My sister Me Gusta Mantequilla helped me put together this great guide about Nashville, TN Farmers Markets. I have been living in San Francisco for 9 years so I have grown a little bit out of touch with the local food scene in Music City. I recently bought a home in Donelson so I am getting back in the groove of middle Tennessee life. We have not moved we are just using it as a second home for now but since I grew up in Nashville it will always be in my heart.
Nashville TN Farmers Market Guide
Local Nashville Produce, Meats, Eggs, Milk, & More
I have grown up in Nashville and being a food-lover, I have been delighted to see the food scene in the area grow on all fronts. I used to be in awe of Asheville, NC because the area has bustling producer-only markets almost every day of the week, and now in 2014, Nashville has the same. Almost any day of the week, there is a market where you can buy local eggs, meat, and veggies for you and maybe share with your family. They have worked hard to make parking simple, playgrounds handy for the kids, and shady spots for relaxing in the sometimes face-melting heat of a Tennessee summer. Some of my favorite memories when I was a child was buying corn with my Mom from a farmer off the back of a truck, getting a bushel of lima beans for a year of weeknight dinners, and eating that first ripened peach of summer at the market Downtown. There are so many options now, and here are some of my favorites.
Nashville Farmers Market, Downtown at Bicentennial Mall
About this Market: Open every day 8am-6pm. This is Nashville’s original farmers market in downtown Nashville, in the shadow of the state capitol building. There are three large sections: one called “Farm Sheds” is for produce and plants and direct sales from farmers, the middle “Market House” is the food court in the and artisan food makers, and the other third is a flea market. It is open 7 days a week, but weekends are the best time to meet and buy from local farmers. The summer is the best time for local produce. The pillars in the farmers market section are labeled to let you know which food stands are “direct sales” (straight from the farmer) and which are not, but I can’t remember what the non-direct sales are labeled. You will know them because it looks like the supermarket produce section, lots of out of season produce.
Highlights: This is the most diverse market in demographics, pricing, and choice. Lots of international and regional foods in the middle “Market House Restaurants & Shops” section, along with cutsie food vendors like OMG That’s Gluten Free and The Nashville Jam Company. I love this market because you can pretty much buy anything and everything you need for the week from local, grass fed cream and milk from JD Country Milk (still in glass bottles, love them), to amazing grass fed beef, pastured chicken, pastured pork, and pastured eggs from Walnut Hills, (see below), spices for your Indian cooking venture, international teas, local honey, and cheese. Plus, they have a great event called Night Market which is nice event with wine for sale, local vendors giving samples, and usually music or entertainment, all free!!
Doug and Sue Bagwell from Walnut HIlls Farm
I love Doug and Sue, they are the farmers at Walnut Hills and they are super friendly, patient with questions, and love building relationships with their customers. I have bought meat from them from beef hearts to a quarter cow. They are my favorite for meat and eggs. They have 100% pasture raised chickens, pork, and beef. They are out there every weekend in the sun or freezing weather selling you their meat and eggs. The meat is dry aged and so tasty and tender. My favorite farm!!
East Farmers Markets
East Nashville Farmers Market at Shelby Bottoms Park
About this market: Wednesdays, 3:30-7:00pm, May-October. This market recently moved to it’s new location in Shelby Park in East Nashville and it’s great because there is parking and playground area for kids nearby.
Highlights: It’s in the parking of one of our greatest greenways. So before or after your trip to the market, you can take a walk or ride with your bike, or let your dog run around in the dog park. Green Door Gourmet (local, organic produce) and Kelley’s Berry Farm (local berries in season) are worth heading to this market, plus they have an impressive selection of food vendors at the market each week to grab a bite at, such as Jeni’s Ice Cream and Beach Bums Juice Bar.
About this Market: Fridays, 4pm-7pm, May-October. It’s a producer only market with over 70 vendors, so everything you are getting is local and direct sales from the farmers or the producers. They have an abundance of local artisan producers, meat providers, and produce. Like many of the neighborhood markets around Nashville, there is usually live music, which adds a nice ambiance to the whole experience. I love the Post East organic juice bar with gluten free breads.
Highlights: I love going here for Peaceful Pastures meat and Twigs and Roots natural toothpaste and deodorant (it’s the only one I’ve tried that truly keeps you smelling fresh). Parking can be a challenge, but they have lots of parking volunteers and a shuttle from the parking lot, which is only about 200 yards away, so it’s easy to walk if shuttling is absurd to you.
West Nashville Area Farmers Markets
About this Market: Saturdays, 9am-12pm, May-October. This market may look small, but it packs a punch with it’s producer choices. They have free yoga every week, just bring your mat or towel! They also have live music every week. There is a library a few feet away, and a playground. A one stop shop for your family for food, books, and play.
Highlights:
Best eggs around! They are truly pasture raised on their biodynamic farm in rural Kentucky with deep, orange yolks. Their son raises ducks and sells their eggs too, but you have to get there early to get some of Ira’s eggs. They also have great produce, one of the only places you can get real dried garlic in early summer.
Nashville only easy source for raw dairy, both goat and cow. You can order online, they deliver or you can pick up at the markets they frequent throughout the week. They also have a large selection of pasture-raised, organic meats and eggs.
The best produce and all grown by sweet, local farmers. I have followed Eric, the farm manager, and his farmer friends ever since they began in 2009. The Bells Bend area is a beautiful area in Northwest Nashville that feels like you can’t possibly be only 15 minutes from town. They have a bountiful CSA program, which I am a member, and they are friendly and love to talk about how to cook all the lovely goodies.
North Farmers Markets
About this Market: Sundays, 12pm-3pm, June-October. This is the first year for this market, and it’s already making an impression. It is housed in and around Amqui Station, a 1910 L&N Railroad Station, it looks like something out of Little House on the Prairie or a movie set. The vendors are friendly, love to answer questions, and give out lots of samples. You can also peruse some local history in the museum inside the station, and listen to music on the deck.
Highlights: I love visiting Neely’s Bend Organics for some very local produce, their farm is only a few minutes away, and beautiful hearty herbs and plants to grow. Johnson Family and Queen Bee Pollinators, their honey bee farm is right down the street in Goodlettsville, and they have the best wildflower honey and creamed honey. ZK Ranch beef is 100% grass-finished and from nearby Springfield, TN. They sell lovely cuts of beef, and sell whole, half, and quarter beef. I bought a big tongue and beef liver here.
Other Markets in Nashville
There are lots of other great farmers markets in Nashville, and these are just a few that I have visited most and a good selection for almost all areas of Nashville. If you are looking for other options, please visit The Local Table, they have great online resources for finding markets and farms. Below, is the list other Farmers Markets registered on Pick Tennessee Products online. Happy hunting! If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave some comments!
12 South Farmers Market, 3000 Granny White Pike, Nashville, TN, 37204
Every Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. May – October.
Farmers Market at the Crossings, 5434 Bell Forge Lane, Antioch, TN, 37013
Every Saturday, May through October, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m
Farmin in the Hall, 451 Hogan Road, Nashville, TN, 37220
Thursdays, 5pm-7:30pm, May-October.
Forest Hills Farmers Market, The Forest Hills United Methodist Church, Brentwood, TN, 37215
Saturdays from 8:00am-12:00pm through October.
Goodlettsville Farmers Market, 521 Moncrief Ave., Goodlettsville, TN, 37072
Thursdays, 3:00-6:00pm, May-October.
West End Farmers Market, 4101 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN, 37205
Saturday, year-round, 9am-12:30pm.
7248 Nolensville Rd
Nolensville, Tennessee 37135
Saturday 8:30am – 12:30pm, May-October.
Franklin Farmers Market: Only Tennessee Farmers!
The Factory in Franklin
Saturdays 8 am -1 pm all year
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Thanks so much for this. I’m here in Mid TN also and really appreciate the help and tips!!!!!
come visit Green Door Gourmet
350 acre certified USDA Organic Farm
CSA
open 5 days a week
full market and event center
West Nashvile
7011 River Road Pike 37209