Missouri’s parents know that farmers markets are a terrific place to stock up on fresh produce. Did you know you can also get other items there too? From baked goods to eggs and even live entertainment, your local agricultural center is a destination all its own. Use our guide to find seven markets you can visit near the charming town of Ellisville.

Wildwood Farmers Market

Image via Flickr by Alden.Cornell.Molokai.Hawaii Licensed CC BY 2.0

Whether you’re a fan of fresh fruit or delicious vegetables, the 30 or so farmers at Wildwood grow some of the best you’ll ever taste. Located in the Town Center on Plaza Drive, this market opens at the end of May and runs through September. Stop by on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon for cooking demos, kettle corn, and live music.

The Wildwood Farmer’s Market features local sources for farm-raised meat, like beef, chicken, and pork. You can also shop for eggs, potted perennials, and spices. In addition, find handcrafted items like jewelry and artwork, or pick up something delicious such as pre-made tamales, pastries, and smoothies. The hosts also set aside a booth that serves as an activity center for the kids.

Fenton Community and Farmers Market

The Fenton community farmers market on Gravois Road has given Ellisville families access to fresh, flavorful foods for nearly a decade. Its friendly vendors offer classic market items for sale, like seasonal vegetables, plus some of the area’s tastiest baked goods, as well as flowers and handmade crafts.

The open-air pavilion links to the Great Rivers Greenway – Fenton trailhead, providing bike riders with easy access to the sellers. If you have an ambitious young chef in the family, encourage them to pick out something unusual, like kohlrabi, jicama, and fennel. Then, look up a tasty recipe that your family can make together. Shop Olde Town Fenton’s market on Saturdays from May through September. It’s open from 8 a.m. to noon, rain or shine.

Chesterfield’s Crafted Farmers Market

Celebrate National Farmers Market Week at the beginning of August with a trip to the Chesterfield Mall. Organizers host it in the parking lot every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. all year long. Attend the free community yoga class before the market opens, then shop good eats from local small growers and food trucks.

Shopping Chesterfield’s Crafted Farmers Market for your family’s groceries is the ideal way to support our country’s dwindling number of family farmers. Whether you want to add a few heirloom vegetables, fruit, and artisan cheeses to your family’s table or grab some bedding plants for your backyard garden, you can find them here off Clarkson Road and Interstate 64.

Roger’s Produce Stand

Ellisville residents are lucky to have a hometown produce stand that’s open every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., except Sundays, when it closes at 6 p.m. Roger brings locals fresh produce that varies based on the growing season. So if your family loves tomatoes, check out Roger’s selection. They’re sun-ripened and ready to top a burger or season your pot of homemade chili.

This stand is the place to get that perfect pumpkin for your child’s Halloween jack-o’-lantern or stock up on nutritious ingredients for your next summer barbecue or picnics, like corn on the cob, watermelon, and strawberries direct from Missouri’s rich fields. You’ll see the tent right along Old State Road, or you can stop by its store in Webster Groves on East Lockwood.

Missouri Botanical Garden

Enjoy a Saturday morning with family, friends, and neighbors at the Missouri Botanical Garden with The Best of Missouri Market. This beloved annual festival takes place in October and features nearly 100 merchants peddling their wares on Friday from noon to 8 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Live performances start Friday night, and there’s a beer and cocktail zone for mom and dad.

You’ll find locally produced food, crafts, native plants, herbs, custom jewelry, and other handcrafted products from retailers like Missouri Wildflowers Nursery, The Blue Owl Bakery, and Baetje Farms. Your children will love the Kid’s Corner. It’s open during market hours and offers little ones age-appropriate activities, crafts, a petting zoo, and a pumpkin patch. Use the Garden’s web app for a directory and map of the grounds.

Maryland Heights Farmers Market

Indulge your family with the taste of freshly-picked harvest crops grown by Missouri’s farmers at the Maryland Heights Farmers Market. Hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department, it’s the place to be Wednesday evenings from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. between May and September. Get locally harvested products, meat, and homemade craft items. Find it on McKelvey Road in the parking lot by the community center.

Farmer’s markets are terrific for kids, too, so don’t leave them at home. It’s a chance for everyone in the family to connect with your community, and buying local promotes hometown pride. A day spent wandering through the farmer’s booths is perfect for chatting about the soccer game while promoting healthy eating habits.

Thies Farm and Greenhouses

Connect with local growers and artisans at Thies Farm and Greenhouses, right in the city on Maryland Heights Expressway. Since 1885, the fields at this fifth-generation, family-owned, and operated agricultural center have produced some of the best vegetables and fruits in the Ellisville area.

Thies Farms’ three area markets are open from March to December, so stop by in spring for a wide selection of bedding plants, herbs, and roses. Summer’s warm days bring a vast bounty of homegrown offerings like lettuce, sweet corn, and strawberries, while fall and winter mean festive, seasonal options like pumpkins and Christmas wreaths.

So, there you have it. Crème de la Crème of Ellisville informed you of the seven farmers markets to try near home. Did you like our picks? Did we miss a favorite green market of yours — one Missouri locals love? If we did, let us know! Drop us a line so we can add your suggestions to our list.