Radio personality Paul Harvey once said that on the eighth day, God made a farmer to be the caretaker of the world. Agriculture is the largest industry in Arkansas. The state is sprinkled with 45,000 farms and 200 farmers markets. Natural State residents have long been establishing open marketplaces in an effort to connect, support, feed and educate the communities. Here are the 9 best farmers markets in the state.
This award-winning market is arguably one of the best in all of Arkansas. The Fayetteville Farmers Market has been serving the Northwest Arkansas community since it was founded in 1973. All products are grown in our beautiful Ozark Mountains region from vendors located within a 60-mile radius of Fayetteville. How’s that for local!? Markets are located on Fayetteville’s historic downtown Square as well as inside Ozark Natural Foods in the Evelyn Hills Shopping Center on College Avenue during the winter season.
Running for over four decades, the Bentonville Farmers Market is knit into the heart of the community. Located on the lively Square in downtown Bentonville, this market is open on Saturdays from April to October. Not only does this market feature farm products that are certified by both the USDA and the Benton County Health Department, but it also welcomes WIC, SNAP, and SFMNP guests.
Founded in 2003, this year-round market is located on the corner of Garrison Avenue and North 2nd Street in historic downtown Fort Smith. With an emphasis on shopping local, the Fort Smith Farmers Market has been helping the Arkansas River Valley community grow greener and healthier. All products featured at this market come from a 90-mile radius of Fort Smith.
From May to October, farm-fresh Arkansas crops and local crafts are featured every Saturday and Thursday at this market, which opened in 1974. The market’s location in the two open-air pavilions of the River Market district of downtown Little Rock provides beautiful views of the Arkansas River and Riverfront Park.
Formed in the mid-1970s, this market now splits its operations into the Main Market season, open from May to October, and the Winter Market season, open November to April. Young people in the Hot Springs community are invited to take part in the market’s Youth Market Days free of charge. This great learning experience happens on the last Saturday of each month during the Main Market season. The Hot Springs Farmers & Artisan’s Market also participates in the Arkansas DHS SNAP program.
The Bernice Garden Farmers Market in downtown Little Rock is open every Sunday from April to November. Located inside of the publically-used yet privately-owned The Bernice Garden, the market provides an open marketplace community for the area’s farmers and consumers and promotes all things sustainable.
This family-friendly farmers market, managed by Main Street Rogers, Inc., makes its home in a converted auto repair shop that was bought by the City of Rogers. The Downtown Roger’s market houses over 40 vendors in drive-up bays in its unique indoor/outdoor facility. This community gathering place is open on Saturdays from April to October and the second Saturdays in both November and December.
The producers-only Siloam Springs Farmers Market is an extension of Main Street Siloam Springs, Inc., a part of the Locally Grown network, and features products from vendors and farmers in the Northwest Arkansas and Northeast Oklahoma areas. This fresh farmers market can be visited in two ways: The open-air market or online. The marketplace is located at the corner of Mt. Olive and Universities Streets in downtown Siloam Springs and is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from April to October. The online vendor is open year-round from Sunday to Wednesday at 9 p.m. and orders may be picked up at the Main Street Conference room on Saturday mornings.
This regional market was created to connect the community while providing a local marketplace for vendors in a 100-mile radius of Jonesboro or within the state of Arkansas. The ASU Regional Farmers Market is open on Saturdays from May to October and Tuesdays from June to September and is located on the Arkansas State University campus. The ASU Market gives back by partnering with St. Bernard’s Healthcare and the Humane Society.