My wife and I visited the Santa Fe Farmers Market early last spring. The market is located near the Railway, which as the name implies is where you can catch a train. The Railway is a trendy gentrified area, filled with restaurants, pubs and shops. It’s a good place to meet friends, and to do a little shopping at the farmers market.
Sunset magazine has rated Santa Fe’s as one of the “Top Ten Farmers Markets”. It is a nice market, even in the spring; I’m sure when summer crops arrive it would be quite incredible. The Santa Fe Market features only locally grown produce, and farmers are required to display the crops they have actually grown (no secondary sales). The idea is to directly connect the producer to the consumer. The market provides a retail venue for some 150 farmers in 15 northern New Mexico counties and is a good source of fresh local food.
Vendors have either indoor or outdoor displays. There were a variety of nursery plants available for sale….
Early cool weather crops, like lettuce and radishes, were also available, and a few root vegetables were also for sale (presumably stored from the prior year).
(Some of the produce on display in the Farmers Market)
Decorative items made with chili peppers or colorful corn seemed to be very popular and were widely available for sale. I think nothing says “Santa Fe” more than something made with these hot little peppers.
A variety of other local products like baked goods, desert honey, and soap were on sale.
A portion of the market is devoted to handicrafts including locally made wool, baskets and blankets.
A photo from this market (shown below) was used as last weekend’s One Clue Mystery photo. No one was able to identify where it came from, the first time that’s happened in a while. Better luck next time.
(One Clue Mystery Photo)
The Santa Fe Market is open year round on Saturdays from 8 am – 1 pm. During the warmer weather (May through November), it is also open Tuesday evenings.
We at TravelGumbo are great supporters of Farmers markets and visit them often — not only when we travel but also near our homes. Be sure to check this one out if your travels take you to Santa Fe.
