For the third year running, the West Palm Beach GreenMarket has been crowned the “Best Farmers Market” in the country by voters of USA TODAY 10Best.
The selection process began with a committee of industry experts who curated a list of 20 contenders for the Readers’ Choice poll. Ultimately, the public had the final say, voting for their favorite market.
Enthusiasts of the West Palm Beach GreenMarket were allowed to vote once every day for a period of four weeks, with the contest concluding on July 3, 2023.
Keith A. James, the Mayor of West Palm Beach, expressed his gratitude upon receiving the accolade.
He said, “We are honored to be once again named the ‘Best Farmers Market’ in the country.”
He further thanked the community, the vendors, sponsors, and market-goers who visit the market regularly, attributing this win to their continued support. He also praised the Community Events Division for consistently organizing a remarkable market year after year.
Celebrating the nomination
To mark this nomination, the City announced the introduction of three pop-up mini-Markets, colloquially referred to as “The Mini.”
More than 40 new and recurring vendors showcased their offerings on the Great Lawn every week during this off-season event, providing a glimpse of what to expect in the forthcoming season.
The evening summer markets, due to overwhelming public response, will now continue until August 31, 2023. “The Mini” is scheduled to operate from 6 – 9 p.m. on Thursdays during Clematis by Night.
Nearly three decades of the GreenMarket
Mary Pinak, the Community Events Manager for the City of West Palm Beach, reflected on the growth of the GreenMarket over nearly three decades.
“This honor is a great recognition of everyone involved over the years to make the Market what it is today. We hope everyone will come to ‘The Mini’ to get a taste of what’s to come when the full Market returns in October,” Pinak said.
The 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards spotlights the highest performers across various categories including travel, dining, destinations, and more. The West Palm Beach GreenMarket stood out as the only Florida market to be nominated in the top 20 list, besting markets in notable locations such as Chicago, San Diego, and Honolulu.
The final top 10 are:
- West Palm Beach GreenMarket
- Collingswood Farmers’ Market
- Green City Market
- Little Italy Mercato Farmers’ Market
- Pearl Farmers Market
- Mill City Farmers Market
- Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
- Santa Monica Farmers Market
- Ann Arbor Farmers Market
- Kaka’ako Farmers Market
This past season, the GreenMarket expanded physically to accommodate its largest number of vendors ever, a record 110. This facilitated the Market’s goal of providing the community with seasonally available local fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, and agricultural products.
This marketplace not only supports the southeast Florida agricultural community but also fosters agricultural development, specifically in Palm Beach County, by providing a platform for local crops and specialty products.
Featured in The Boston Globe and named Florida’s number one green market by Cooking Light magazine, the West Palm Beach GreenMarket is slated to reopen for its 29th season with an even larger vendor count – a whopping 125 – on Saturday, October 7, 2023.
