Farmers Market

Check my update below…
I love the great selection and the low prices. So far I have only bought from the center pavilion where there are two stores who basically have the same thing. Workers at both were very helpful and friendly but the one in the back (Evelyn’s) had lower prices on a few things. I have really enjoyed the quality of everything I have ever gotten here.
Next time I plan on visiting the smaller booths where farmers are selling out of the back of their trucks or out of trailers. There is less variety but I look forward to the experience.
On Saturdays there is a flea market set up with lots of random stuff being sold by about twenty different vendors. I only checked out one, a guy who was selling lawn and gardening equipment, and it turned out that the price he was selling his used garden rakes for was more than a new one at home depot. So, check it out but know what a fair price its before you buy.
Overall I am very happy and just wish this place was closer to my house! And check out niki’s west while you are in this area… great lunch spot and great warm banana pudding.
Update (10÷1÷2014)
I finally talked to a few people who were selling from smaller tables or just out of the bed of a pickup truck and I am so glad I did. I got a basket of squash for 20% less than the squash at Evelyn’s (now I do still love Evelyn’s) and enjoyed talking to the family that was selling it. I was pretty cool to be talking to the guy who farmed it and I liked meeting his family.
We also ate at the Mexican restaurant! I couldnt believe my Dad wanted to eat there but he did and so we did. I went in and ordered two tacos (chorizo and asada) and a tamale. There was a good bit of a wait until I got my food (it was a Saturday afternoon) but the guy at the register (who spoke great English and Spanish… well I think the Spanish was good… sounded good to me!) told me that there would be a wait. Knowing there was going to be a wait, I took some time to look at what more of the farmers had brought while I waited. Both tacos were great (as one of my friends says… let the flavor of the meat shine!) and my stepmother liked her tamale. He gave me a small cup of each of the sauces (rojo, verde, and habanero). Each was good and the habanero was not ridiculously hot like other habanero sauces I have had. Tamales were not on the menu so I am sure they have other items that are not on the menu either. If there is something you want… ask…they may have it!

One of the must stops on the weekend. Great place for fresh vegetables and fruits. The hours are convenient and there are a number of vendors to shop from.
One of the surprises is how helpful the employees are.
The prices are extremely affordable and you don’t have to buy in bulk if you do not need a lot.

For starters, this is a great location to buy local produce. Let’s face it, who doesn’t enjoy supporting the local farmers. The best thing yet though is that the prices are very cheap, but can fluctuate from week to week. For example, one week I purchased a box of 50 beautiful tomatoes for $ 9. The following week, this same box was $ 11. Now I know what you’re think, who needs 50 tomatoes right? We’ll if you go there will friends (=being social), you’ll be able to spilt purchases and when all is said and done you will have paid a small fraction of what big box stores charge. Furthermore, I. Addition to a wide assortment of vegetable, they have fruits, flower, plants and yard sales. Best of all, if you’re good at negotiating, you’ll be able to get an even better deal. We wish you the best with this adventure. Happy shopping!

I went on a Sunday, so that may be the reason

There are so many wonderful options at our «real» farmer’s market. Things you’ve never really even thought of cooking with — like cactus, for example. Actually, that’s not a joke. Everyone can tell by reading just about every third review of mine that I am a HUGE mexican food fanatic. So I go to Finley Avenue for two things — fresh veggies and fruit that I am going to «put up» … and mexican cooking food and veggies.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I am more than happy to support the farmers at Pepper Place or at the MT Laurel Farmers markets, but the prices are very different. In comparison, I can get a box of tomatoes from the hip farmer’s markets for about $ 25. At The Alabama Farmer’s Market (on Finely Ave), I can pay just $ 16 a box — they come from Sand Mountain. Bet I don’t spend $ 9 in gas to get there! For pretty much everything I put up, I found this variance in price.
And for cooking, I can find just about every pepper that I use in the mexican dishes I prepare at home (the ones I can only get fresh in the likes of New Mexico or in Mexico), as well as specialty spices (like epazote and mexican oregano, and certain dried chili).
There are plenty of farmers who sell out of the back of their vehicles — I like to visit with these folks, learn about their farms, how they preserve their fruits and vegetables AND take pictures of their goods. There is also a large post in the middle that has a few farmers in it with LOADS of stuff.
So, if the nostalgia doesn’t bring you to The Alabama Farmer’s Market on Finley Avenue, go for the fresh foods at a good price!

Pretty decent pricing but not much better than the supermarket this time of year.
Shop around to the vendors parked around the edges, not just the center pavillion.
You’ll find better deals that way.

With all the summer fruit in season, I had to check out this farmer’s market. Most vendors are there, on the weekend, between 7am and 5pm. I heard that they are there during the week, too, but since I went on a Saturday, I don’t know!
For all the space, the actual market is in a covered, open-​air area with about 3 or 4 vendors. They all had basically the same things, but the prices were less than the grocery store, and really good quality! There are other vendors selling from the back of trucks around the lot, and since they all have basically the same things, you can just take your pick!
I wish I lived closer… I’d make this my first produce stop each week.