It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, we’re not talking Christmas, the World Series or the return of Mad Men. Break out your piggy banks folks, it’s farmers’ market season. Area market masters have set their opening dates and most are right around the corner (one actually opens today). Before you head out, here are a few simple tips to maximize your experience.

For the best selection, plan to visit early in the day and remember that most vendors take only cash, so leave the plastic at home. Early birds might also want to change in their $20-bills for a stack of $1-bills so as not to deplete vendors’ change supply too quickly.  Also, carrying around a bunch of bags can be awkward (not to mention un-green), so toss a few reusable canvas bags into your trunk before heading out. As the weather heats up, you might even want to invest in one of those rolling coolers and some reusable frozen gel packs to keep all your food finds on ice.

We’re lucky to have a number of markets around the St. Louis area. Check the list of opening days below for your favorite.

•  Maplewood: Wednesdays beginning April 6 – 4 to 7 p.m., Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave., 314.241.2337, schlafly.com/community/farmers-market

• Ferguson: Saturdays beginning April 30 – 8 a.m. to noon, Victorian Plaza, 20 S. Florissant Road, 314.324.4298, fergusonfarmersmarket.com

• Webster Groves: Thursdays beginning May 5 – 3 to 7 p.m., Big Bend Boulevard and South Old Orchard Ave., 314.963.5696 x 888, webstergrovesfarmersmarket.com

• Tower Grove: Saturdays beginning May 7 – 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Tower Grove Park (west of the Whitaker Theater at the Pool Pavilion), tgmarket.org

• Goshen: Saturdays beginning May 7 – 8 a.m. to noon, St. Louis Street and Main Street (next to the Courthouse), Edwardsville, 618.307.6045, goshenmarket.org

• Clayton: Saturdays beginning May 7 – 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Straub’s, 8282 Forsyth Blvd., 314.913.6632, claytonfarmersmarket.com

• Downtown: Thursdays beginning June 2 – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Locust Street between 8th and 9th Streets, tgmarket.org

• Ellisville: Thursdays beginning June 2 – 4 to 7 p.m., 225, Bluebird Park, 225 Kiefer Creek Road, Ellisville, ellisvillefarmersmarket.org

• North City: Saturdays beginning June 4 – 9 a.m. to noon, Crown Square, 2700 N. 14th St., 314.241.5031, northcityfarmersmarket.org

What’s new at the markets this year?

By Shannon Parker

Tags: Clayton Farmers' Market, Downtown Farmers' Market, Ellisville Farmers' Market, Farmers' Market, Ferguson Farmers' Market, Land of Goshen Farmers' Market, Maplewood Farmers' Market, North City, Sappington Farmers' Market, Stocking Up, Tower Grove Farmers' Market, Webster Groves Farmers' Market

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 6th, 2011 at 2:18 pm and is filed under Stocking Up. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.