FARMERS MARKET: PLAINVIEW MN | 農夫市集: 明尼蘇達

Farmers markets in small towns are the cutest. Two weeks ago, we visited the Plainview Farmers Market for their opening day. They don’t have a lot of vendors yet but they have everything you’ll need at a reasonable price.

Plainview is a town 30 minutes northeast of Rochester, with a population of 3,340. The town is super cute, with a vintage look and friendly vibe. Get there early, spend a day exploring the town and the antique shops while you’re there!

Plainview’s farmers market is built by the community for the community. All the vendors are from the surrounding area, so are most of the shoppers. The market is opened on Wednesdays, 4-7pm, people stop by after they get off work to get some fresh vegetables or meat for dinner.

Going to the farmers market can be more of a habit, something most Americans are not used to. You need to adjust your diet to what the market/season has to offer and learning to cook new things. If you’re looking for all the processed food you would get at a supermarket, farmers market can be disappointing. For me, growing up going to fresh markets and exploring everything unknown to me, every farmers market is a new treasure hunt.

You may think that all the markets are similar and there’s not much to a small market, but it’s the people that make a market unique. Plainview market may not have as many vendors, but a small market means a tight community. Everybody knows everybody and having fewer customers means that they have more quality time to have a good conversation. See something you don’t know how to eat? Ask the growers! Need a recipe for something? ASK!

 

What’s at Plainview Farmers Market

Things in Jars

From the usual pickle to colorful jams, there are all kinds of things in a jar. Have you tried a pickled egg? I haven’t. It’s on my list of things to try next time I visit the market.

Local honey is also available at the market. I’ve decided that I will only buy local, sustainably raised honey. We don’t eat a lot of honey(honey is too sweet it makes my throat hurts), but after watching Netflix’s documentary: Rotten, I feel even more responsible with the food we choose to eat. It impacts the whole world’s economy and ecosystem, it’s crazy. Plus I’d rather support local farmers and know where my honey comes from than buy from the big corporates. Honey is just not something you can nor should mass produce. Cherish and savor the honey, don’t take it for granted. (ps. Have you seen Bee Movie? I love that movie)

 

Baked Goods & Treats

All kinds of baked goods and treats are available at the market from different vendors. Homemade caramel, corn puffs, hand pies, strawberry rhubarb pies, and cookies! Things are made fresh with ingredients from their own gardens or another vendor.

 

Things in Pots

It’s spring! Potted flowers, ready-to-grow seedlings can be purchased to decorate or grow in your own garden. My goal is to have a beautiful herb garden, the seedlings save me quite some time and frustration. All the seedlings are really well taken care of and super healthy. They were grown to turn into a farm full of vegetables for the farmers so if you enjoy the vegetables they’re selling, you’ll definitely love the seedlings. Taste test before you buy them. 😉

 

Vegetables

Vegetables, needless to say, are seasonal. They vary from week to week, month to month. Fresh asparagus, delicious rhubarb, beautiful rainbow chards, vibrant red radishes, and crisp lettuce heads are popping up right now. More varieties are added throughout summer, that’s why it’s never boring going to the market every week- it’s never the same! Farmers market vegetables taste so much better than supermarket stuff too. Locally grown, didn’t sit on a plane for hours soaking in chemicals to get on my plate, it’s just better.

 

Meats

Right now, the market only has one meat vendor- Hidden stream farm– but they have everything you possibly need for a delicious meal. Hidden Stream Farm produces beef, pork, and chicken with no chemicals or antibiotics based on a grass-based family farm.

We don’t eat a lot of meat, so my favorite thing about this vendor is that they sell chicken carcasses, the best part to make chicken soup with! The carcasses come in a two-pack and are $1.75/lb. The broth that’s made with this chicken is TO DIE FOR. It’s got so much flavor and absolutely delicious, supermarket chickens can’t compare to this!!

They also have brats and hotdogs if you’re looking for something to grill, ask them anything about their product, they will be happy to tell you all about it!

 

Eggs

Every farmers market have eggs, but not every market has eggs as pretty as these ones. Bittersweet Acres has the most colorful eggs I’ve ever seen! So colorful they didn’t see the point of egg painting during Easter, and my friend in Taiwan asked me how these were cooked to achieve that color. Nature, baby, nature.

 

Market Hours

Plainview Farmers Market is a summer market, which means that they are only opened from May – Oct.

???? WHEN: May-Oct: EVERY WEDNESDAY, 4-7 PM

???? WHERE: Bennetts Grocery Store parking lot just off MN Hwy 42. (215 1st St SW, Plainview MN)

 

Follow Plainview Farmers Market On Social Media!

FB/IG/TWITTER: @PlainviewMKT

 

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