According to the Farmers Market Coalition, a farmers market is "a public and recurring assembly of farmers or their representatives, selling directly to consumers food which they have produced themselves." The explosion of the farm-to-table movement in the U.S. has led to a steadily growing number of markets – more than 8,100 registered in 2013.
USA TODAY 10Best's panel of food and travel experts narrowed down the field to their top 20, and for the past four weeks, our readers have been voting daily for their favorites. The results are in and we have a winner! It was a battle of the Bs, but in the end it was the Boulder Farmers Market that beat out Burlington Farmers' Market for the top spot.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Farmers Market are as follows:
- Boulder Farmers Market - Boulder, Colo.
- Burlington Farmers’ Market - Burlington, Vt.
- Peachtree Road Farmers Market - Atlanta
- Wednesday Downtown Farmers' Market - Santa Monica, Calif.
- Dane County Farmers’ Market - Madison, Wis.
- Santa Fe Farmers Market - Santa Fe
- Ferry Plaza Farmers Market - San Francisco
- Green City Market - Chicago
- Davis Farmers Market - Davis, Calif.
- University District Neighborhood Farmers Market - Seattle
A panel of experts picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Bernadine Prince (Farmers Market Coalition), Eric Grossman, Megy Karydes, M. Linda Lee (10Best), Akila McConnell (The Road Forks), Larry Olmsted (Great American Bites) and Kim Sunee were chosen based on their extensive knowledge of food and travel.
Additional nominees for the title of Best Farmers Market included the Charleston Farmers Market in Charleston, S.C.; Coventry Regional Farmers’ Market in Coventry, Conn.; Crescent City Farmers Market in New Orleans; Dupont Circle FRESHFARM Market in Washington; Durham Farmers’ Market in Durham, N.C.; Eastern Market in Washington; Portland State University Farmers Market in Portland, Ore.; St. Paul Farmers' Market in St. Paul; Sweet Auburn Curb Market in Atlanta and the Union Square Greenmarket in New York.
10Best and USA TODAY extend their congratulations to all the winners.
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The Experts
Bernadine Prince
Bernadine (Bernie) Prince is a founder of... Read More
Bernadine (Bernie) Prince is a founder of FRESHFARM Markets in Washington, DC since 1997. Bernie created the SNAP/Matching Dollars program at FRESHFARM Markets so low-income residents can buy more healthy foods at her producer-only farmers markets. She created FoodPrints, a nutrition curriculum and gardening program for elementary schools that encourages growing and eating healthy food. FoodPrints is in six DC schools and is cited as a model for nutrition education in the District. Prince is president of the national Farmers Market Coalition. She and her husband own Blue Skies Farm in Delaware where they grow organic fruit, vegetables and flowers.
Bernadine Prince

Bernadine (Bernie) Prince is a founder of FRESHFARM Markets in Washington, DC since 1997. Bernie created the SNAP/Matching Dollars program at FRESHFARM Markets so low-income residents can buy more healthy foods at her producer-only farmers markets. She created FoodPrints, a nutrition curriculum and gardening program for elementary schools that encourages growing and eating healthy food. FoodPrints is in six DC schools and is cited as a model for nutrition education in the District. Prince is president of the national Farmers Market Coalition. She and her husband own Blue Skies Farm in Delaware where they grow organic fruit, vegetables and flowers.
Eric Grossman
Eric Grossman is a travel and food writer who has... Read More
Eric Grossman is a travel and food writer who has visited more than 50 countries. Always up for an adventure, Eric is constantly searching for new and inspiring experiences, with a keen interest in luxury travel and urban exploration. Memorable experiences have run the gamut from discussing the future of food with Ferran Adrià to sharing a stage with Coldplay.
Eric Grossman

Eric Grossman is a travel and food writer who has visited more than 50 countries. Always up for an adventure, Eric is constantly searching for new and inspiring experiences, with a keen interest in luxury travel and urban exploration. Memorable experiences have run the gamut from discussing the future of food with Ferran Adrià to sharing a stage with Coldplay.
Megy Karydes
Megy Karydes has spent more than 20 years as a... Read More
Megy Karydes has spent more than 20 years as a professional writer and most of her life in Chicago. While she’s traveled extensively internationally, visiting each of the 50 states is on her bucket list. An adventure seeker, she’s game for anything from mixed martial arts training to competing in obstacle course races. A self-proclaimed coffee snob and “greenie” who loves farmer-grown food and locally-grown craft beers & wine. She’s yet to find an outdoor beer garden she doesn’t like. Mixing writing and food/drink is her specialty, especially when it involves travel. To read her work, visit http://karydesconsulting.pressfolios.com/.
Megy Karydes

Megy Karydes has spent more than 20 years as a professional writer and most of her life in Chicago. While she’s traveled extensively internationally, visiting each of the 50 states is on her bucket list. An adventure seeker, she’s game for anything from mixed martial arts training to competing in obstacle course races. A self-proclaimed coffee snob and “greenie” who loves farmer-grown food and locally-grown craft beers & wine. She’s yet to find an outdoor beer garden she doesn’t like. Mixing writing and food/drink is her specialty, especially when it involves travel. To read her work, visit http://karydesconsulting.pressfolios.com/.
M. Linda Lee
As Senior Editor for Michelin Travel Publications... Read More
As Senior Editor for Michelin Travel Publications for 17 years, Linda worked on the Michelin Guide (the acclaimed red guide to restaurants and hotels), as well as on Michelin’s series of North American travel guides. Now a freelance writer, she is a contributing editor to TOWN magazine, based in Greenville, SC. Her passion for food and travel shines through in her articles in TOWN and in publications such as The Local Palate, Edible Upcountry, Tempus, Southwest Spirit, US Airways Magazine, and on USAToday.com. In her spare time, she promotes "good, clean and fair" food practices through her volunteer work as Co-Chair of Slow Food Upstate.
M. Linda Lee
As Senior Editor for Michelin Travel Publications for 17 years, Linda worked on the Michelin Guide (the acclaimed red guide to restaurants and hotels), as well as on Michelin’s series of North American travel guides. Now a freelance writer, she is a contributing editor to TOWN magazine, based in Greenville, SC. Her passion for food and travel shines through in her articles in TOWN and in publications such as The Local Palate, Edible Upcountry, Tempus, Southwest Spirit, US Airways Magazine, and on USAToday.com. In her spare time, she promotes "good, clean and fair" food practices through her volunteer work as Co-Chair of Slow Food Upstate.
Akila McConnell
Akila McConnell's mind (and waistline) expands as... Read More
Akila McConnell's mind (and waistline) expands as she travels and eats her way around the world. Currently, she’s eating mule-ground grits and sweet fuzzy peaches in Atlanta, Georgia, where she introduces guests to the diversity and history of Southern cuisine on food tours with Atlanta Food Walks. You can find her food and travel writing at The Road Forks and About.com Food Travel, as well as numerous magazines and websites.
Akila McConnell

Akila McConnell's mind (and waistline) expands as she travels and eats her way around the world. Currently, she’s eating mule-ground grits and sweet fuzzy peaches in Atlanta, Georgia, where she introduces guests to the diversity and history of Southern cuisine on food tours with Atlanta Food Walks. You can find her food and travel writing at The Road Forks and About.com Food Travel, as well as numerous magazines and websites.
Larry Olmsted
Larry Olmsted is the weekly Great American Bites... Read More
Larry Olmsted is the weekly Great American Bites columnist for USA TODAY, covering regional cuisine and restaurants across the nation. He also writes frequently on culinary travel topics for his Forbes.com Great Life column. He is the Contributing Travel Editor for Cigar Aficionado magazine and has written extensively on food and travel topics for a wide variety of publications, including American Way, Celebrated Living, Rhapsody and Hemispheres. His New York Times bestselling book Real Food/Fake Food takes readers on an enlightening (and sometimes disturbing) journey deep into the food industry. Larry has traveled extensively all over the globe; attended cooking classes in Italy, England, Mexico and the United States; and is certified as competition barbecue judge by the Kansas City Barbecue Society.
Larry Olmsted

Larry Olmsted is the weekly Great American Bites columnist for USA TODAY, covering regional cuisine and restaurants across the nation. He also writes frequently on culinary travel topics for his Forbes.com Great Life column. He is the Contributing Travel Editor for Cigar Aficionado magazine and has written extensively on food and travel topics for a wide variety of publications, including American Way, Celebrated Living, Rhapsody and Hemispheres. His New York Times bestselling book Real Food/Fake Food takes readers on an enlightening (and sometimes disturbing) journey deep into the food industry. Larry has traveled extensively all over the globe; attended cooking classes in Italy, England, Mexico and the United States; and is certified as competition barbecue judge by the Kansas City Barbecue Society.
Kim Sunee
Kim Sunée was born in South Korea, adopted, and... Read More
Kim Sunée was born in South Korea, adopted, and raised in the Southern U.S. She is the author of the national bestseller, “Trail of Crumbs: Hunger, Love, and the Search for Home” and “A Mouthful of Stars.” She has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Ladies’ Homes Journal, People, ELLE, and Glamour. She ate and lived in Europe–mostly France–for ten years before working as a food editor for Southern Living magazine and Cottage Living magazine. Her writing has appeared in Food & Wine, The Oxford American,Cooking Light, and Asian American Poetry and Writing. Sunée has appeared several times as a guest judge on the Food Network’s Iron Chef America. She is currently a food columnist for Alaska Dispatch and a freelance recipe tester, editor, and food stylist. For more food and travel, please visit kimsunee.com and instagram/kimsunee.
Kim Sunee

Kim Sunée was born in South Korea, adopted, and raised in the Southern U.S. She is the author of the national bestseller, “Trail of Crumbs: Hunger, Love, and the Search for Home” and “A Mouthful of Stars.” She has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Ladies’ Homes Journal, People, ELLE, and Glamour. She ate and lived in Europe–mostly France–for ten years before working as a food editor for Southern Living magazine and Cottage Living magazine. Her writing has appeared in Food & Wine, The Oxford American,Cooking Light, and Asian American Poetry and Writing. Sunée has appeared several times as a guest judge on the Food Network’s Iron Chef America. She is currently a food columnist for Alaska Dispatch and a freelance recipe tester, editor, and food stylist. For more food and travel, please visit kimsunee.com and instagram/kimsunee.
Michelle da Silva Richmond
Michelle da Silva Richmond is an award-winning... Read More
Michelle da Silva Richmond is an award-winning travel editor and member of the Society of American Travel Writers and other journalism organizations. She has written hundreds of articles for newspapers, consumer and trade magazines and in-flight publications. In addition, she has co- authored and contributed to many guide books and was a weekly travel columnist for a metropolitan Connecticut daily newspaper. Growing up abroad, combined with a colorful career as a Pan Am flight attendant fueled her wanderlust and passion for travel. She lived in Mexico City for nearly 20 years and has visited nearly 100 countries. Her bags are always packed.
Michelle da Silva Richmond

Michelle da Silva Richmond is an award-winning travel editor and member of the Society of American Travel Writers and other journalism organizations. She has written hundreds of articles for newspapers, consumer and trade magazines and in-flight publications. In addition, she has co- authored and contributed to many guide books and was a weekly travel columnist for a metropolitan Connecticut daily newspaper. Growing up abroad, combined with a colorful career as a Pan Am flight attendant fueled her wanderlust and passion for travel. She lived in Mexico City for nearly 20 years and has visited nearly 100 countries. Her bags are always packed.