August 2005

Long before daybreak, trucks rumble down streets and back into loading docks across America. Vendors pull crates of produce and carry them to stalls where they're laid out in colorful mosaics. Rows of iridescent fish lie on beds of crushed ice; bouquets of fresh flowers paint a vibrant tableau. Then the public arrives. Savvy shoppers scurry with a purpose—they know where to go for the best tomatoes, the freshest trout, and the flakiest breads. Newcomers browse the aisles, taking in the sights, sounds, and aromas.

These are America's farmers' markets. Experiencing a revival, more than 3,700 public markets are thriving throughout the country, according to the usda national directory of farmers' markets. That's a 111 percent increase in the past 10 years, making them top attractions in cities like Seattle and Philadelphia.

The following three are renowned for offering visitors unique food choices in festive, historic environments. They also happen to be in cities where activities, culture, and restaurants abound, providing plenty to do once vendors pack up their stalls at day's end.

San Francisco:
Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market

Cleveland:
West Side Market

Boston:
Haymarket Square

To find a farmers' market near you, go to the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Services Web site at www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets.

Katharine Dyson writes a weekly travel and food column for Acorn newspapers and is the author of The 100 Most Romantic Resorts of the World. She lives in Ridgefield, Connecticut.