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Nashville Cuisine: Downtown Farmers Market

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Real Prop Finders

Local, Organic, Southern.

The Nashville Farmers Market (NFM) is home to farmers, artisans, restauranteurs, and local business merchants throughout the year. We are divided into three distinct areas - each supporting locally owned & operated businesses.

  • Our Farm Side consists of two large covered sheds and a middle market area home to anywhere from five to one hundred farmers, artisans, craftspersons, & merchants. All year round, you will find ranchers, bakers, prepared foods, soaps, milk, cheese & more-especially on our busiest days Friday-Sunday. For our farmers & produce merchants - the busiest season is "growing season" approximately June-November each year. Beginning in April you will find flowers & early spring produce which weather-willing, which gradually develops into "peak season" in which you'll find the largest variety of locally-grown foods to November which closes out our produce with the last of late harvest and early introduction of holiday trees & plants. Seven days/week, 362 days per year-you can purchase produce, jams, honey, canned goods, and more from five locally-owned & operated businesses who have been at NFM for generations.
  • Our Market House consists of nine (10 in 5/12!) restaurants, a coffee cafe, Louisiana Seafood Co. (Friday-Sunday), International Market, Howell's Farm Store & many day-merchants.
  • Our Flea Market is open Friday-Sunday only and is home to over 50 merchants selling everything from handcrafted pottery & jewelry to home goods, and clothing.

Since its inception on the town square in the early 1800’s, the Farmers’ Market has been a vital part of Nashville life. Although the market has had several homes, one thing has remained constant: a love of shopping for the best produce, foods, and bargains in an exciting community setting. In the early 1800’s Nashville constructed a new City Hall and Market House on the west side of the downtown public square. It was not uncommon to see an overflowing of market vendors lining up on the square four to five rows deep with their wagons to sell fresh products. During the 1930’s, the City Hall, Market House and Courthouse Buildings were demolished to make way for the new Davidson County Courthouse and a new Market House was constructed on the north side of the square.

In the mid-1950’s the City moved the Farmers’ Market to a new location just north of Downtown on Jefferson Street. In 1995, the Farmers’ Market was renovated as part of the Bicentennial State Park Mall development. The Market now stretches from Harrison to Jackson Streets on Rosa L. Parks Blvd. and covers 16 acres of urban land. Nashville Farmers' Market is home to: a daily Farmers’ Market with local farmers, artisans, & merchants; an interior Market House with restaurants, an International Market, Howell's Farm Store, and various types of merchants during the winter; and a weekend Flea Market with independent entrepreneurs selling a wide variety of items.

In 2010, Nashville Farmers' Market was severely damaged along with many others in the community during the May flood. Thanks to the tireless efforts of merchants, volunteers, & assistance from community organizations, the exterior areas were able to open the following week. However, the Market House restaurants & shops remained closed for almost four months. The Market held a Re-Grand Opening Celebration in August 2010!

 Now, hear about its greatness from the merchants themselves...

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Redistributed by Stephanie Brake

Comments (2)

Tim Lorenz
TIM LORENZ - Elite Home Sales Team - Mission Viejo, CA
949 874-2247

You make the farmers market sound great there in Nashville.  Have a great 2012.

Jan 24, 2013 12:11 AM
Web Agent
Real Prop Finders - Nashville, TN

Thanks, Tim. We take special pride in our agricultural traditon in Music City! You have a splendid 2013 as well.

Jan 24, 2013 12:21 AM