This Little Local Went to Market: Where to Buy Fresh & Support Local
Winter is over, Kansas City. Finally. And we all know what that means: warmer weather, patio spreads, and meals filled with the bounty of the season. Think just-picked vegetables, farm-fresh fruits, and an abundance of herbs. But that’s not all these Kansas City markets provide – I explored some of our city’s best ingredient-haven spots and all that they have to offer.
Brookside Farmers’ Market | 63rd Street and Wornall Road (Saturdays, April through October)
Photos by Anna Petrow
My all-time favorite farmers’ market in Kansas City. Nestled in the heart of Brookside, wide awake with music and community, the Brookside Farmers’ Market is the perfect start to a Saturday morning. The market is filled with locally-farmed vegetables, hand-picked flowers, grass-fed meats, free-range eggs, freshly baked breads, and then some. It has the least compromising guidelines of any market in the metro, showcasing only certified organic and non-GMO produce directly grown by the farmers that sell it to you. And each bite travels less than 100 miles from the farm to your plate. What’s more local than that?
City Market Farmers’ Market | 20 East 5th Street (Saturdays and Sundays, April through October)
Photo by Anna Petrow
The City Market Farmers’ Market is located in the historic River Market, making this pop-up produce destination one that is especially worth exploring. Rain or shine, the market showcases fresh vegetables, fruits, plants, meats, herbs, and specialty foods from over 150 sellers every Saturday and Sunday. It’s a one-stop shop to pick up a plant for your windowsill, eggs for the week ahead, and spices to concoct the perfect veggie medley. Be sure to ask each farmer about his or her growing practices and standards to ensure you’re getting the most local, sustainable, and unaltered ingredients.
Nature’s Own Health Market
310 East 5th Street and 1020 Westport Road
Photos by Amy McDaniel
One of my go-to grocers in Kansas City offering high-quality organic produce and goods. Stocked with local favorites like Green Dirt Farm, Uncommon Stock, Campo Lindo, Shatto Milk, Oddly Correct, and more, this charming market offers everything you need. Plus, there’s always a friendly face behind the counter, and they have locally brewed beer, wine, and kombucha. So. Seeya there.
The Local Pig | 20 East 5th Street
Photo by Amy McDaniel
After six years in the East Bottoms, locally owned Local Pig and Pigwich relocated to the River Market last fall– making it even more convenient to get pasture-raised, hormone-free meats in the city. In addition to Pigwich whipping up some of the best sandwiches in town, the adjacent market is one of my favorites for high-quality meats. Raised without steroids, antibiotics, or confinement, these animals are from small local farms less than 50 miles away. Did I mention they sell more than nine different types of hand-butchered and cured bacon?
Broadway Butcher Shop | 3828 Broadway Street
Photo by Amy McDaniel
Another of my regularly frequented shops for quality meats, Broadway Butcher also provides several chef-developed, unique creations like their house-cured octopus pastrami and handmade red wine sausage. But my favorite thing about this gourmet grocery? Besides the people behind the joint, the real, old-school butcher vibe, and the constant cooking tips? The seafood. Flown in daily, always wild-caught, and the perfect pairing for that spring grill out.