Finding the Right Farmer’s Market For You

A farmers market is a culinary institution where you can find in any major city in the world that brings a local, fresh and high quality produce from the countryside to the city center. The Farmers Markets in Israel present approximately 50 producers from all over Israel, who are selling their local, fresh, small scale and quality produce.

These producers sell fruits, vegetables, herbs, cheese, bread and cakes, honey, olives and olive oil, halva and tehina, wine, beer and flowers themselves, without any middle man. The Farmers Markets are making accessible not only fresh and quality produce but a biodiversity of fruits and vegetables as well, that are grown in Israel but usually go straight to export or to top quality restaurants, thus attracting thousands of buyers.

The Farmer’s Market offers a different consumption experience, unlike the cold isolated Supermarket shopping experience that is so common in Israel. At the farmers market, you can directly buy fresh produce delivered by the vendor him/herself without an intermediary or price gaps. Farmers Markets in Israel are ecological.  Their goal is to protect the environment, therefore no plastic bags are allowed at the market and the use of fabric bags is highly promoted.

Nearly every major city in Israel has a food market, or a “shuk”, ranging from established municipal markets housed in massive indoor/outdoor structures, to ad-hoc souks that consist of little more than a few blankets spread out and covered with freshly picked greens. The list below, while far from comprehensive, offers a glimpse into some of Israel's most popular markets:

Mahane Yehudah

Mahane Yehudah, Jerusalem's most famous produce market dates back to the 19th century, when Arab merchants began selling fruits and vegetables to residents in an empty lot owned by a Sephardic Jewish family. Today the market always bustles--especially on Fridays when the city descends upon the narrow strip of stalls in search of produce for Shabbat, or just a leisurely lunch. Colorful bell peppers sit next to fish, spices, and stacks of chocolate-swirled halva. Tucked throughout the market, diners can find restaurants featuring delicacies from Israel's many ethnicities.

Tel Aviv’s Farmers’ Market

Located in Tel Aviv’s port, Israel’s first outdoor food market was established in 2008. Co-founded by food journalists  Michal Ansky and Shir Halpern, and sponsored by Slow Food, the market offers mostly organic produce (including many heirloom varieties), artisanal cheeses, breads, honey, olive oil, fresh eggs, flowers, wine, and beer--all grown and/or produced in Israel. Building on the success of the Tel Aviv market, two additional farmers' markets opened in Herzilya and Ra'anana in fall of 2009.

Bedouin Market

Each Thursday, an unused parking lot transforms into a thriving Bedouin market. In the past, this was the place that the tens of thousands of Bedouin living throughout the Negev came to sell and buy livestock like sheep and camels, along with clothing and carpets. Those traditional goods are still available, but the wares now include designer knock-offs and perfumes. Intermixed amongst the market's good-natured chaos are vendors selling dried fruits, spices, and nuts. There are other markets in Be'er Sheva selling fresh produce, but the Bedouin Market is worth a trip for the experience alone.

Municipal Market

Netanya's Municipal Market is a sprawling indoor/outdoor marketplace with food vendors and a modicum of clothing and jewelry stalls. The Municipal Market was founded in the late 1950s by Libyan and Tunisian immigrants who later were populated by Russian and then French Jews. The market today represents Israel's ever-expanding diversity. Today fishmongers serve up the catch of the day, while bakers arrange their displays of sweet, glazed croissants. Nearby, fat bouquets of cauliflower and gnarly knobs of celery root fight for space next to overflowing bags of dried chickpeas. Like so many markets across the world, the scene at the Municipal Market offers a colorful and boisterous glimpse into the lives of its residents.