Fresh Farm Market, Harbor East
While I missed it today, I wonder if anyone went last week--which I think was their first Saturday in operation--or went today and can provide some feedback.
I know that Springfield Farms is there, which is a good enough reason for me to go, but wondered about what people thought of the other vendors.
Thanks.
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baltoellen
Sep 15, 2008 07:18 AM
I went to the IHE market last weekend, or the weekend before. I may have been there too late, but there were only about four vendors, and we didn't buy a thing. Springfield Farms, which was one of the main reasons for our trip, wasn't even there.
Speaking of chicken, the Hen's Nest, or whatever the egg guy is called at the JFX mkt, periodically has whole chickens. As of yesterday, he said that he'd have the again in two weeks. I got one a few weeks ago, and it was expensive--and fairly large--but delicious, and provided two dinners for two, and two lunches.
I agree that the JFX market is getting crazy crowded. I wonder if it's time for them to think of moving to a different area, or expand some of the vendors out from the parking lot.
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Market season is nearing the end, but I finally walked over to this market yesterday morning.
I got some merguez and ground beef from Springfield Farms, and some ground bison from the bison people. I got a loaf of crusty bread from Atwaters. These are great vendors that aren't at the JFX market.
It's SMALL. There's like 10 vendors. Two or three for produce, Springfield, the bison people, Atwaters, some guy selling soap, and a couple others. For me it's a destination market. At the JFX I go with an open mind looking for whatever looks good. I'd go back here for certain things, but not just to browse and shop.
Annoyingly, when they say the hours are 9-1, they mean it. They won't sell you anything if you show up early like I did. At 9 sharp they ring a bell which means that they're open for business. That's just stupid. I sat on the promenade for a while waiting for them to be willing to sell me stuff.
On the way back I stopped at WF for some chicken parts I needed for something else. Springfield only had whole chickens.
Hiking back to Federal Hill around the Inner Harbor I saw tourists who, like me, were wearing backpacks. But I took a perverse pride in the fact that of them all, I was the only one with a backpack full of meat.
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re: JonParker
I've been finding the Harbor East farmer's market good for picking up some vegetables and fruit. The Sunday farmer's market under the JFX just keeps getting more and more crowded, and I'm not capable of getting there obscenely early like Jon does. By the time I can get there, it's crowded enough that I find it a stressful experience.
I wish Springfield Farms would bring fryer-size chickens (under three pounds). I'd be happy to cut the chicken up myself. I only have limited use for expensive 4 1/2 pound and more roasting chickens.
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re: Hal Laurent
The problems with relying on IHE market are that you can't just walk in looking for what's going to be good, and the prices are high. The variety just wasn't there. At JFX I have a huge selection of unusual produce. Pea Man alone is worth the trip.
But yeah, being an early riser helps a lot.
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re: Hal Laurent
If you email the Springfield Farms people beforehand (I know if you email by Monday they'll bring stuff to the Thursday Locust Point market) they'll bring anything you want. We've done it a couple time and they just have a box waiting with your name. So if you can plan a little in advance - that could work. My problem is I don't often plan in advance :)
But do yourself a favor if you order something from them and get a skirt steak. Best steak on earth. Seriously. And they're pretty small, perfect for one person.
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I hit it about 10:30am the second weekend it was open. It was pretty small but I think it will grow, and I think a lot of the fruits and veggies (berries, tomatoes) I was looking for were either not yet in season or sold out. I did appreciate the fact that it wasn't as crowded as the JFX market is (well, virtually no shoppers were there), but there are also a lot fewer vendors. I ended up walking over to the Harbor East Festival instead.
Not living in the neighborhood, I need to find a place where I can park and not pay the "Pay for Parking" machines if I'm going to go back.
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I meandered through the last two weekends, but actually went to shop this past weekend. It's pretty small, but there are several nice produce vendors. My best finds were some early tomatoes, blueberries, and some really good spring onions. A basket of multi-colored string beans that I was excited about was only so-so. Mostly I'm jazzed to see the buffalo farm from Monkton has a presence. I'd been meaning to make the trek up there, but hadn't yet. Now, I don't have to. Can't wait for some buffalo burgers on the grill. :-)
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Has anyone been to the market yet? They finally have a list of vendors up on the website (http://www.freshfarmmarket.org/market...). Are any of these vendors exciting??
Like BaltoEllen, I'm super excited about Springfield Farms coming down to the city.
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re: pigtowner
ko1
Jul 7, 2008 08:53 AM
Might want to try this link instead:
http://www.freshfarmmarket.org/market...
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I stayed away from that area today, as it sounded like they'd closed streets for the grand opening.
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re: charmedgirl
Well, either way, I'm glad I stayed away. :-)
I also had to alter my normal jogging route in Patterson Park this weekend 'cause of the Latino Festival. I wish festival organizers would be a little more considerate of the local residents and at least leave some paths around their sites.
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