faves, although I do like going to the Ferry Plaza FM, in San Francisco.­..can't beat the view round back, of the Bay, Alcatraz and the Bay bridge!

[Marya Gomez]

There's a contest where the "favorite" farmers market can earn cash prizes! http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket

[paxmeow]

Yes, I just poked around and you can vote for almost all of these markets to help them win $5,000:

Headhouse Farmers Market in Philadelphia, PA:
http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/23199

Downtown Farmers Market in Santa Cruz, CA:
http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/3833

Hale'iwa Farmers Market in Hale'iwa, HI:
http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/27314

Portland Farmers Market in Portland, OR:
http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/15079

Hollywood Farmers Market in Hollywood, CA:
http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/3761

Brookline Farmers Market in Brookline, MA:
http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/2328

Cowtown Farmers Market in Fort Worth, TX:
http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/16695

Santa Monica Wednesday Farmers Market in Santa Monica, CA:
http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/31027

Daley Plaza Farmers Market in Chicago, IL:
http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/1972
(there are over 30 Chicago markets on the site to vote for!)

so you can show your market some love and vote!