For a city that only has warm weather 3 months out of the year, the Minneapolis Farmer's Market boasts a wealth of fresh goods. Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating on the weather, but you'll be surprised at how many different fruits, vegetables, and plants you can find on an early morning venture.

The farmer's market is open 7 days a week starting in mid-spring, and it runs through December 24 every year. It's most crowded on Saturdays and Sundays, of course, when everyone and their brother comes out for goodies. Besides the usual market fare, you'll find a wealth of other goods.

The southern end of the Minneapolis Farmer's Market is reserved for craft-type items, like soap, benches, and handcarved items. You can also find some of the best brats and baked goods on this end, so you can almost make a whole day event out of the market.

As you head north, you'll find more Minnesota-grown items, as well as products made from scratch. Some of the most creative items are here, from salsa and jam to tea to venison brats. Yes, brats made from deer meat.

I was hooked after the first time I visited. The Minneapolis Farmer's Market is open from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day. If you go on a busy week, good luck trying to find parking in the Lyndale lot. If you swing off on one of the side streets or head to the other side of the market, parking is a breeze. Visit the Farmer's Market website for directions.

The Saint Paul Farmer's Market has gotten much better since they did their renovation. There is a sectioned roof overhead, making it easier to attend in rain - I went about two weeks ago in the pouring rain and was comfortable.

Saint Paul's market is completely different from Minneapolis, which is a nice change of pace. The downtown Minneapolis market runs alongs several blocks of Nicollet Avenue, whereas Saint Paul is confined to a large square block. Parking is plentiful, and there is a trolley from several free lots.

There are multitudes of different products here, all of them fresh. You can find fresh produce, flats of plants, fresh meat, eggs, and bakery. I would highly recommend Golden Fig's products - if you need a spice to liven up dinner, she's got it! I bought a grilling rub from her a couple of months ago and can't get enough of it. The Golden Fig table and many others have many recipe ideas for their products.

Every weekend, the market features a different band and a different gardening expert. It's worth a trip every couple of weeks!

Beginning in May, the downtown Farmer’s Market is open for business. Locals come to sell their crops and crafts. You’ll find just about anything here; it’s amazing. Most of it is probably not the kind of stuff you’d buy on vacation, but you may find a few interesting souvenirs. Another possibility is to come here in the morning to buy fruit, bread, cheese, etc., and take it for a picnic elsewhere in the afternoon. The food is twice as good as you’d find in a grocery and half as expensive. Candles, clothes, shoes, hats, flowers, furniture and pottery are among the other items you’ll find here. You could even skip breakfast and eat here as you walk. The locals are fond of the grilled bratwurst and the roasted corn-on-the-cob, but you’ll find more conventional breakfast treats as well.

Be prepared to fight crowds on the weekends, it’s packed on Saturdays in the summer. Sundays are more manageable.

http://www.mplsfarmersmarket.com/index.html