Baltimore Farmers' Market returns on Sunday

The Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar begins its 35th season April 1. This is the second year the popular market is starting so early. Until 2003, when it was moved up to the first week in May, the opening came in early June.

Last year, skeptics wondered if the crowds would come to the market before the spring bounty started showing up in stalls. Although there was a drop-off after the first week, sharp shoppers began noticing what was at the market rather than what wasn’t.

There are, of course, vendors selling things like breads, pastries, sauces and meats that don’t depend on the season. There are also the popular vendors of coffee, omelets, crepes, pit beef and Indian, Thai and Cajun foods that market-goers haven’t seen since last December.

April at the market is also a profusion of early greens, plants and herbs. Master gardeners of the University of Maryland Extension will be at the market to give advice on planting and growing herbs

The early weeks are also a great time to get to know your vendors. If you see only one stall selling asparagus, it might be because that asparagus has been trucked up from the South. That’s a farmers’ market no-no, but vendors get away with it.

The Baltimore Farmers’ Market is located on Saratoga Street between Holliday and Gay streets under the Jones Falls Expressway. The market runs from April 1 through Dec. 23, from 7 a.m. until things sell out, usually about noon. For more information, go to bop.org.

It looks like all of the old favorites are back for 2012. Here's a list of vendors for the 35th season.

Farmers (by county)

Anne Arundel County

Knopps' Farm, John's Local Sweet Corn & Produce, Mother Earth

Baltimore City

A & R Seafood, Sanders Crabs

Baltimore County

Albright Farms Produce, Bartenfelder Farm, Breidenbaugh Farms, Hills Forest Fruit Farm, Gunpowder Bison & Trading, Marshall's Farm, Martin Farms, Pahl's Farm, Stoecker Farms, George Zahradka Farm

Caroline County

McCarthy Farm

Carroll County

Doran's Chance Farm, Tomatoes Etc. Produce Farm, The Hen's Nest, Truck Patch Farm, Lindemann's Apiary, Cats Paw Organic Farm, Gardner's Gourmet, Richfield Farm,

Cecil County

Locust Point Greenhouse, The Calvert Farm

Dorchester Farm

Pine Grove Farms

Frederick County

BIC White Barn Produce, South Mountain Creamery

Harford County

Bogarty Farm, Hawks Hill Creamery, Hickory Chance Farm, KCC Natural Farms, Sweet Potato Hill

Howard County

Triangle Apiaries

Kent County

Springfield Farms of Kent County

Prince George's County

Brey's Farm

Queen Anne's County

Chesapeake Greenhosue

Washington County

Many Rocks Farm, Lewis's Orchards & Farm Market, Caprikorn Farms

Pennsylvania

Reid's Orchard, Woemer's Orchard

Virginia

Agriberry

Other vendors

Baltimore Dog Bakery  — natural dog biscuits

Banksy’s Cafe —  soups, salads, tea  

Beef Barons — pit beef, sausage, hot dogs, drinks

Beans & Buns —  pastries, beverages

Blacksauce Kitchen — biscuit sandwiches, beverages 

B-More Alive — falafel wraps, sprouts, pickled vegetables. 

Brooks Salsa — salsa 

Carambas — burritos, tortillas, drinks/water 

Cavanna Pasta — pasta, sauce
 
Chesapeake Bay Old Style Sauce Company —- sauces, marinades, horse adish, turkey and lamb burgers

Community Produce — smoothies, breakfast burritos, soup

Curry Shack at The Market —  Caribbean wraps, spices, tea

Dangerously Delicious Pies — mini pies

Desert Cafe —  humus, taco chips

Dirty Carrots — vegan desserts

Edible Favors —  ginger food items 

Ethel & Ramone's —  Cajun food, breakfast sandwich

Greek Super Foods —  olives, oil
 
Humpty Dumpty — custom made omelets, drinks

In A Pickle — variety of pickles, sauerkraut, olives

Infused Spreads —  spreads, vinegars

Kettle Korn — fresh made kettle corn bagged

Konscious Kterers –  fried fish, salad, rice, vegetables, tea

Locust Point Greenhouse — plants, cut flowers

Mallow Crunchies — organic rice crispies

Michele’s Granola — granola

Migae’s Magnificent Mini Donuts

Mushroom Stand — mushrooms, chile, fritters

Neopol Savory Smokery — gourmet foods, quiche, smoked fish & fowl, cheese

Nick’s “Backfire” Brand — spices, salsas, rubs

Nutin But The Juice — fresh-squeezed orange juice

Nuts To You — nuts, candy, nut products

Red Zebra — Pizza

Ruben’s Crepes

Rustic Gourmet of Roland Park — Indian dishes

Salt River Lobster — fish, shellfish

Savory Bean Soup — homemade bean soups, tea

Springfield Farms —  lamb all cuts, sausage sandwich

Thai Egg Rolls — dumplings, sticky rice with mangos, tea

Thai Food — dumplings, noodles, shrimp, drinks

Wheeley Good Smoothies — smoothies made in a blender powered by a bicycle

Zeke’s Coffee & Accessories


Bread Vendors

The Breadery 

Chez G 

Uptown Bakers