Markets

The largest of the Farm Fresh markets, the Armory Park Farmers Market occupies a sizable section of the park it is named after with around 23 stands. There is special programming nearly every week, including concerts with local artists or Back to School markets that include stands for Planned Parenthood and acupuncture. Located in the neighborhood of West End, it serves people from many backgrounds, especially the African diaspora. It is often seen as a more hipster market. 

The Broad Street Farmers Market has six stands and is located in the front lawn of the Algonquin House, home to one of the Rhode Island Indian Councils. Many of the vendors come from West Africa and Southeast Asia, and while other markets also have vendors from these cultures, the larger size of this market gives it a reputation of being “the cultural market.” African cooking demonstrations are common and enable customers to try dishes prepared by local chefs for free, especially since many of the customers are African. The day reporting was done, a local Cameroonian musician named Yacouba Diabate played instrumental music using the kora, a West African string instrument.

The Central Falls Farmers Market has two stands and is located in the parking lot of Children’s Friend, an organization devoted to child care and education. Many people will have appointments at Children’s Friend to register for WIC and enter the market immediately after to use their benefits, which often leads to a large rush of customers near opening time that sells out the vendors’ stands. Many customers are Latinx or Asian. 

Located at the opening of Neutaconkanut Park, which is built on and surrounding a large hill, the Neutaconkanut Park Farmers Market sees many customers who pass by while exercising. It has two stands and is on the outskirts of Providence in the Silver Lake neighborhood. 

The Woonsocket Farmers Market is made up of two stands set up outside one of the Thundermist Health Center buildings. Many people who stop by are coming to or from medical appointments, or are Thundermist employees who receive $10 a week to spend at the market as part of their benefits package. It is within a ten minute walk from four different senior living centers, thus also attracting many elderly customers.