Southern Living – The 17 Best Farmers’ Markets In The South

Original article written by Jennifer Justus for Southern Living

There’s nothing like preparing a meal using the bounty of the season. Whether it’s a blueberry cobbler jam packed with fruit from a local orchard or an heirloom tomato salad that spotlights the season’s best and brightest, farmers’ markets are a Southerner’s best friend when they’re looking to prepare an extra-special produce recipe. But fruits and veggies are far from the only reason we love a farmers’ market. At any one of these favorite markets, you’ll find all kinds of locally made treasures. Pickles, jams, and baked goods are just the tip of the edible iceberg. Specialty cuts of farm-raised meat, eggs, and cheese can easily be your next meal. Then there are also the artists and artisans to consider, who share their talents by selling everything from jewelry and ceramics to prints and apparel. Keep reading for a small taste of our favorite farmers’ markets in the South.

The Market at Pepper Place – Birmingham, AL

Birmingham has a knack for repurposing its industrial spaces into beautiful community hubs that nod to the past. These days, The Market at Pepper Place, once the site of an old Dr Pepper plant, lifts up a different sort of labor: agriculture, art, and small-batch food production. Aromas of hand-rolled tamales and boiled peanuts drift through the outdoor space where people sell flowers, jewelry, soaps, kombucha, and breads like the fragrant baguettes and loaves of sourdough from Hinkel’s Bakery. Tables are piled with produce, too, of course—feathery lion’s mane from Magic City Mushrooms, watermelons and tomatoes at their summer peak from Postell Farm, and baskets of stone fruits from Knight’s Farm (established in 1937) in Alabama’s peach capital of Clanton. Bring your kitchen tools to Birmingham Knife Sharpening, load up on provisions, and take home treats from Blind Dog Biscuit for four-legged family members. 

pepperplacemarket.com; 2829 2nd Ave S Birmingham, AL 35233; 205-490-3176