Las Vegas Farmers Markets

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.

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.

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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.

Do you shop at any of the Las Vegas farmers markets?

It’s Mater Time

Fresh tomatoes from the garden are one of the best things about summer. Last year, our garden went south due to neglect, but this year my hubby took over. Here's his first ripe beefsteak tomato, right before we ate it.

If you like to garden, tomatoes are a sure bet, even here in Las Vegas. Just remember to shade your plants from the most intense afternoon sun. Cherry tomatoes are the easiest to grow; it’s not uncommon to get a second crop of them in the fall. The larger varieties tend to split—they’re still tasty, just not so pretty. And be on the lookout for those well-camouflaged tomato worms/caterpillars. We captured one for observation.

You can visit a large Las Vegas vegetable garden at Gilcrease Orchard, at the corner of Tenaya and Whispering Sands Drive, in the northwest portion of the valley. Visitors pay $3.00 to drive in and pick their own vegetables and fruit.

A Las Vegas Favorite: Gilcrease Orchards

Last Friday, the MAfO (Meeks Academy for One) visited Gilcrease Orchards, a local favorite I had not visited before. Like so many beloved, moldy-oldy Vegas locations, Gilcrease was once on the outskirts of Las Vegas, but now sits surrounded by tract homes.

For a small admission fee, you can pick your own fruits and veggies. Customers drive around the perimeter of the farm, parking next to their fruit or veggie of choice. The vegetable gardens are situated on the east end of the farm, and orchards are planted to the west. This time of year is squash season, which put me at a disadvantage because I don’t know beans about squash. (Pun intended.) My son and I took home an unripe squash (don’t ask me what kind), a bell pepper, an eggplant, and a zucchini. Although we struck out on picking any fruit from the trees, we still bought a gallon of yummy apple cider made at Gilcrease. Call or check Gilcrease’s website to find out what’s in season. Next up, of course, will be pumpkins!

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Photo Information: My pictures last week at the farm. Does it look hot? 'Cause it was hot.