Visit a farmers market and you’ll never want to buy tasteless grocery store produce again (I’m looking at you, tomatoes).
I believe the old truism, “Food is medicine,” and as a
result I’ve been spending more time at farmers markets lately. Eating more fruits and veggies is a good idea
no matter where you buy them, but if you want produce at the peak of its taste
and nutritional value, farmers markets are the way to go.
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| Tivoli Village Farmers Market |
You can find farmers markets throughout the week at a
variety of places in the Las Vegas valley. While most of the produce comes from
California, you’ll find locally produced honey, eggs, herbs, and micro-greens. These
markets are small in comparison to what you’ll find in greener areas, so if you're looking for something on the scale of a farmers market in California or Oregon, dial down your expectations.
Since
we’re in the desert, much of the food at our farmers markets comes from further
away than the locavore’s gold standard of being produced within 100 miles--but
the 400 miles between Vegas and Fresno is far less than the miles most produce travels
before hitting the grocery store shelves. It’s also been allowed to ripen
before being picked, which is why it all tastes so good.
Summertime’s bounty of fruits has just passed us, but we’ll
soon see apples and citrus (as my favorite fruit vendor told me a couple of
weeks ago). Can’t wait. My family is so excited to find out what fresh apples
taste like.
Another way to get fresh produce is to pick it yourself at Gilcrease Orchard, or sign up for
a CSA,
which is a subscription-type service from a community farm. You can pick up
local eggs and honey on weekends at The
Farm, which is also an animal rescue, and you can check with the Vegas Roots Community Garden to
see what they have for sale.
I have to warn you: if you start shopping at farmers markets
and local farms/gardens, be prepared to work it into your weekly schedule.
Grocery store produce will start tasting like cardboard in comparison. Trust
me. I tried to make pico de gallo with grocery store tomatoes, and it just made
me sad. They were tasteless, watery, sorry excuses for tomatoes. Once your
taste buds get used to fruits and veggies with actual flavor, there’s no going
back.
* * *
Here’s my current list of Las Vegas farmers markets. Keep in
mind that hours and locations may change, and weather is a factor for most
markets. Some markets may also close for winter and/or winter holidays. If you have corrections or additions, please leave them in the comments:
Tivoli
Village Farmers & Makers Market, Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Las
Vegas Farmers Market at Downtown Summerlin,
Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Las
Vegas Farmers Market at Floyd Lamb Park, 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 2
p.m.
fresh52
at Solista Park in Henderson, 2nd and 4th Saturday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
fresh52 at Sansone Park
Place (9480 S. Eastern), Sundays, 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
On The
Ranch Farmers Market at Craig Ranch Park, Sundays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Las Vegas
Farmers Market at Bruce Trent Park, Wednesdays, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Las Vegas Farmers
Market at Gardens Park, Thursdays, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Henderson
Farmers Market on Water Street, Thursdays, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The
District Farmers Market - open seasonally on Thursdays, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Downtown 3rd Intuitive
Forager Farmers Market - Old Bus Station at 300 N. Casino Center, Fridays,
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Henderson
Farmers Market on Green Valley Parkway, Fridays, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
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