The Las Vegas Farmers Market is a classic mom and pop business that’s been operating for 11 years and currently has three active locations in the Vegas Valley (a fourth is closed, due to ongoing construction, but more are in the works).
The markets are year-round, closing only for the winter holidays, but hours are seasonal. Currently, the westside Gardens Park venue in Summerlin is open from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. every Tuesday, while Bruce Trent Park, sponsored by the City of Las Vegas, is open for the same hours on Wednesdays. The Fremont East event, which takes place on Fridays, is due to start up again in late March, once the bollard installation construction is done. After Daylight Savings is over, hours revert to 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
In terms of the catchment area for produce, this generally encompasses Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and California, although the Market’s been known to have produce from as far away as Idaho. In the words of their slogan, the criteria for vendor participation is that whatever you bring, you must "make it, bake it, sew it, or grow it." In addition to fruit and veg. (in season currently are cauliflower, broccoli, citrus fruits, and strawberries) you'll find honey, gourmet oils and vinegars, art, jewelry, two bakeries, and a soup maker. Some of the produce is organic; all is earth-friendly and grown according to sustainable practices.
From our own horticultural experiences here, we can confirm that, tended properly and lovingy, tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers, zucchini, eggplant, cucumbers, and numerous herbs can grow well here, although it took us experimentation and a good number of casualties to find out which strains are best suited to our punishing climate -- both the heat of summer and the freezing and windy winters.
Click here for the Las Vegas Farmers Market website and here for our own Vegas Green Guide, covering eco-friendly hotels, attractions, and dining options. Plus, follow our GreenVegas Twitter for news updates about ecological and sustainability issues ane events in and around Las Vegas.
