Produce Paradise: A Comprehensive Guide to the Grand Forks Farmers Market

Summer is the absolute best time to be in Grand Forks. If you ever find yourself in town on a Saturday from mid-June through September my number one recommendation is the Town Square Farmer’s Market. Grand Forks’ farmers market is hosted downtown in Town Square (hence the name) on the corner of Demers Ave and 3rd Street, just mere blocks away from the Sorlie Memorial Bridge which connects downtown East Grand Forks and Grand Forks.

Every Saturday, from mid June to late September, The Town Square Farmers Market is the best place in the community to get fresh produce from local farmers, listen to incredible performers, and catch up with friends. From empanadas to handmade jewelry to oxtail meat, there is something for literally everyone at the Town Square Farmers Market.

For the last two summers, I have spent almost every Saturday morning at the Town Square Farmers Market, selling ice cream for my business (now defunct) and I’ve learned a few things by showing up every week, buying my groceries from my fellow vendors, and watching newbies struggle. If you’re going to stop by the farmers market, I have a few tips and tricks to make your time the most fun!

If at all possible, ride your bike or walk to the farmers market. There is something so soothing about the summer morning in Grand Forks: the birds, flowers blossoming, the Greenway so vibrant- the season doesn’t last long enough. The nice thing about riding or walking, you never have to ask “where do I park?” or say “I swear my left my car here two hours ago”,

For those who are planning on buying armfuls of peppers from Tintah Beach Farm or wrangling a full family, driving might be the best solution. There are so many places to park downtown, but the later you arrive at Town Square Farmer’s Market, the worse parking will be. Do not plan to park on 3rd and certainly not on Demers if you are coming after 9:30 am. There might be someone leaving a parking spot open then, but you would be more likely to see me eat a raw potato from Allards (it’s not happening, I like them roasted with garlic).

The best spot to find parking a little later in the day is a little lot on Riverboat Road, just on the river side of the dike on the Greenway. You can walk up the steps and walk along 3rd Street from the gateway or walk up the hill and walk a block on Demers Ave.

There are so many parking ramps, but the one I recommend is the parking ramp on 4th street, across from Browning arts, Urban Stampede, and Cities Area Transit’s downtown bus hub. Park there, then walk between Browning Arts and the Edward Jones office, through Loon Park. Take a left, walk one block, and then you are at town square.

TSFM officially begins at 9 am and runs until 1 pm. There are a few booths who are set up early and are ready, but do not expect every vendor to be ready to take your credit card an hour early. Allards and a few other vendors are usually ready to go very early, but you won’t miss out if you actually wait until the start time. Chill out, it will be okay.

The earlier you show up, parking will be easier, your favorite treats will still be available, and it’s less likely that you’ll walk away with a massive sunburn with your baguette from Two Olives Baking Co. (make sure you try their pasta sauce too).

With Szymansky Farms, you have to get there before 11 to get most cuts of meat. Eggs? Time is normally sold out within the first hour if you’re looking grace your eggs benedict from eggs from Szymanski Farms. On rare occasions, Tim will have oxtail (you might even need to fight someone over those).

After spending so much time at the farmers market, I have witnessed what can make or break on a Saturday morning. I have gathered information on what you can do ahead of time to have a better experience. There are a few tips that will make your farmers market experience night and day different.

Dress for comfort.
You can transform your farmers market trip from a chaotic rush of people, holding a sack of zucchini for way too long, waiting for long periods in line with uncomfortable shoes. The best accessory you can bring is a fabric tote and comfortable shoes.

BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag)
I’m all for conservation and saving the whales, but for selfish reasons, I highly recommend bringing your own bag. Plenty of the vendors will provide plastic bags, but if you are walking around for an extra hour to listen to music or grab food from a food truck, that plastic handle starts digging into your hand. Plus, a tote is the perfect accessory to round out your farmer’s market ‘fit (yes, it’s super obvious that a lot of people pick an outfit specifically for the farmer’s market- and I love it). If you are planning on buying meat from Szymanski Farms or other foods that need to stay cold, bring a cooler, either a rolling cooler for the massive haul or the soft-sided cooler bag for the more conservative of Saturday morning purchases.

Do a scouting loop first.
You want to know exactly what’s available before committing. Take the time to soak in all of the sights and sounds of the market without needing to carry much.

Payment.
Most vendors take credit cards, however there are a few that do not. If you are not carrying cash, you can visit the TSFM’s trolley to purchase wooden tokens that can be redeemed from at each vendorPeople who are enrolled in the EBT program can also get tokens at the trolley. All rules of EBT usage are relevant to the tokens and the vendors receiving them and sometimes, the TSFM will offer promotions for EBT tokens at a discounted rate.

Coffee.
You’re going to want to rev up for a full day at the Farmer’s Market. There are a lot of great options, but for the early birds, I recommend Happy Camper Coffee or Archives. Those were the two consistently open while I was setting up my booth, and when the other vendors were open, I was selling already. I am also a big fan of Urban Stampede and Bully Brew. There is not a bad cup of black, drip coffee in the TSFM (even the sample cups from Sparky’s Craft Coffee Roasting), so it’s all love.

Earlier in the farmer’s market season, many types of produce are not ready for harvest yet, but there are plenty of reasons to still go to the Town Square Farmers Market. Many products are available all the time, like bakers, soap makers, and jewelry makers. You can pick up little treats for yourself from Bernies or for your furry friends at Barktastic Bakery.

Town Square Farmers Market is an incredible way to launch a business and immediately have a supportive customer base. There are options for vendors to buy spots in the market for one date only or the entire season. Whether you have an established business or just starting, I highly recommend spending at least one Saturday in the market (this was one of my favorite aspects of my business).

Every Saturday, there is a performer to be the soundtrack of that day in the market. Spanning from country musicians to funk bands to traditional dances from other countries, there is a performance for everybody and something awesome to see. If you are a musician, sign up here!

If you do not have a business and want to get involved, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer with the Town Square Farmers Market. Volunteers are needed to help with setup, the information booth, and need to help on the organization’s board. These volunteers are the glue that keeps this incredible event happening

For the last two summers, I have spent almost every Saturday morning at the Town Square Farmers Market and I would not have traded my time for anything else. I got to meet so many people and had the best spot to people-watch. The Town Square Farmer’s Market volunteers are so incredibly helpful and care deeply about continuing this awesome event in the community.

See you at the farmer’s market!