montrose farmers' market

The Montrose Farmers' Market is such a great asset to our community! Great selection of fruits and vegetables year round, high quality crafts and locally made products, and even plants so you can grow some food of your own! The farmers and merchants are all very friendly and knowledgable and are always happy to chat with you. During the summer market, there is often live music to set the mood, and plenty of activities for children. We also love that the market is dog friendly- it's a great place to walk the dogs on a Saturday morning and allow them to socialize. Straw Hat Farm has a new store adjacent to the market that is really great. They added a wonderful outdoor seating area (shaded) to the market, and their breakfast burritos are worth the trip in itself. Oh and there is ample bicycle parking :)

Piles of polished red peppers, aromatic bunches of lavender, basil, and cilantro, glowing baskets of Palisade peaches, Paonia cherries, Cedaredge apples, tiny yellow and ruby red beets scrubbed shining clean and showing off their tassels of (delicious) greenery, leeks and turnips arranged like a Japanese still life, bouquets of pale green, pale blue, buff and brown eggs--the Montrose Farmers' Market not only offers the best of the local produce, it is beautiful to behold. One vendor arranges her produce on wooden crates set up under a huge old tree; the goats' milk soap lady occasionally brings one of her little goats for a mini-petting zoo. White-capped Amish ladies set out rows of fresh cinnamon rolls, whole wheat bread, and lemon bars. Local children take advantage of the free hula hoops while their mothers shop and their grandmothers take coffee (also free) under the awning, tapping their feet to the music of local bluegrass band playing nearby. The market is run by the Valley Food Partnership, a local 501.3 C, which maintains strict standards about selling only local produce and handicrafts. The market is large enough to have a wonderful variety, especially in the summer months of June through August, but small enough to be fully manageable walk, even while carrying a basket heavy with goodies. Every type of local produce is offered, along with grass feed beef, milk fed pork, free range chicken, bison, and an assortment of handicrafts.The brick building on the property was recently renovated by the City of Montrose and provides clean public restrooms, and a large space that is used for the winter market. There is a water fountain outside for a cool drink or a refill of your recyclable water bottle. (The building also houses the wonderful Straw Hat kitchen store, which I have reviewed elsewhere on tripadvisor).The market is located on a corner lot in the middle of the charming Montrose Historical District, a block off of Main Street. Even if you are a visitor staying in a motel, drop in for a cup of coffee, a warm pecan roll, and a fresh peach and enjoy getting to know the people and produce of this beautiful agricultural valley. Suitable for all ages! The Montrose Market is open every Saturday during the summer and every other Saturday during the winter. Check the inside front page of the local newspaper, the Montrose Daily Press, for days and hours, or visit their website: http://www.localfoodmarketplace.com/montrose/PS Full disclosure: No, I am not paid to write this! I just absolutely love the Montrose Farmers' Market!