A place where farmers brought their homegrown produce to sell, a place where chitchat and local lore traded back and forth, the Farmers’ Market of the American South remains today a vital economic force as well as a lively tourist attraction. You will find vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, breads, jams, cheeses, juices, local specialty foods and crafts. On Saturday mornings, east and west, during spring and summer (warmer locals in Arizona, Florida and Texas operate year round) you’re sure to enjoy one or all of these pieces of America.

The Rincon Valley market just outside Tucson, features Blacksmith Casey in a black cowboy hat and chaps shoeing horses. Smell the fire and hear the clang of the anvil in this scene out of the old west! It’s a scenic four miles east of the Saguaro National Park on Old Spanish Trail and is open Saturdays year-round. In Arizona there are 34 markets to chose among and they are all exempt from sales tax! In Charleston, South Carolina just as the sun begins its sluggish upward crawl across a hazy sky, residents and visitors of this more than 300 year-old coastal port city grab their produce baskets and head for Marion Square, site of the city’s Farmers’ Market. It celebrates the city’s colorful and food-loving heritage.

Khaki, seersucker and linen clothe vendors selling and patrons purchasing red tomatoes, green peppers and plump blueberries. Located in historic downtown on the corner of King and Calhoun streets, the farmers’ market at Marion Square offers a range of fresh strawberries, cantaloupes, flowers, jellies and cheeses from neighboring James, John’s and Wadamalaw islands. 'It’s a neighborhood kind of place,' said James Simpson, a local physician who lives within walking distance of the market. 'I like to get there early before the crowd gets started.' An avid plant and art collector, Simpson said the market appeals to a broad range of interests.

'It’s a place you can also have breakfast,' Simpson said, adding that the market boasts some of the city’s best coffee, crepes, breads and pastries. The market is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 12 through November 1.Just three hours north in Wilmington, North Carolina, meanwhile, a sartorially similar group of fresh fruit and vegetable aficionados meets along the Cape Fear River. Farmers, artisans and craftsmen from New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties wake early, load their wares and open shop on Water Street in time for sunrise.Wilmington’s farmers’ market also occupies historic ground. Revitalized in 2004, the riverfront market – complete with brick under foot – plays host every Saturday to more than two-dozen farmers, artisans and craftsmen.

'It’s a great place to buy fresh produce . . . chat and catch up,' said market patron Clarissa Simonsen. Produce items include fruits, vegetables, herbs, seasonal plants, cheeses and baked goods. The riverfront market operates 8 a.m. to noon from the third Saturday in April through the last Saturday in November. The Halyburton market, an extension of the downtown market, operates 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays April through November.Toward North Carolina’s interior, 180 miles north and west, the Raleigh farmers’ market represents the best of a rural tradition with a nearby urban presence.

One of the region’s largest state-owned venues, this market sells over 300 different items and rents 35,000 spaces annually to local fruit and vegetable growers as well as artisans and craftsmen. 'You can come here and find anything you want – we’re basically a giant country store,' said market manager Ronnie Best of the 75-acre facility.Uniquely situated on market grounds, the Farmers’ Market restaurant – just one of two sit-down food venues – offers a variety of local breakfast and lunch dishes; after eating, you browse the market’s different specialty shops.

Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 5 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sundays 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Farther north, in Williamsburg, VA in the heart of the colonial village in Merchants Square, on Duke of Gloucester Street between Henry and Boundary Streets you’ll discover everything from baked goods to goat’s milk to sausage. They list 'Reviving the historic role of the town center as a place for markets,' and 'Creating a fun and educational venue to enhance community life' as two goals. Its open Saturday from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., May – October.Heading west, Kingsport Tennessee opens their market, 7:00 am - 12:00 pm Wednesday & Saturday, May – September. It is located in the Shelby Street Parking Lot, behind the downtown Library.

There are 54 markets in the state.Back east at the Savannah State Farmers’ Market in coastal Georgia located just five miles from Savannah’s city hall; a popular produce item is the Vidalia onion. 'It’s known worldwide,' said market manager Vickie Sikes about the sweet onion native to Georgia. Other produce items for sale at the 40-booth market include fresh blueberries, strawberries, garden peas, squash and, of course, Vidalia onions.

First opened in 1953, the market caters to everyone from 'housewives to restaurant owners,' Sikes said.'I don’t think people realize how important it is to patronize local farmers,' she said. The market operates year-round.In sunny South Florida with a growing season that’s virtually year-round, the Miami-Dade County's farmers' markets, 8 venues in all, offer a wide variety of greens, papaya, pears, squash and coconuts.

While the more traditional markets find customers picking their way in and out of boxes, the South Florida Farmers Market in Pinecrest gives cooking demonstrations performed by local chefs. Dade County farmers’ markets operate daily on Saturdays January through April.Whether its green beans or coconuts, squash or sushi, whether you’re preparing a meal for one or an entire family, farmers’ markets throughout the southeast region continue their tradition of providing the freshest produce in an atmosphere that harks back to a bygone era.

Not to leave anyone out, Mississippi boasts 24 markets and Texas has 102. For a complete list of all markets in the US visit www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets.


Dave Frederiksen is a contributing writer for Living Southern Style and Ideal Destinations magazines, which cover private, gated and retirement communities as well as waterfront and mountain properties. Seehttp://www.idealdestinations.com orhttp://www.livesouth.com for more information.