UAB Medicine News

Locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables are a popular choice for a healthy diet, and they’ve enjoyed a revival of sorts in the past two decades. This revival is also linked to sustainable farming, a growing demand for organic foods, and even culinary practices such as the Slow Food movement (food that is “good, clean and fair – the opposite of fast food”).

The bottom line is that fresh produce is delicious and healthy, and the best place to find locally grown fresh produce is a farmers market. Check out our list of some Birmingham-area farmers markets and produce vendors for a convenient location near you.

Alabama Farmers Market

Officially known as the Jefferson County Truck Growers Association Farmers Market, it could fairly be called the granddaddy of all the markets in Alabama. Founded in 1921 and operating in the current location since 1956, it’s one of the 10 oldest farmer-owned-and-operated markets in the United States. Situated on a 49-acre plot of docks, vendor pavilions, and warehouses (designated by the iconic Farmers Market neon sign with the pickup truck and big red arrow), the market operates 24-7, every day of the year. When the vendors are closed, you can still purchase produce directly from farmers’ trucks on the lot, and most growers offer taste tests (bring some napkins when peaches and watermelon are in season).

Address: 344 Finley Ave W, Birmingham
Hours: The summer hours are 24 hours a day. Most vendors are open 7 days a week, 5 am to 8 pm, and farmers come in 24 hours a day.

More info

Pepper Place Farmers Market

Established in 2000 in Birmingham’s Lakeview Design and Entertainment District, this ever-expanding market is now a regular Saturday must-do event. The outdoor market has three areas of more than 100 tents spread across parking lots and streets around Pepper Place. Fresh produce and food vendors, cooking demonstrations, and live music are the main attractions, and a key feature is that you get to meet the folks who actually grow the goods.

Address: Pepper Place, 2829 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham
Hours: Saturdays 7 am-noon, from April 13 through Dec. 14 (also open most holiday weekends)

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Andy’s Markets

Andy’s popular landscaping, garden centers, and nurseries in Hoover and Vestavia are equally known for their excellent produce sold through the company’s two farmers markets. Owner Andy Burris buys produce (after taste-testing it) from local farms every morning and brings the fresh selections to both locations. 

Address: 2489 Rocky Ridge Road, Vestavia, (205) 824-0300
Hours: Monday-Saturday 8 am-6 pm

Address: 124 Mars Hill Road, Hoover, (205) 402-2639
Hours: Monday-Saturday 8 am-6 pm, Sundays 11 am-5 pm

More info

Murphree’s Market and Garden Center

An appealing throwback to the days of corner grocers and curb markets, Murphree’s is treasured by the Cahaba Heights community. Its product selection is wide, and the operators seem to have an inside (and early) track on the best peaches, blackberries, and squash each year. Murphree’s is also a treasure trove of various pickles, preserves, and other homemade goods, along with pecans, salad dressings, and BBQ sauces. Need peas or beans already shelled or snapped? They have that, too.

Address: 4212 Dolly Ridge Road, Cahaba Heights, (205) 967-8590
Hours: Monday-Saturday 8 am-6 pm

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The Farm Stand at UAB
Started as a small strawberry patch in Chilton County 12 years ago, Boozer Farms is now a full-scale, USDA-certified family enterprise that brings a variety of produce through community-supported agriculture shares (CSAs), farm stands, and local restaurants. UAB Medicine patients and employees don’t have to drive to Thorsby for the farm’s products, though, as Boozer provides a farm stand three days each week at The Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital. It might be just what the doctor ordered.

To get Farm Stand updates about events, coupons, and seasonal recipes, email boozerfarmsnews@gmail.com with the subject line "UAB Farm Stand Email List."

Address: 2000 6th Ave S, Birmingham (2nd floor atrium of The Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital)
Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, 10 am-2 pm through December 6, 2019

 

UAB Farmers Market
UAB Medicine has again partnered with the Farmer's Market Authority of the State of Alabama to bring some of the best farmers in the state to the UAB community this summer. Open to all staff, patients, and visitors, it’s the second medical campus market that shows UAB Medicine’s commitment to making fresh, locally grown food available and convenient.

Address: 615 18th Street South, Birmingham (outside the UAB Hospital North Pavilion entrance)
Hours: Fridays 11 am-2 pm, June 7-August 30

Linn Place Market

It’s not widely known (yet), but downtown workers, library and Birmingham Museum of Art patrons, but people with business at Birmingham City Hall or the Jefferson County Courthouse already have been enjoying the little market across from Linn Park.

Address: 20th Street North at Park Place, Birmingham
Hours: Wednesdays 8 am-1:30 pm

More info

Valleydale Farmers Market

There’s a wide variety of vendors at what amounts to a tiny country fair, offering fresh local produce, Alabama honey, eggs, local dairy products, jams and jellies, homemade goods, baked goods, handmade soaps, artisan pasta, and locally roasted coffee.

Address: 4601 Valleydale Road, Birmingham
Hours: Saturdays 8 am-noon, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend

More info

East Lake Farmers Market

East Lake Market is a project of P.E.E.R. Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides access to nutritious foods and other resources for healthy living in the South East Lake neighborhood and surrounding areas. Along with produce, the market and its Mobile Market truck offer jams, jellies, relishes, and fresh bread made in the East Lake Community Kitchen, along with East Lake Farmers Market T-shirts and other fun, community related items.

Address: 7753 1st Ave South, Birmingham
Hours: Saturdays 8 am-noon, through early October

More info

West Homewood Farmers Market

It didn’t take long for this little Homewood neighborhood event, which began in 2011, to grow into a big event and become the place to be on Tuesday evenings. Located near Patriot Park, the market boasts a bounty of fresh produce from local farms, live music, and all kinds of arts and crafts vendors.

Address: 160 Oxmoor Road, Homewood
Hours: Tuesdays 5 pm- 8 pm, from June 4 –August 6

More info

See The Alabama Farmers Market Authority’s comprehensive list of certified markets here.