Opening day at the West Palm Beach GreenMarket.
Photos by the City of West Palm Beach
After a few months off for the summer, the West Palm Beach GreenMarket is back every Saturday through April 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Great Lawn, 100 N. Clematis St.
This year’s theme is “Sweet Success” in tribute to the GreenMarket’s second year in a row on USA Today’s 10Best list of best farmers markets.
For this 28th season, the GreenMarket will exceed last year’s record for vendor participation with over 110 vendors. From fresh produce, flowers, coffee and tea to olive oil, soap and ceviche, the market offers something for everyone.
Vendors selling produce at the West Palm Beach GreenMarket.
Photo by the City of West Palm Beach.
New vendors include Ash and Earth, Chef Luc Authentic French Baked Goods, Ebony’s Vegan Bakery, Edible Spreadable, Florida Man Pet Treats, Garden of Esther, Green Queen’s Garden, Hideout Kava & Tea Bar, Icestasy Italian Ice, IZZYS Bakery, Liquid Gold Honey, Mother Lover, Outclaws, Papa G’s Country Kitchen, Pickled Penos, Pop Shack, Pupberry, Purposefully Baking, Rollup NYC, Subculture Group, Sugar Lumpz, The Folk, The Noble Women Bakery and Universal Biocarbon.
Visit West Palm Beach’s website for a full list of participating vendors and an interactive map to plan your Saturday morning.
The GreenMarket had its debut season in 1995 after then-Mayor Nancy Graham visited public markets throughout Europe and had a vision of a weekly market for downtown West Palm Beach.
“In the greenmarkets I visited, people selling the produce knew their shoppers’ names, and the shoppers could ask questions about the products,” Graham said. She wanted a place not only to buy fresh produce from local farmers, but also to gather with neighbors and build community.
In that inaugural season 13 vendors came together weekly in the parking lot of the Old City Hall, and although no actual farmers were available with fresh produce at first, city staff resold fruits and vegetables until local farmers had crops to sell.
By the end of the second season, the GreenMarket outgrew the parking lot and relocated to Narcissus Avenue and Second Street, where it remained through the 2009-2010 season with about 45 vendors each year. The GreenMarket moved to its current location in October 2010 and has grown year after year since.
West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James invites everyone to join the festivities this season. “With even more vendors this year, there truly will be something for everyone,” he says. “We hope to see you there.”
Attendees getting a photo with a scarecrow at the West Palm Beach GreenMarket.
Photo by the City of West Palm Beach.
Parking is free at the City Center, Clematis Street and Sapodilla garages during market hours and costs a flat fee of $5 a day if you enter before 9 a.m. or after 1 p.m. Click here for more information about the GreenMarket.
