Our winter farmers market begins this Saturday November 1st and runs every Saturday thru April. Summer’s over and cold weather is moving in. So how is it that the Franklin Farmers Market can stay open all winter long? Cold weather doesn’t stop our farmers from growing. It just changes the variety of fruits and vegetables available from Tennessee farms. And you have not lived until you have tried some of our local soups made with farm fresh ingredients!

Farmers can extend seasons for growing in a number of different ways. Hoop houses, greenhouses and row covers are used to protect crops from freezing temperatures working to extend the season for some vegetables and allows early planting for spring produce. Some hardy crops, like potatoes, can stay fresh for months if stored properly. There are sweet, crisp apples available. Root crops, such as beets and carrots are plentiful during the winter and there are many types of greens too, like kale, arugula and lettuce. Brussel sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and winter squash also favor cooler weather for growing. And to round out your meals, the best dairy, locally raised meats, honey and baked goods are always at the Franklin Farmers Market, year-round. Winter market is also a good time to talk to the farmers at the FFM about your favorite spring and summer veggies, because winter is when the farmers decide what to plant for the next year.

Delicious home made soups can be found at the market

Our winter farmers market has tripled in size the past few years. We will have over 60 vendors to kick off this years winter market this coming Saturday. Many local Tennesseans are not aware we are a year round farmers market. Our local farmers and cooks work together to provide great winter soups and baked goods for busy families to have nutritious home cooked meals during the week. No matter whether its summer or winter, you can always find the best in fresh local food from local farms at the Franklin Farmers Market.

Winter Farmers Market is open every Saturday no matter how cold the weather.
8am – noon, November – December
9am – noon, January thru April

There were fresh tomatoes and sweet potatoes, cabbages and green beans all from local farms. It’s stuff that foodies dream about. Summer and fall produce can be found at the Franklin Farmers Market and this past Saturday, the proof was in the shopping bags carrying such food as ripe summer tomatoes and winter squash too.

Organic tomatoes from Delvin Farms

Sweet potatoes from Kirkview Farm

Organic cabbages from Delvin Farms

Fresh picked green beans from Kirkview Farm

Winter Squash from Flying S Farms

Farm Fresh produce from Colvin Family Farm

Easting in Season market cookbook

It’s true that November 1st is the official beginning of the market’s winter season, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of summer veggies. The farmers that live in southern parts of Tennessee have a longer growing season than those that live further north, which is why you can still find such goodies as tomatoes and green beans at the market. But even when that summer produce finally is gone, you can still buy fresh local farm veggies at the FFM, because our farmers know how to grow during the winter too. The only thing that really changes is the time that the market is open. Starting next Saturday, the FFM switches to winter market hours, opening at 8am and closing at noon.

Organic beets from Delvin Family Farm

Beautiful broccoli from Kirview Farm

Farm grown herbs from Bloomsbury Farm

Sweet farm carrots from Rocky Glade Farm

Pumpkin Tree at Franklin Pumpkin Fest

Our farmers are good. Really good. So good, that they can grow a pumpkin tree. Well, sort of. At the big Pumpkinfest event that took place this past Saturday, the staff of the Franklin Farmers Market “grew” a pumpkin tree with help from the King Family Farm. The “tree” was constructed with pumpkins of all sizes and colors from the King Farm and it was an impressive sight to behold, right smack in the middle of Main Street and 4th Avenue.

This was the 31st year for Pumpkinfest, a day of free family fun in downtown Franklin. Our thanks to the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County for inviting the Franklin Farmers Market to be a part of the Pumpkinfest.

Pumpkin tree top at Franklin Pumpkinfest

Pumpkins and fresh picked produce from Colbert Farm

With Halloween just around the corner, there was bound to be some little funny characters roaming around the FFM and we caught several of them on camera this past Saturday. For a look at the little monsters and other fun and tasty things at the FFM, take a look at the big market photo gallery!

Fresh farm lettuces from Paradise Produce

Hot Peppers from Colbert Farm

Nothin’ like some real good fresh local food to make a soggy Saturday a lot better. Despite the rainfall, there were a lot of people out at the Franklin Farmers Market this past weekend looking for local food fresh from the farm.

Customers braving rain for local farm fresh food

Fresh local food from Rocky Glade Farm

Certified Organic Turnip Greens from Delvin Farms

Just harvested from Zadok the Natural Farmer

Dancing in the Rain

We can’t say that we blame them – some people think this is the best time of the year to buy local produce from our farmers, because you still get a nice bit of summer produce, but the cold weather veggies are starting to come into season too. It’s the best of both worlds for your taste buds. Visit our market photos from this past Saturday’s market to see what fresh local food we currently have at market.

Juliane tomatoes from Norton Family Farm

The strong smell of just picked Ginger was in the air from Rocky Glade Farm and Earth Advocates Research Farm

Sweet carrots from Bloomsbury Farm

Farm radishes from Bloomsbury Farm

Lettuce mix from Norton Family Farm

Beautiful cabbage from Kirkview Farm

This upcoming Saturday at the FFM is a big one, as scarecrows take over the market, making it a great day for kids. It’s the Invasion of the Scarecrows and with the scarecrows comes a big pumpkin patch for the kids, face painting and the Perfect Pumpkin Painting booth. And the best part is, it’s all free! Plus, there’s a special guest at the scarecrow invasion this year – Paulette, the miniature donkey will be dressed for the occasion and ready to visit with the kids. It’s all happening at the Invasion of the Scarecrows, October 18th at the Franklin Farmers Market.

So many different pumpkins to choose from including heirloom pumpkins from Purple Tree Farm

Small and large pumpkins from Kirkview Farm

Jim & Son from Rocky Glade Farm with harvest

November is just around the corner and with it, chillier temperatures. But it’s no big deal to our farmers. Thanks to hoop houses and row covers, they are able to extend seasons in the fall for some summer produce and start growing veggies in the spring a lot sooner. Plus the row covers help to protect plants from frost and cold temperatures. And of course, there are some vegetables that like cooler temperatures better than hot ones. That’s why the Franklin Farmers Market is a year-round market. Just because summer is over with, it doesn’t mean that we’re done too. The FFM’s winter market begins in November and hours will be 8am until noon each Saturday.

Regular market customer picking up flowers, cornstalks and pumpkins from King Farm

Sunshine, local vegetables, great meats and local dairy goods – It looked like a typical summer day at the Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday, but it sure didn’t feel like it. Cool temperatures and a nippy wind reminded us that fall has arrived.

But that’s okay. Cold weather? Bring it on. The Franklin Farmers Market is a year-round market. So whether it’s hot, humid summer temperatures or chilly winter days, our farmers are at the FFM with local vegetables you love and it’s all from Tennessee farms.

We found just the perfect pumpkin!

Sweet baby bells from Allenbrooke Farm

Rocky Glade Farm has returned with many local vegetables like broccoli, lettuce, spinach, potatoes, radishes and fresh picked ginger. Kirkview Farm is harvesting the last of its sweet Tennessee corn along with a new crop of turnip greens and kale.

NEW!  Fresh grown Ginger

Radishes from Rocky Glade Farm

Farmer Jim of Rocky Glade Farm

Fresh picked kale from Kirkview Farm

Final crop of Tennessee sweet corn from Kirkview Farm

Come and enjoy many locally grown vegetables from Tennessee’s best farms with fresh lettuce mix, cucumbers and tomatoes still in full supply.

Organic tomatoes and tomato juice from Delvin Farms

Just picked cucumbers from Norton Family Farm

Fresh herbs from Bloomsbury Farm

Turnip Greens are now in season throughout market

Purple Tree Farm Heirloom Pumpkins

The social calendar for the Franklin Farmers Market is quite full in October. This past Saturday, the FFM was part of the big Family Day celebration, just across the road in the Park at Harlinsdale Farm. This upcoming Friday and Saturday, the FFM will go back across Franklin Road to be a part of Bella Rustica, a vintage Americana flea market that benefits the Agape organization’s foster kids program. While the Franklin Farmers Market goes in our big market shed as it does every Saturday, there will be a FFM mini-market at Bella Rustica. On October 18th, the Invasion of the Scarecrows comes to the FFM and finally, the Franklin Farmers Market will have create the big “pumpkin tree” at Pumpkinfest on October 25th.

So did you wear a jacket to the market this past Saturday or were you running around in shorts, trying to draw summer out for as long as possible? Either way, we might have snapped a photo of you. Take a look at the big FFM photo gallery and find out!

Beautiful Mums from Purple Tree Farm

The Invasion of the Scarecrows is coming to the Franklin Farmers Market. Every Saturday, you see your favorite farmers at the Franklin Farmers Market with all of the fresh produce and farm goods that you love. But on October 18th, the scarecrows take over and with all of those scarecrows comes a lot of fun for your family.

There’s a special pumpkin patch just for the kids, with some funny jack-o-lanterns watching over the patch. After picking out their pumpkin, kids can paint and decorate it at the Perfect Pumpkin Painting booth. Or the kids themselves can be decorated with cool Halloween face painting. The best part is that it’s all free for the kids!

As always, there will be plenty of delicious fresh food from your favorite farmers too. And from big and tall to short and small, there are lots of scarecrows are everywhere. It’s all happening Saturday, October 18th from 8am – 1pm – The Invasion of the Scarecrows at the Franklin Farmers Market.