Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Visiting the Lyndale Market
Visiting the Nicollet Mall Market
Parking at the Lyndale Market
Parking at the Nicollet Mall Market
Products & Vendors
Purchases at the Markets
History, Membership & Affiliations
| Visiting the Lyndale Market | TOP |
How do I get to the Market?
Our convenient downtown location makes the Market an easy destination from wherever you’re traveling. Click here for driving directions and a detailed Lyndale Market map. Or, consider taking public transportation – many bus lines run nearby. To find a route that works for you, go to the Metro Transit Web site.
When is the Lyndale Market open?
Our Lyndale Market is open 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., seven days a week from mid-April until mid-November. Many of our vendors continue to sell on Saturdays throughout the winter months; check with your favorite vendors to learn about their off-season availability. We also offer Holiday trees and ornamentals at the Lyndale Market from mid-November until Dec. 24.
When is the “best” time to visit the Lyndale Market?
That depends on what you enjoy most about our Market. If you want the BEST SELECTION, come visit us on a Saturday or Sunday when we typically have the most vendors and the largest selection of products to offer.
If you’re trying to BEAT THE CROWDS, plan to visit on a weekday or early in the morning on the weekend. We officially open at 6 a.m., but you’ll find a handful of vendors who are happy to help customers even earlier. Plus, parking is easier during non-peak hours. In addition to our regular free parking lots, we’re able to open our unused Market stalls for customer parking Monday through Thursday.
If you want the BEST SELECTION WITHOUT THE CROWDS, stop by on a Friday. We have nearly as many vendors and products as on the weekend, but with a much smaller crowd.
If you ENJOY THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE of a busy Market, visit us mid-morning on a Saturday or Sunday. The Market is abuzz with customers eager to fill their bags and make a few new friends.
If you’re trying to BEAT THE SUMMER HEAT, come early in the morning during Minnesota’s warmer months. You’ll have a chance to enjoy the eagerly anticipated warm weather before the unbearable heat, humidity and mosquitoes hit and make you want to stay indoors!
Is the Lyndale Market open even if it’s raining?
Of course! We’re open seven days a week, rain or shine. But don’t worry – you won’t get wet under our famous red sheds.
Are all six sheds part of the Minneapolis Farmers Market?
The three larger sheds on the north side of Third Avenue are a part of our Market, which is managed by the Central Minnesota Vegetables Growers Association (CMVGA). We’re a membership-based organization with specific regulations and guidelines that benefit our members – and our customers.
The three smaller sheds on the south side of Third Avenue are run by the Farmers Market Annex. The Minneapolis Farmers Market Annex is a privately run business and is not affiliated with our Market.
Is the Lyndale Market handicap accessible?
We want to make sure everyone is able to visit and enjoy our Market. All three of our Lyndale Market sheds have wheelchair-accessible ramps, and we have handicap-accessible restrooms in our concession building at the west end of the middle row.
We also offer handicap parking at Third Avenue N. and Lyndale Avenue, and at Third Avenue N. and Border Avenue. Click here to view a map showing the locations.
Can I bring a wagon or cart to carry my purchases?
We’d love for you to fill a whole wagon during your visit! You can use a wagon or cart on the Market’s street level, but we ask that you don’t take them down our busy vendor aisles.
Are inline skates permitted?
Rollerblading would be a great way to get here, but for the safety of all our visitors, we ask that you take them off while you’re in the Market.
Is there a place to sit, rest and eat?
On the weekends, we set up a visitor seating area on the south side of the concession building so you can relax, chat with friends, enjoy a cup of joe, etc.
Are dogs allowed at the Lyndale Market?
As much as we love pets, we ask that you leave your four-legged friends at home during your visit.
| Visiting the Nicollet Mall Market | TOP |
How do I get to the Nicollet Mall Market?
Our Nicollet Mall Market runs between 5th and 12th Streets on the pedestrian mall. Click here for a detailed Nicollet Mall Market map and driving directions. Or, consider taking public transportation. The Light Rail and many bus lines run nearby, and you’ll save yourself the trouble – and cost – of finding a parking spot. To find a convenient route, go to the Metro Transit Web site.
When is the Nicollet Mall Market open?
Our Nicollet Mall Market is open 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursdays, May-November.
When is the “best” time to visit the Nicollet Mall Market?
That depends on what you enjoy most about our Market. If you’re trying to BEAT THE CROWDS, plan to visit before the lunch hour on Thursdays, when many downtown professionals escape the skyways to peruse our Market. Or, catch us later in the afternoon. The market slows down after lunch, and many of our Nicollet Mall vendors stick around until 6:30 p.m. Saturday mornings tend to be less busy, as well.
If you ENJOY THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE of our busy Market, visit us during the lunch hour on a Thursday. The Market will be busy with professionals picking up fresh produce, flowers or something tasty for lunch.
Is the Market open even if it’s raining?
Farmers work in all kinds of weather. We’re open Thursdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., from May to November – rain or shine.
Can I bring a wagon or cart to carry my purchases?
You’re free to use a wagon or cart to carry your Market purchases, although we suggest you avoid having a cart in tow during the lunch rush. The sidewalks get a little congested then.
| Parking at the Lyndale Market | TOP |
Where can I park?
We work hard to secure as much parking for our guests as possible and offer free parking in several parking lots near our Lyndale Market. When those lots fill up, street parking is also available. Click here to view our maps, which show parking locations.
Is there handicap parking available?
We offer handicap parking at Third Avenue N. and Lyndale Avenue, and at Third Avenue N. and Border Avenue. Click here to view these locations on a map.
Can I park in stalls that are not being used by vendors?
Parking in the stalls is permitted Monday through Thursday, but isn’t allowed on weekends, due to our high volume of visitors.
Do you have a bicycle parking area?
There is a bike rack on the east side of the market along Border Ave. where you can lock your bike.
| Parking at the Nicollet Mall Market | TOP |
Where can I park?
While we’re not able to offer free parking for our Nicollet Mall Market, you will find plenty of nearby public parking ramps. Click here to see a map of our Nicollet Mall Market with public parking locations. Plus, there's always street parking—just make sure to bring quarters to plug the meter.
| Products & Vendors | TOP |
What products are in season right now?
Visit our Products section to see all our products available by season.
Is everything at the Market locally grown?
Most of our vendors sell locally grown products. However, with Minnesota’s short growing season (only 107 to 163 frost-free days), we also include produce grown elsewhere so we can offer you the widest selection of fresh food for the longest time. In fact, the Minneapolis Farmers Market began as a wholesale market for area businesses. As we evolved into a retail center, a few of the original resellers remained. Today, the Market includes several fourth-generation, family-run dealers. And we’re proud to honor their tradition of meeting all the needs of our diverse customer base.
How can I tell if a vendor's produce is locally grown?
Every vendor is required to display signage featuring the Minneapolis Farmers Market logo that indicates whether they are a local grower, producer or manufacturer or a Minneapolis licensed reseller.
Are organic products available?
We know our customers have individual needs and commitments when it comes to their food, and our vendors offer a wide variety of products to meet those needs. Some offer organic products. Some follow organic growing methods but haven’t gone through the official screening process to be able to use the organic classification. If you’d like more information about the products you find at our Market, feel free to ask our vendors. They love to talk with visitors about their products.
When do you have the largest selection?
Come visit us on Saturdays and Sundays to find the most vendors with the largest product selection. During the week, Friday offers the largest selection of products.
How many vendors are at the Market?
The Lyndale location has up to 170 vendors on weekends, and our Nicollet Mall Market has up to 60 vendors. We take pride in the diversity of our products and our vendors. While most of our vendors are from the seven-county metro area, we have one of the most diverse collection of market vendors in the Upper Midwest. From Laos to Trinidad to California, our vendors are from all over the world, and now call Minnesota and Western Wisconsin home.
How can I find out if a specific vendor is selling at the Market on a given day?
Call the Minneapolis Farmers Market office at 612-333-1718 to find out when your favorite vendors will be here.
| Purchases at the Markets | TOP |
Are Electronic Benefit Transfers (EBTs) or WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) coupons accepted?
We accept both WIC FMNP coupons and EBT at both our Lyndale and Nicollet Mall Markets.
Where can I find an ATM?
At our Lyndale Market, an ATM is located in the coffee concession building at the west end of the middle row.
If you’re looking for an ATM at the Nicollet Mall Market, just stop into surrounding buildings. The IDS Center, City Center and Gaviidae Commons all have ATMs available.
Do vendors accept credit cards?
Some of our vendors accept credit cards. To keep prices affordable, however, some vendors choose not to incur the costs of setting up a credit card payment system. Your best bet is to ask each vendor before making a purchase. Remember – ATMs are available at both Markets, and all our vendors accept cash.
Are gift certificates available?
We don’t offer gift certificates at this time, but it’s a great idea and we’re working on it.
| History, Membership & Affiliations | TOP |
What is the history behind the Minneapolis Farmers Market?
At Minneapolis Farmers Market, we have a rich tradition of providing the freshest and widest variety of products to the greater metropolitan area. Visit our History page to learn more about how we got started.
I want to sell my products at the Market. How do I become a member?
We appreciate your interest in becoming a part of this great tradition. We ask that you fill out an application in person at the Minneapolis Farmers Market office (located in the coffee concession building at our Lyndale Market).
Who sponsors the Minneapolis Farmers Market?
Actually, there is no particular business that sponsors the Market. We are managed by the Central Minnesota Vegetables Growers Association (CMVGA) and are a membership-based organization with specific regulations and guidelines to benefit our members.
Is the Minneapolis Farmers Market affiliated with the Farmers Market Annex?
The Minneapolis Farmers Market and the Farmers Market Annex are two separate organizations. While we’re membership based and are managed by the Central Minnesota Vegetables Growers Association, The Annex is a privately run business, located next to us at Glenwood Avenue and East Lyndale Avenue North.
What makes the Minneapolis Farmers Market different than other farmers markets?
We are proud to offer the largest selection of products of any farmers market in the Upper Midwest. You’ll find a wide range of local products and fresh produce – and for a great value. We love seeing families and people of all ages come to visit us, and we hope you’ll have fun interacting with our friendly and knowledgeable vendors. We also offer educational classes, live entertainment and tasty hot treats to make your trips to our Market a unique and fun experience.
