You Can Find The Best Tomatoes, Tennessee's Official Food, At These 7 Local Farmers Markets
By Meghan Kraft|Published February 01, 2022
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Meghan Kraft
Author
Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.
It may come as a shock to some folks that the official state food of Tennessee is…the tomato. Yep, it’s true. Since it’s pretty rare to find a tomato-forward main dish unless it’s changed shape or form (we’re looking at you spaghetti and meatballs!) we put together a neat list of farmers markets located across the state of Tennessee that offer great tomatoes for purchase when they’re in season.
The Franklin Farmers Market is a year-round market in Franklin, Tennessee that hosts local vendors hawking everything from farm-fresh meats to dairy, fruit, and produce. Freshly baked goods are also a top pick, and here you can see the "Big Tomato Slicers" sourced from Colbert Farm. Vendors do take credit cards, and you’ll find prepared foods, coffee, and even flowers available for purchase. Find more information here.
This Knoxville-based market is family-owned and offers some of the finest locally grown wares in the area. You can expect fresh tomatoes, of course, and a whole lot of Southern hospitality provided on the side. This is a great family-friendly market to bring the little ones to! Visitors have left quite a few online reviews praising the farm-fresh food and the kindness of the vendors. Though it may be one of the smaller farmers markets in east Tennessee, Dixie Lee still offers a great experience. Find more information here.
The Chattanooga Market is the largest producer-only arts and crafts market that also hosts a weekly farmers market. We’d recommend stocking up on ALL the fresh tomatoes and adding everything from baked goods to a cut flower bouquet to your tote. The Chattanooga Market is seasonal, so make sure you mark your calendars for every Sunday from April to December. Hours typically range from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find more information here.
This fabulous open-air farmers market takes place in the heart of the city twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays. Offerings will understandably vary depending on the time of year, but you can rest assured knowing that those tomatoes are grown right there on the eastern side of Tennessee! Find more information here.
The Memphis Farmers Market is a popular spot for locals to shop for produce and locally made crafts, and yep, you can stock up on the official food of Tennessee here as well! The market has been hosted on a weekly basis since 2006 and remains one of the most popular in the city. Hours do tend to change, but you can expect to visit the market between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Find more information here.
The Hip Donelson Community Farmers Market is one of the most popular spots for locals to stock up on local produce, and the seasonal market boasts everything from freshly grown tomatoes to arts and crafts. Though it is seasonal, the market is great for folks looking to enjoy live music and a family-friendly environment in the Nashville area. It's a must-visit come springtime! Find more information here.
If you find yourself in the Chattanooga area from 10 a.m. to noon on a Saturday, then you may want to pop into the Brainerd Farmers Market. This locally hosted spot is community-oriented and the small, more intimate feel is great for families. Do you know what else is great for the family? The official food of Tennessee, and you’ll find plenty of tomatoes here! Find more information here.
Did you know that tomatoes are the official state food of Tennessee? It was a surprise to us! If you have any other great farmers markets we should know about – or any other great place in Tennessee – let us know about through on our nomination form!
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