Lincoln Road Farmers’ Market

If you like to people-watch while shopping for cukes and tomatoes, stroll along the 16-year-old Lincoln Road Farmers’ Market in South Beach, where about a dozen vendors between Meridian and Washington Avenues sell locally grown produce and other food items. Just Picked, owned by Mia and Scott Dequine and business partner Kirsten Hartburg, features salad greens from a Liberty City backyard farm, citrus from Indian River and everything else — from cherry tomatoes to sugar cane — from Homestead. They aim to get goods “from farms within a 30-mile radius so when we say local, we mean very local,” Scott Dequine said. Bananas are sold on the stalk and Brussels sprouts are still caked in farm soil. Other local vendors sell baked empanadas, chilly water coconuts, fresh cut flowers, baked goods, spices, tea and honey. The market is one of 12 produced by Claire Tomlin, owner of The Market Company.

Address: 400 Lincoln Rd., South Beach

Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday

Contact: 305-531-0038; www.themarketcompany.org

Pinecrest Gardens Green Market

Business booms on Sundays for 50 diverse vendors under a canopy of banyan trees at Pinecrest Gardens. A handful or so of South Florida farms bring truckloads of fresh picked produce. Pikarsky, of Bee Heaven Farm and the Redland Organics Association, said all the fruits and veggies that filled rows of bushels and baskets at her stand were fresh and grown in Miami-Dade soil. “We cobble together everything we have from our members and bring it here,” Pikarsky says. “That’s what direct from the farm really means.” Families can shop while they munch on wholesome organic foods from The Empanada Lady, Papa’s Wood Fired Pizza mobile oven, Cupcake World, Cucky Bellande’s homemade jellies, a crepe stand and a pickle booth. Two seafood vendors, two bread makers and spice and tea purveyors are also on hand.

Address: 5855 S.W. 111th St., Pinecrest

Hours: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday

Contact: 305-531-0038; www.themarketcompany.org

Broward Markets

Batten’s Farmers Market & Davie Argi-Tourism Center

Doors were closed in August 2008 but the town of Davie bought the landmark Davie farm from its former owner. It reopened in May 2011 under management by the North-South Institute, a nonprofit group that supports local growers and agricultural education. “We opened with 40 items, now we have an inventory of 450 plus,” says program director Samuel Scott. The group, which rents the land from Davie for $12,000 per year, re-established the farm’s popular smoothie stand, added a tropical food restaurant and a petting zoo with 36 animals. About 175 local produce and small business grocery vendors sell goods at the market. Scott’s wife Marcia Scott, who helps manage the farm, said prices are less than the major grocery stores. “We do it on purpose. We try to go under at all times, even if it means we sell at cost,” Scott says. Throughout the place, educational brochures teach the value of eating healthy, natural foods. The organization also assists two 30-acre farm land areas in Davie where South Florida residents grow seasonal crops for sale at the market.

Address: 5151 SW 64th Ave., Davie

Hours: 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Closed Wednesday.

Contact: 954- 792-068

Josh’s Organic Garden

The food is certified organic and picked 24-to-48 hours before being sold at this oceanfront green market from founder Josh Steinhauser in Hollywood Beach. Produce, nuts, seeds and other items attract hundreds every Sunday. There’s a garden of greenery. Racks of wheat grass and sprouts line tables and bins are loaded with fresh-picked cucumbers, peppers, carrots and tomatoes plus there’s a juice and smoothie bar.

Address: Harrison Street and Hollywood Broadwalk, behind the Ramada Inn.

Hours: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday

Contact: 954-456-3276

Marando Farms

Owners Fred and Chelsea Marando established their urban market when they lost jobs in the construction business and were facing foreclosure of their home in 2009. “It was literally touch and go from the beginning,” Chelsea Marando says. Rows of greens, herbs, peppers, tomatoes and beans grow from above-ground “u-pick” containers. Bushels of other produce are brought in from Florida farms within 325 miles from the city. About 40 regular customers are now members of the Marando Farms’ community supported agriculture program: They pay ahead for produce that is boxed and distributed in shares weekly. A collection of community gardens produce radishes, eggplant, cucumbers and other seasonal items — 25 percent of those items are donated to Broward food pantries for the poor. The general store stocks locally produced raw foods, honey, jams and jellies and homemade pet foods. Organic chicken and goose eggs; beef, pork and poultry; and salsas, hummus and baked goods are also available and they recently opened a smoothie bar. The farm’s menagerie of once homeless farm animals (goats, pigs, chickens and bunnies) is especially popular with the 4,000 local school children who visit annually for lessons about nutrition and gardening.

Address: 1401 SW 1st Ave., Fort Lauderdale

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday. Closed Wednesday.

Contact: Chelsea Marando, 954-294-2331; www.marandofarms.com.

Yellow Green Farmers Market

Business was meant to grow when the 100,000-square-foot Yellow Green Farmers Market opened in Hollywood in late 2010. Sixty percent of 350 available stalls rented to vendors makes 140 stalls up for grabs. “We’re a special find for shoppers and vendors but once they discover us, we’re on their list for good,” says General Manager Mark Menagh. Maria Corona, of Miami, sells scallions, fresh green garlic, peppers, celery and other seasonal items fresh picked daily from her family farm. Six other produce stands dot the place. Several Hollywood residents launching home-based cottage businesses include Anita Borghi, the solitary baker behind HomeSlice Breads; Cynthia Adams, who’s The Pie Lady; and soup and quiche cook Haydee Chopov of Soups & More. Novel boutique businesses are also a highlight. Shoppers can pick from 67 types of olives and flavor-infused olive oils, lunch on Kobe burgers, take a beer break at the bar, pick up Amish butter and cheeses and try Asian-Caribbean fusion veggies and seasonings.

Address: 1940 N. 30th Rd., Hollywood

Hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Contact: Mark Menagh, 954-513-3990; http://www.ygfarmersmarket.com

Las Olas Outdoor Gourmet Market

During a lazy morning stroll along the boulevard, check out the small market, with a dozen vendors offering a wide range of items like fruits and vegetables brought in by former farmers and current distributors for local growers, Michael and Sherry Ryback. Sample fresh fish and stone crabs; baked goods; pasta; olive oil; and all natural personal care items like shea butter lotion and homemade soap.

Address: 101 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale

Hours: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sunday.

Contact: Brion O’Neil; 954-698-6607.

Southwest Ranches Farmers Market

Sheila Garcia and business partner Clarence McDowell opened this small neighborhood stand three years ago when both lost jobs in the construction business. McDowell used his construction skills to build the tent and wood frame. Garcia channeled her love of gardening and nutritional know-how. All the produce is grown in Florida and 80 percent of the goods come from local, pesticide- free or organic growers as nearby as a friend’s backyard farm in Davie. Locally produced seeds and dry beans were recently added to the inventory. A “u-pick” garden is growing behind the market. McDowell, who is now also a full time carpenter in Pembroke Pines, said the small business is “on the cusp” of finally turning a profit. Don’t leave without all natural Barry’s Gourmet Hummus and a pint of Garcia’s homemade salsa.

Address: 5150 S. Flamingo Rd., Southwest Ranches

Hours: 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily. Closed Thursday.

Contact: Sheila Garcia, 754-423-3786; www.swrfarmersmarket.com

Pompano Beach Green Market

The Pompano Beach Historical Society decided nine years ago to bring back the flavor of the once agriculture rich town known nationally for peppers and bean crops. “What is grown here is sold here,” says the organization’s executive director Dan Hobby. Three fruit and vegetable vendors, including former farmers Michael and Sherry Ryback, sell locally grown goods from sugar cane out of Belle Glade to green beans from Boca Raton. Linda DuBois and her sister-in-law Claudia DuBois, of Pompano, sell fresh squeezed Florida orange, lemon, tangerine and grapefruit juice from Kennesaw Fruit and Juice packing and bottling company in Pompano Beach “just across the railroad tracks.” Try Ethel Burns’ beloved sweet potato and coconut cream pies.

Address: 100 NE 1st St., Pompano Beach

Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday.

Contact: Dan Hobby, 954-782-3015

Parkland Farmers Market

Nearly 3,000 people flock to this city-operated market in the rural Parkland Equestrian Center. Organizer Colleen O’Dea provides goods by local growers and small businesses including Brother’s Produce from Davie, Two Sisters Juice Company from Pompano Beach, Biscotti Girl from Fort Lauderdale, Muzzle Meals organic pet food from Coral Springs and Anita’s Guacamole from North Miami Beach. Rebecca Nahom, says she and her two sons eat their way through the market every week. “We don’t have to pack a lunch,” Nahom says. “We snack on fresh veggies, home-baked breads, hummus, cheese. For dessert we go to the organic fruit stand and pluck an apple off the table.”

Address: 8350 Ranch Rd., Parkland

Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday

Contact: Colleen O’Dea, 954--757-4120