November 20, 2017
Las Vegas is located in the middle of a desert, but take it from the residents who live here – this city is blossoming with a passion, curiosity, and growing hunger for access to locally grown fruits and vegetables. The number of farmers’ markets is growing, and even high-rises like Juhl, in the heart of downtown Las Vegas, offer residents access to an adjacent Urban Garden where they can grow and tend to their own crops of fresh vegetables and herbs. If you thought farming in the desert wasn’t possible, think again!
If you’re donning the chef’s hat for this year’s upcoming holiday season, take the extra time to unearth only the freshest, locally grown ingredients for those all-time loved dishes. Here are our favorite market locations to help you go the extra mile this holiday:
Downtown 3rd Farmers’ Market starts at 9 a.m. every Friday on the corner of Casino Center Dr. and Stewart Ave (next to the Mob Museum). The market is epic for its more than two dozen vendors offering a wide range of produce, baked goods, organic foods, and artisanal batches of treats, from honey to chocolate.
Fresh52 Farmers’ Market is a friendly, open-air market showcasing more than two dozen choice vendors with organic produce, freshly baked goods, gourmet items, and more. Guests can also purchase artisan crafts such as herbal and holistic oils, soaps, remedies, art, and jewelry. The market takes place at two Henderson locations: every 2nd and 4th Saturday at Solista Park in Inspirada and most Sundays on the corner of Eastern Ave. and Richmar Ave.
The Las Vegas Farmers’ Market has four valley locations, but because gift-shopping is also on everyone’s minds this time of year, we’re shining a spotlight on its Downtown Summerlin market, which starts at 9 a.m. every Saturday. Enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables, authentic hand-crafted European style breads and cakes as well as local breads and pastries, pasta, fresh cut flowers, and more!
If your biggest task is making brunch, lunch or dinner reservations, head to downtown Las Vegas, where more restaurants are joining the movement towards incorporating freshly grown produce in their signature menu selections.
PublicUs, the canteen-style neighborhood restaurant and coffee bar, prides itself on incorporating farm-to-table cuisine. The staff takes extra measures to use only the freshest ingredients for patron favorites including: garden farm benedict, watermelon rocket arugula salad, and smashed avocado toast. It’s open for breakfast, brunch, and lunch.
Eat is another popular breakfast and brunch spot, located on Carson and 7th St. Their philosophy includes “eating local,” which means they are committed to sourcing food from local farmers’ markets as well as “eating fresh,” with everything cooked and made to order.
Carson Kitchen is also a must, known for its urban neighborhood dining scene and a menu featuring back-to-the-basics American comfort food. Check out the farm and garden section of the menu, with items such as: young beets and rainbow cauliflower.
Want to give back this holiday season, while also learning where the “root” of many of the fresh produce stems from? Volunteer your time at Vegas Roots, the first and only Las Vegas urban farm. The garden program operates on over four acres in downtown Las Vegas and aims at bringing together schools, corporations, and residents to help manage the garden and build a sustainable food system for the community.
Also, check out the great things that Green our Planet is doing in the valley. The nonprofit conservation organization operates an environmental crowdfunding platform and also runs the largest school garden program in the nation! Click here to learn more about ways you can contribute to these efforts – whether it’s making a monetary donation or help fund a specific green or school project, you’ll also learn a thing or two about how to have a green thumb!
