Farmers Market Season Kicks Off This Saturday in East Atlanta Patch

Ready to spend your Saturday/Sunday mornings or Thursday evenings picking up delicious, locally grown, bright, colorful fruits and veggies? What about unique offerings like jalapeno jam? Or maybe even great handmade crafts?

These are all items that can be found at a local farmers market, and the farmers market season kicks off this weekend in East Atlanta Patch.

The East Lake Farmers Market opens for the season on Saturday, April 13, with its fourth annual Collard Green Cook-Off. Three prizes will be awarded: the Amateur Prize is $100 and a certificate of honor, the Professional Prize includes a plaque plus major bragging rights and a chance to help a fantastic organization, and the People’s Choice Award winner will receive a custom trophy!

There is still time to apply to participate in the cook-off. Just fill out the application form on the ELF website. Entry fee is $25 and at least 10 pounds of cooked collard greens. All proceeds benefit Wholesome Wave Georgia.

The market will feature a variety from farmers and artisans, and is starting its 2013 season with a new market manager, Corrine Coe.

Coe was Market Manager for the Crescent City Farmers Market in New Orleans, worked as an Educator for Rogue Valley Farm to School in Ashland, Oregon, and recently spent two years in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, working in the field of Ecological Sanitation as Director of Communication & Administration for Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods (SOIL).

The ELF Market opens Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the corner of Second Avenue and Hosea L. Williams Drive. Collard green tasting begins at 10:30 a.m.

The ELF Market is not the only one ramping back up in East Atlanta Patch.

The East Atlanta Village Farmers Market is kicking off its 2013 season on Thursday, April 18 at 4 p.m. at 561 Flat Shoals Ave. The market will be open each Thursday from 4-8 p.m. at that location through Dec. 12.

Additionally, the Grant Park Farmers Market opens Sunday, April 21 and will run through Dec. 15. The market is open every Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the corner of Cherokee Avenue and Milledge Avenue.

After the market opens on Sunday, a potluck fundraiser will be held 2-5 p.m. at 622 Grant Street.

The fundraiser consists of live music, tasty beverages, games, and more. Kegs of beer provided by Dakota Blue.

Attendees are asked to bring a dish to share and serving ware. Suggested donations for families is $20.