By Justa Heinen-Kay
The MidCity Farmers Market is open for its second season in south St. Anthony Park.
To ring in the season, here are three reasons to love having a local food and craft market in your neighborhood, and why you should support it this year:
Bolster our local food system
Eating local is one of the best ways to stay grounded in your community. Local veggies are always in season and bursting with nutrients.
Eggs from happy chickens taste better and are a more ethical option than the factory-raised alternative. Plus, supporting small-scale farmers in our area will make our community more resilient in the face of climate change, supply-chain disruptions and other aspects of globalization.
The MidCity Farmers Market is hosted in the parking lot of MidCity Kitchen, a commissary kitchen where small-scale food producers can become licensed to manufacture packaged food items.
Several vendors make their products in the onsite kitchen, creating a hyperlocal production economy that directly benefits community members. Some examples include DarkSide Snacks, a branch of BrightSide Produce that creates upcycled fruit- and veggie-based snacks, with the proceeds going toward their mission of eliminating food deserts; Deli Colombia, which cooks mouth-watering arepas; and eQuality Ice Cream, a nonprofit that employs adults with intellectual disabilities to provide paid work opportunities and create meaningful community connections.
Support small-scale entrepreneurs
Farmers markets are about more than just veggies. They’re often the first place a new small-business owner can field-test products with customers, whether they’re baked treats, handmade jewelry or freshly made egg rolls.
Many MidCity vendors are recent immigrants or people of color, and every vendor has a story behind their products. Often the motivation for starting their own business is about sharing their culture.
For instance, Blue Horn Tea founder Yubi Hassan wanted to share his Somali grandmother’s family tea recipe and the sweet memories sparked by her particular blend of spices.
Create a community gathering hub
What better place to gather with your neighbors than a spot that, by definition, celebrates local engagement?
MidCity Farmers Market always has several hot food options, making it a great place to sit down and connect with someone new. Live music every week and the family- and dog-friendly atmosphere make it a dynamic weeknight destination. Plus, many dates have a theme, making it fun to come back week after week to see what’s new. 
Justa Heinen-Kay, PhD, MBA, is a social entrepreneur, educator and biologist passionate about creating more equitable and sustainable communities. A founder of the MidCity Farmers Market, she is co-director of BrightSide Produce, a nonprofit that improves access to affordable fruits and vegetables in the Twin Cities.
Plan your visit
Where and when
693 Raymond Ave., St. Paul, every Wednesday, 4–8 p.m., rain or shine, now through Sept. 24.
How to get there
The market is a block and a half south of University Avenue on Raymond Avenue. Walking and biking are encouraged. Bike racks are on site. Metro transit: Take the Green Line to Raymond Station, or the bus (87, 63, or 67) to the University and Raymond stop.
Driving is also welcome and there is ample street parking around the market. An accessible permit spot is available in the Avalon School parking lot off Raymond Avenue.
How to pay
Most vendors accept both cash and cards, and some also accept app-based payments like Apple Pay or Venmo.
The market is also authorized to accept SNAP/EBT and Market Bucks: to use your EBT card, swipe it at the Market Info or BrightSide Produce booth. Every $1 of EBT gets matched with $1 Produce Bucks and $1 Market Bucks, tripling your spending power on staple food items.
Photo cutlines
• At the MidCity Farmers Market, visitors are welcome to bring their dogs as they shop for fresh foods. Photo by Mindy Keskinen.
• Vang Heritage Farm has veggies and flowers according to season. Photo by Mindy Keskinen.