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Not your usual grocery chains like Kroger or Safeway or Whole Foods, but places like farmer's markets or even year-round local foods' markets.
In Dallas, there is a large Farmer's Market at the edge of downtown and the area around it has seen some residential development and that market has grown more popular.
I'm thinking of Seattle's Pike Place Market, San Fran's Ferry Building market, Philadelphia's Reading Terminal Market.
Seattle's seems the most famous, but I really like the Reading Terminal Market in Philly; it's got a local organic produce grocery store and dozens of vendors selling Amish country foodstuffs as well as famous ice creams, crepes, cheesesteaks, chocolates, regular Chinese and Italian foods, etc. It's gotten so popular lately that there is talk of expanding it further.
What other cities have such markets in their downtowns? Any "hidden gems" out there that we should all know about?
Post pics, links, etc...
My list:
1) Seattle -- Pike Place market
2) Philly -- Reading Terminal Market
3) San Fran -- Ferry Building market
4) Boston -- Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Definitely Los Angeles since the crops grown year-round encircle the LA area. California produces the majority of America's fruits & vegetables [also nuts].
Definitely Los Angeles since the crops grown year-round encircle the LA area. California produces the majority of America's fruits & vegetables [also nuts].
There are fertile and rich crop lands not even an hour outside of Philadelphia as well, in Amish country near Lancaster, PA.
The question is not about which city is close to farms, it's about having centrally located, busy, active, flourishing public markets that are iconic to a place, a city,...especially in downtown areas. Some cities that might not have many downtown residents might not have a great downtown produce market...it's that simple. OTOH, places like Philly are blessed with a certain local foodie attitude that's not a new thing but has been around as a local food culture for generations...so they have places that sell foods that you can probably only find there or that those foods are best available there, and thus they have a popular market.
Having lived on both coasts, I can say with certainty that California has far fresher produce.
That said, I think there are a host of cities across the country that have great urban markets. Even NYC has great farmer's markets throughout the city (particularly during summer months).
wow! that market looks gorgeous-- neat, cavernous building too. but overall it seems bit smaller (unless there are other parts to it) than places like Pike Place and Ferry Building.
Drove up from SF to LA, then LA back to SF last weekend. The agricultural bounty that can be had in this state is beyond comprehension. Every square inch put to productive use. Sunshine throughout the year. Complex irrigation schemes that would qualify among the great modern wonders of the world. It's easier to answer the question, what doesn't California have?
In any major city along this route, you will find the world's best.
Last edited by Rhymes with Best Coast; 03-02-2010 at 04:11 PM..
I have to say Seattle too. Not only does Pike Place have fresh produce, every neighborhood during the spring - autumn months have their farmer's markets. I remember living in the University District that there was a farmer's market every Saturday. Nearby in Wallingford too, and let's not forget the Fremont one and Ballard one. Greenwood has one, and I'm sure areas south of downtown have one too.
No other large city that I've ever been in in the USA has the equivalent.
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