I would like to invite everyone to join in on this post by adding comments and suggestions, even if you don't live in the Indianapolis area. Farmers' markets are found all over the world, and as my chef husband confirms, there's no fresher, riper, picked-when-perfected produce. Well, unless you grow your own.
We didn't have the time to grow a garden this year. My first fresh summer produce came by chance one day as I was driving along a country road in Brown County, IN. Only a sign advertised the fresh zucchini and squash which was laid out on a table. When I pulled over and started looking no one came out to talk to us, and all that was on the table with the produce was a little red barn shaped "money box." I smiled to myself and honored the system by placing the money in the small hole on top, in exchange for some beautiful veggies almost the size of my ten-year-old daughter's forearm.
The experience got me thinking about all of the farmers' markets around our beautiful state and how we hardly utilized them because as restaurant workers we always work late on Friday nights. Getting up before 10 a.m. is something even our kids don't do. Since we didn't have a garden this year, I decided to get the kids and my husband up out of bed early to check out some of the local markets, and add to our home culinary experiences. Here are some found around Indianapolis:
Binford Farmers Market
Located on the north west corner of Binford Blvd. and East 62nd St. in the Hawthorne Plaza shopping center, this market is open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Dates of the market fall between May 9th through October 24th.
Broad Ripple Farmers Market
Located at 1115 Broad Ripple Ave. in the parking lot behind Broad Ripple Magnet High School, you can shop here Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dates for this market fall between the first Saturday in May to the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
Irvington Farmers Market
Located at 5302 E. St. Claire in Ellenberger Park, this market is only open on the second Sundays from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., from June to October.
Stadium Village Farmers Market
On the corner of S. Meridian St. and McCarty, you can peruse items for sale on Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Also seasonal, this market runs from May thru September.
Indianapolis Farmers Market
Locate on Market St. between Delaware and Alabama, this market offers two days during the week for business. Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bloomington Community Farmers Market
Located a bit of a drive away from Indianapolis, I include this farmers market because of a recommendation of a friend and fellow co-worker. Taking place every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. between the months of April and November; and also every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. during June until September, you can find this market at 401 N. Morton St., on the corner of 8th and Morton in Bloomington, IN.
