Mill City Farmers Market, Inc.

Mill City Farmers Market ties its Saturday shopping to a larger nonprofit mission: the organization says it inspires and nurtures a healthy community by building a local, sustainable food system, while also directing support toward educational programs, food access work, and grants to farmers and food makers. In Minneapolis, that mission shows up in a market with more than 100 local vendors and a year-round rhythm that shifts between outdoor Saturdays and indoor winter dates at Mill City Museum. The result is a market where produce, prepared food, and maker stalls sit alongside programs designed to keep local food in circulation.

Why it matters locally

Mill City Farmers Market was founded in June 2006 by farm-to-table chef and restaurateur Brenda Langton in collaboration with the Mill City Museum, linking the market closely to the Mill District from the start. Its mission centers on building a local, sustainable food system and nurturing a healthy community, not simply hosting weekly sales. That local role extends through food access work and grants to farmers and food makers, including the Next Stage Grant Program, which supports local, regenerative farmers and food makers with accessible grant funding. The market also runs programs around SNAP, Market Bucks, kids’ activities, recipes, chef demos, and food donation, giving the Saturday market a broader civic purpose than a standard vendor lineup alone.

What you'll find there

The vendor mix at Mill City spans produce farms, dairies, seafood, breads, prepared foods, and a notably deep bench of artists and home goods makers, reflecting the market’s scale and year-round format. Instead of leaning on one category, it brings together staple grocery shopping, breakfast and lunch options, and craft stalls in the same Saturday visit.

• -Pick up microgreens and pet treats from 38th Street Farm.
• -Browse vegetables and herbs from Amador Hill Farm & Orchard, a WEI program.
• -Find flowers, vegetables, herbs, and dried beans at Bean Market.
• -Look for vegetables, herbs, and plant starts from Dawn2Dusk Farm.
• -Choose rhubarb, bread, cookies, and honey from Nistler Farms.
• -Stock up on fresh and dried mushrooms, pâtés, and spreads from Northwood Mushrooms.
• -Bring home strawberries, jam, shrub, and fruit leather from Twin Cities Berry Company.
• -Taste aged and fresh cow cheeses from Cosmic Wheel Creamery.
• -Shop sheep cheese, milk, lamb, eggs, socks, and bedding from Shepherd’s Way Farm.
• -Add pasture-raised meat and eggs from Sunshine Harvest Farm.
• -Buy salmon and cod from Wild Run Salmon.
• -Grab bagels, bread, and flour from Baker’s Field Flour and Bread.
• -Try lacto-fermented vegetables from Kiss My Cabbage.
• -Take home small-batch jams from Serious Jam.
• -Sip loose-leaf blends from Well Rooted Teas.
• -Order empanadas and salsa from Atacama Catering.
• -Start with hot or iced coffee and beans from Cafe Palmira.
• -Go for breakfast from Chef Shack’s food truck.
• -Eat wood-fired pizzas, frittatas, and drinks from Northern Fires Pizza.
• -Cool off with ice pops from Saint Pops.
• -Browse rugs and woven textiles from ArtAndes.
• -See sterling silver and gemstone jewelry by Emily Madland Jewelry.
• -Check original paintings and prints from Genie Taylor.
• -Find functional and decorative ceramics from Nick Earl Pottery.

Seasonally, the market runs outdoors on Saturdays from May through September from 8am to 1pm, shifts to 9am to 1pm in October, and then moves indoors to the Mill City Museum lobby on the first and third Saturdays from November through April. A bonus Harvest Market is also scheduled for November 22 ahead of Thanksgiving. The strongest thread here is the setting: Mill City’s outdoor market uses Chicago Avenue, Chicago Mall, and the historic Train Shed, placing Saturday shopping in the middle of the Mill District rather than in a parking lot. In winter, that same market folds into the Mill City Museum lobby via the 2nd Street entrance, keeping the location tied to the museum even as the season changes. The nearby markers stay consistent too: Chicago Mall sits between the Guthrie and the museum, and bike directions highlight routes along West River Parkway and the Hiawatha Trail. That mix of Train Shed, museum lobby, and river-adjacent bike approach gives the market a distinctly Minneapolis frame rooted in this specific part of downtown.

Know before you go

No dogs are allowed in the covered Train Shed area, which is the key policy to know before arriving. The market describes the location as bike and public-transit friendly, and the light rail stop is two short blocks north of U.S. Bank Stadium. If you’re driving, street parking is available at meters on 2nd Street and surrounding avenues, and the Mill Quarter Municipal Ramp sits directly across from the Mill City Museum with market-day special rates. Winter visits work differently from summer ones: from November through April, the market meets inside the Mill City Museum lobby on the first and third Saturdays rather than outdoors every week.

Payments & SNAP

SNAP/EBT is accepted at Mill City Farmers Market. The market also references Market Bucks matching through Hunger Solutions Minnesota and accepts WIC and FMNP checks and vouchers for fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farmers’ booths. Credit and debit transactions can be contactless through Apple Pay as well.