Market Update: What’s new with farmers markets this summer in Eagle County

When you mention markets in the Vail Valley, it’s not the kind where stocks surge, prices fall or you wonder when it’s a good time to buy. Markets around here mean fresh produce, ranch-raised meats, homebaked goods, artisan gifts, live music and more. The Vail Valley is now home to five markets a week up and down the Interstate 70 corridor. Here’s a look at what you can expect when the area markets fire up for the season in June.

Thursday

Meadow Market

New this year, there will be a farmers market on Thursdays. Get your shopping done and get recipe inspo from the multiple booths that will line One Willow Bridge Road in Vail Village from 4 to 7 p.m. at Meadow Market, a spin off of the Vail Farmers Market and Art Show on Sundays.  

“Our new Meadow Market will focus on more produce and take-home goods,” said Angela Mueller, organizer of both the Meadow Market and the Vail Farmers Market and Art Show. “It also provides another chance for everybody to eat local, support local and buy local.”

In addition to the produce and take-home goods there will be rotating artisans each week.

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“It’s going to be a little bit different every week, it really gives everybody that’s staying here or living here a chance to go check it out during the week. It’ll be very similar to Sunday’s market but it’ll be more compact,” Mueller said.

Listen for live music each week but Mueller said it won’t be a big musical production. “We don’t want to take away from any other events that are going on but also wanted to have live music to create a little bit of fun for everybody.”

The Meadow Market starts Thursday, June 20 and will run through Sept. 19. For more information, go to vailfarmersmarket.com and search for Meadow Market.

Saturday

Edwards Farmers Market

Edwards has hosted a market for several years at Edwards Corner, but after that beloved market went away, there was such a push from the public and the vendors to keep it going, it finally found a home across the street. The Edwards Farmers Market will run weekly on Saturdays from June 15 to Sept. 21 at the upper level of the Edwards Plaza from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Suzy Shaw of Suzy Sweets 2 has been organizing the new market but had no trouble at all getting vendors. Staples like Winn Farms and Borden Organic Farm and Flowers were happy to continue selling at the new space.

“We had such a loyal, weekly following that when the market went away, there was actually a petition to keep it going and I’d get customers who’d call me from out of state saying they wanted to sign it to keep a farmers market in Edwards,” Shaw said.

Shaw is excited about the upcoming summer and said that in addition to the regular tents, there are a few new vendors.

“We have a coffee company from Colombia. It’s called Pure Sense and they will be selling coffee you can take and make at home or they will be serving coffee, too,” Shaw said. A food truck featuring Chicago specialties, something for mushroom lovers, microgreens, artisan soaps and many local vendors will be there, too.

One vendor that is happy to be back is All The Good Stuff, which is also adjacent to the new Edwards Farmers Market location and if you can’t make it to the market on Saturday, you can find all the local farmers market goods year-round, seven days a week at All The Good Stuff.

The new Edwards Farmers Market has an Instagram page with more information.

Eagle Farmers Market

Eagle has had farmers markets in the past but look for it to be bigger and better this year and it will be held on Saturdays. The Eagle Farmers Market and Art Show is the sister event to the Vail Farmers Market at Art Show held on Sundays in Vail Village.  

“I’m really passionate about having a market for people to buy local produce as long as they can everywhere,” said Angela Mueller, who runs the Vail Farmers Market and Art Show. “We really wanted to appeal to the locals down valley and have it earlier on Saturdays so everybody should be around for at least the morning before they go out and enjoy the rest of their day.”

Mueller said they are expecting 35-40 vendors each week ranging from produce, artisanal products and homemade goods. The Eagle Farmers Market and Art Show starts on June 22 and runs through Sept. 28 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information, visit EagleFarmersMarketAndsrtShow.com.

Minturn Market

The granddaddy of all the markets is the Minturn Market. Founded 27 years ago, this is the heartbeat of the historic mining and railroad town on Saturdays throughout the summer. Held downtown, visitors of the Minturn Market come for the produce but stay for the food trucks, clothing vendors, artists’ displays, baked goods and other prepared foods you can bring to your next back yard barbecue, jewelry, pet products, musicians and more. The Minturn Market happens each week from June 22 to Sept. 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For the little ones, the Kids Zone is returning with a climbing wall, bounce house, face painting and a build-your-own stuffed animal station and more. For the adults, try a sample of some wine from Wild Mountain Cellars, or a dram from Eagle River Whisky.  

While in Minturn, stop by some of the local restaurants and stores surrounding the Minturn Market. This funky, old railroad mining town has a lot of history and charm. It was founded in the late 1800s and became incorporated in 1904. Enjoy some of the hiking and biking trails before or after your visit to the Minturn Market. For more information, go to Minturn.org.

Sunday

The Vail Farmers Market and Art Show is the area’s largest market and has the longest season, running 17 Sundays from Father’s Day to Oct. 6. It’s been going on for two decades and in addition to multiple produce booths, it also is a mecca for gifts for others and gifts you want to buy yourself if you need a trip treat to remember your visit to Vail. Many locals come every week to grocery shop, meet their neighbors and friends and pop in for lunch. The Vail Farmers Market and Art Show has over 40 food vendors serving everything from Argentinean empanadas to Thai spring rolls, German bratwursts and French crepes.

Make a point to peruse the website to check out the 145 vendors who return week after week. Chances are, you’ll find something special each visit. The Vail Farmers Market and Art Show operates between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. For full details and a vendor list go to vailfarmersmarket.com.