Alpharetta Farmers Market

ALPHARETTA FARMER’S MARKET
It has been several years since I have shopped at this Farmer’s Market because frankly when I previously purchased produce, it was twice as much and did not taste any different that what I would purchase at the indoor markets. I really don’t go for the produce, I go for the treats and samples. I just love sampling all of the baked items and I also like finding something unique like organic snacks or special vinegars.
Although the sign says that the market opens at 8:00, according to the vendors, it opens at 8:30 so I wouldn’t bother going any earlier because, the set up was not completed until 8:30.
You can find a variety of items such as organic juices, homemade candles and soaps, baked items, produce, vegetables, German potato pancakes, hot crepes and sandwiches, and other items. My husband and I thought that we might score some breakfast here but we just did not find anything interesting to eat.
Anyone willing to be set up by 8am and offer a variety of breakfast options will make a killing here.
Favorite vendor goes to Two Sisters Bakery from Milton. They do not have a store but can be seen around town at various venues. Find out more at twosistersbakery-​com.
Most puzzling vendor goes to the guy selling Nutella on crust and calling it pizza. Ewww!
Attention vendors: You really need to post your prices because otherwise, I won’t look twice at your items. Not posting your prices makes me feel a bit uncomfortable, even suspicious. I want to see a fixed price, not an arbitrary price that you can change at your whim. Not cool!
I would only go back to the market if I am feeling very naughty and craving some delicious baked treats because when it comes to produce, I just find a greater variety of products and much better prices at the Asian markets.

I have been to a few different farmers market across the US and I have to say this one is only ok. I do like the variety of vendors and they have of not only fresh veggies but also other baked and home made goods as well. It’s nice to find a place to buy hormone free chicken and I saw a vendor selling some nice lawn ornaments. So as you can see they offer much more than just fresh veggies. My biggest issue was with how small it is. I mean I walked through the entire market in less than 10 mins. To me that is just a waste. They really need to make it bigger. Overall it was a nice place to find but I doubt I will be going back anytime soon. I think I will try a different one to see if it is bigger. Maybe all the farmers markets are small out here. I dunno.

Absolutely LOVE that Alpharetta does this. We go Saturday morning and pick out the veggies that we want for dinner that night, corn, beans, okra, potatoes. etc, then we get some fresh bake bread and decided on a protein and marinate if all and slap it on the grill. Then set the table on the deck and have a really nice family dinner.

A farmer’s market with ACTUAL farmer’s and fresh produce! I was so bummed out after visiting the Brookwood Farmer’s Market yesterday (the only fresh-​from-​the-​ground thing here was pricey organic strawberries, peaches and hydroponic lettuce) that this was a welcome visit!
Sure, I can still get homemade baked goods, soaps and other gifts and items here too, but what I really wanted was locally grown fruits & vegetables. Alpharetta Farmers Market delivered. I’m glad I went early — it was definitely getting cramped by 9:30 am. I plan to return many more times this summer.

Awesome place. Only thing is be early if you really plan on buying something. Things are sold very quickly.

Love this farmer’s market so much! The variety is great– where else can you get amazingly fresh produce, local honey for your allergies, crazy good bread, spices and herbs, grass fed and organic meats, and even… Greek food? You must go early, especially if you want the best and freshest produce because this place gets swamped around 9:30−10am. My favorite stand is the J&J produce, if only to listen to the male J’s fantastic English accent– he’ll call you «luv» and sell you a swoon-​worthy watermelon.
My only small pet-​peeve is the amount of dogs who are at this market. I get they are your babies, and that is fine, but if you can’t control your pet then leave them at home. I’ve had lots of dogs bark at me or my kids and I don’t really want to watch your dog drop one of its own «biscuits» while I am trying to buy some fresh corn. I know things happen but don’t just chuckle at your dog’s «accident», pick it up ASAP and make sure you have your dog on a tight leash. I am sure Captain Snufflepuss is an angel at home but if he is barking at me it is going to freak me out. If I can make my human children behave, you need to do the same with your canine.

The Alpharetta Farmers Market is really the perfect size, from my perspective; large enough to offer a good variety of vendors and products, but small enough to be manageable for a quick morning visit.
The market offers a nice selection of meat vendors offering grass-​fed beef, buffalo and free range chicken for less than you’d pay at the grocery store. (And no meat diaper!) There is a decent selection of local farmers offering fresh vegetables, dairy and eggs as well. In addition, there are numerous options to satisfy your sweet tooth including crepes, cupcakes and plenty of baked goods.
The location in downtown Alpharetta is convenient and there is always ample parking. If you haven’t ever visited, you owe it to yourself to stop by one Saturday. It’s a great venue to save money, buy fresh produce, and support local farmers and businesses.

I love this place!!! My to-​go to places are the Crêpe Cottage (a little pricey for crepes but OH SO GOOD), the honey tent, and the tent that sells a bunch of cheap plants (basil, rosemary, mint, tomato, cilantro, habanero peppers, jalapeño peppers, red long chili peppers, thai basil). The vendors aren’t numerous as other farmer market venues but I sort of like it that way.
There are other tents with produce, goat cheese (with a live baby goat under the tent — so cute!), salsa, an assortment of breads, and local meat.

Last year, the Alpharetta Farmer’s Market moved. They used to be behind the buildings of main street, on the West side, in the alleys like Lee G said. They are now in the City Hall parking lot, at the corner of Academy St and S Main St, across from Smokejack BBQ. You can park wherever, but there is a specific parking lot for it just behind it off of Haynes Bridge Rd.
I try to get here a few times each summer usually when I get it in my head that I can actually cook. I get it in my head to get local herbs and veggies rather than the packaged stuff at the grocery store.
You get a good variety of lots of things from the fresh veggies and herbs to goat’s milk soap (oooooooK!), people who make their own beef jerkeys, jellies/​jams/​preserves and they have certain types and blends you won’t see at the store, bread and so on.
This isn’t that gigantic Farmer’s Market they have in Forest Park, but, again, like Lee G. so well said, it is a good place for locals.

I’m not a farmers market kind of guy, but I do appreciate fresh veggies. So last weekend we decided to give this a shot. The city hosts this market seasonally. It is a fairly young market and as such doesn’t have a ton of vendors. They fill up a short back-​alley block in downtown Alpharetta, and that’s about it. About half the vendors are peddling stuff like honey, baked goods, snacks and other sundries. The rest are produce vendors. And of course, there is a lot for sale that isn’t in season. Being a city kid, it is kinda hard for me to pick these out. But I’m fairly sure the bananas are not locally grown, right? And the cantaloupes have super market stickers on them. So I’d say come knowing ahead of time what is in season.
All in all, it is a fun way to spend a Saturday morning if you’re local. I wouldn’t go out of your way for this place at this point. I’m sure there are other farmers markets in the northern burbs with bigger selections.