There's no greater shopping experience than roaming about a busy farmers market, foraging for farm-fresh produce, artisanal cheeses and meats and local ethnic specialties "” often at prices better than I find at my grocery store.

Apparently, I'm not alone. According to the American Farmland Trust (AFT) "” an organization supporting small, independent farmers and ranchers "” the number of farmers markets around the country is rising at a rate of almost 10 percent and will soon reach 8,000 nationwide. There's probably one in your neck of the woods.

Purchasing your produce directly from the people who grow it is not only good for you but also for them. AFT studies show that in general, farmers and ranchers only receive an average of $1.58 of every $10 spent on food at grocery stores. The rest goes to processors, wholesalers, distributors, marketers and retailers. For every $10 spent at a farmers market, however, growers get about $8 "” and much of that is respent in their home communities.

These are all good reasons all to buy fresh and shop local. Checking out some of the country's leading farmers markets "” eight of which I've reviewed below "” I wasn't surprised to learn that many have become major visitor attractions.

1. Farmers Market of Los Angeles

The granddaddy of them all, and perhaps the best-known farmers market in the country, the Los Angeles market at 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue features more than 100 produce stands, food stalls, sit-down eateries, prepared food vendors and tourist shops. First opened in 1934, it is a permanent installation and is open seven days a week.

Declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1991, it's an A-list visitor attraction and a paradise for foodies, especially those in search of the market's amazing variety of ethnic foods.

2. Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

Shoppers here enjoy fabulous views of San Francisco Bay as they browse mounds of fresh regional produce, artisan and prepared foods "” or feast on tasty street food that more than meets the demanding taste of Bay Area residents and visitors. Stretching along the Embarcadero beside the historic 19th century Ferry Building, the market is open year-round three days a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday).

It is operated by the nonprofit Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA), an organization devoted to "cultivating a healthy food system." CUESA conducts a variety of educational programs including cooking demonstrations and classes, farm tours and panel discussions.

3. Crested Butte Farmers Market

Home to a prodigious variety of fruits and veggies, the mountains and lofty mesas of southwestern Colorado have been proclaimed by Colorado Life magazine as the state's "Farm-to-Table Capitol." At the heart of this agricultural horn of plenty is Crested Butte, best known as a ski resort, but in the summer it's a hotbed of agronomy.

Asparagus, zucchini, pinto and Anasazi beans, artichokes, chilies, mushrooms, sweet corn, peaches, nectarines, pears, berries and grapes "” you name it, and it probably grows in the rich, sun-soaked soil of this region. You'll find it all at Crested Butte Farmers Market, open every Sunday from June 5 to Oct. 2 at 2nd Street and Elk Avenue.

4. Farmers Market of the Ozarks

Focusing on promoting positive connections between local producers and community members, this lively market in Springfield, Missouri, is home to farmers, artisans and food cart vendors "” all growing or making their own products from within 150 miles of the market.

Housed in an all-season pavilion, the FMO is open every Saturday year-round and also on Wednesdays from May to September. Several times a year the market holds events, including farm tours, to help the community understand how their food gets from a farm to their plate.

5. Nashville Farmers Market

Since it inception on the town square in the early 1800s, this sprawling year-round market has remained a vital part of Nashville life. Covering 16 acres on Jefferson Street just north of downtown, it consists of two large farm sheds and a Market House, home to 16 restaurants serving an amazing variety of dishes ranging from gourmet pizza to Korean sushi and bimimbap.

During the busy growing season from May to November, as many as 500 farmers, ranchers and artisanal food producers gather here, creating an atmosphere much like a county fair.

6. Green City Market

Chicago's bustling farmers market is dedicated to supporting and promoting local, sustainable agricultural practices. The "Green" in its name is taken seriously here. Vendors go through a rigorous application process to ensure they are utilizing environmentally friendly practices, treating animals humanely and preserving their farmland for future generations.

As a result, Green City Market is often cited as the best sustainable market in the country. Shoppers here can rest assured they are buying produce, meat, dairy and other food products of the highest standards. The market operates indoors from November to April at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum on Cannon Drive in Lincoln Park. From May to October, it moves outdoors to the south end of Lincoln Park.

7. Saint Paul Farmers Market

One of the nation's oldest and largest farmers markets, the Saint Paul market in Minnesota has been a lower downtown fixture since 1854. Originally housed in a giant two-story brick building at Seventh and Wabasha Streets, it was forced by freeway construction and downtown development to make several moves "” ultimately to the market's current location at Fifth and Wall Streets.

Now housed in a green-roofed, brick-paved, corrugated fiberglass structure covering the stalls of nearly 300 vendors, the market is operated by the Saint Paul Growers' Association. The association allows only fresh produce "” locally grown within 50 miles "” to be sold directly from grower to consumer. You'll also find meat, poultry, cheese, honey, baked goods, sandwiches and snacks, flowers, plants and shrubs. The market is open Saturday and Sunday from April to November.

8. Union Square Greenmarket

Operating from its prime location "” 17th Street and Union Square "” in the heart of Manhattan, this busy farmers market is open all day on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, serving more than 60,000 people daily.

It is the largest of a network of greenmarkets in the metro New York City area operated by GrowNYC "” a nonprofit organization pledged to improve the quality of life in the Big Apple by providing ready access to the freshest and most nutritious locally grown food the region has to offer. On any given day, you might encounter cooking demonstrations, school tours and other educational events and activities geared to connecting New Yorkers with their food sources.

» Reference: Food & Beverage, Recreation & Leisure, Waste Management & Environmental, Recreation & Leisure,

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