Find shops carrying local foods in and around Atlanta.
If minimizing the miles your produce has traveled is important to you, or you just want to enjoy the literal fruits of your neighborhood farmer’s labor, seek out a grocery store with local offerings. Even the behemoth grocery chains like Kroger, Publix, and Wal-Mart will stock a small selection of locally grown produce where possible, but for a more personal feel, try making one of these supermarkets your destination. Of course, if you want local and only local, you can always head to an Atlanta farmers market.
Aldi
Multiple locations
aldi.us
Although an international chain, this German-based company teams up with nearby farmers to offer locally grown, often organic produce. A “locally grown” sticker denotes veggies that are from the area, and signage features profiles of some of the farms the company works with. Just don’t forget a quarter for the shopping cart, and some reusable grocery bags!
Bennett’s Market
568 Boulevard SE and 661 Auburn Ave. NE, Atlanta
bennettsmarket.com
The owners of Bennett’s choose local purveyors wherever possible, whether it be coffee, baked goods, jarred foods, eggs, cheese, candy, or beer. Between its original Grant Park location and the newly opened location on the Beltline, it’s a great place to grab a few stapes, and enjoying one of their famous sandwiches while you’re at it.
Buford Highway Farmers Market
5600 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta
aofwc.com
You wouldn’t expect a market known for its global offerings to also feature local produce, but this Buford Highway institution does boast a nice selection of local produce, meats, and other goods. You can even buy kombucha and fermented vegetables made just up the street! Keep an eye out for the store’s occasional “Flavors of Georgia” showcase when local goods are truly celebrated.
Candler Park Market
1642 McLendon Ave., Atlanta, GA
candlerparkmarket.com
One of Atlanta’s original neighborhood markets, this little shop works with local and regional farms for the majority of its produce and meat. Local baked goods, ice cream, beer, cheese, and packaged goods are also represented.
Carver’s Neighborhood Market
1297 McDonough Blvd., Atlanta, GA
carvermarket.com
Established to serve an area with few other food options, Carver’s carries an assortment of fresh and packaged goods, and is known for its great prices – there’s a rotating selection of meats and vegetables that can be bought for $20 for 5. The store stocks produce from nearby farmers, Hunter Cattle meat, H&F Bread, and other locally produced goods.
Chop Shop
1366 Memorial Dr. SE, Atlanta GA
chopshopatl.com
This unique market is the result of a collaboration between a farm — Riverview Farms — and a butcher. With a focus on sustainable farming, minimal waste, and humane treatment of animals, it’s a great resource for meat and charcuterie, locally produced goods, produce harvested from nearby farms, and in-house prepared foods.
Fresh Market
Multiple locations
thefreshmarket.com
This North Carolina upscale supermarket chain is disappointingly weak on local produce but it makes up for the paucity with a nice selection of Georgia-produced packaged goods, such as barbecue sauces, cheese straws, jams, honey, chocolates, and even panko breadcrumbs made from pork rinds. It’s also a good source for in-house baked goods and prepared foods.
Grant Park Market
519 Memorial Dr., Atlanta, GA
grantparkmarket.net
Locally sourced coffee, beers, produce, packaged goods, bakery items, and dairy products are among the options at this neighborhood market, which is sister to Candler Park Market. Many of these products also put in an appearance on the menu of the market’s in-house café.
Oakhurst Market
650 East Lake Dr., Decatur, GA
oakhurstmarket.com
Locally sourced ice cream, produce, packaged foods, bread, and an in-house butcher are among the bragging rights for this little market. They even have a lunchbox program where you can order weekly lunches for your kids to take to school.
Sevananda
467 Moreland Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA
sevananda.coop
Members run this food co-op but anyone can shop here. The store prides itself on its stringent vendor requirements and preference is given to local suppliers and producers, particularly those that use organic practices. The store also avoids carrying meat products and items containing GMOs and artificial chemicals.
Sprouts
Multiple locations
sprouts.com
It may be a national supermarket chain, but part of the company’s sustainability initiative is sourcing from suppliers within the state or less than 500 miles from a various location. Look for up-and-coming packaged products, as well as fresh produce.
Star Provisions
1460 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd., Atlanta GA
starprovisions.com
This little upscale market is a great source for all things fancy, and that includes those produced right here in our area. The store claims to have the largest selection of Southern cheese, plus house-made charcuterie and pastries, locally sourced jarred goods, and other delicacies. Stay for lunch at the in-store cafe and you might get a salad or sandwich with ingredients grown on Summerland Farms, which supplies the restaurant empire of which Star Provisions is a part.
Sweet Auburn Market
209 Edgewood Ave. SE, Atlanta GA
municipalmarketatl.com
Housed in a nearly 100-year-old building, this unique indoor market features stalls of produce, baked goods, meat, packaged goods, candies, and prepared foods. While not everything is locally sourced, many of the offerings are, so keep an eye out for signage or ask the vendors.
Your DeKalb Farmers Market
3000 E Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, GA
dekalbfarmersmarket.com
This market employs people from all over the world (check out their nametags to see what languages they speak!), and source products from around the world, too. But they also keep it close to home. There’s house-made pasta, sauces, soups, and bread; grocery items from local producers, sausages from a nearby butcher, and plenty of produce from area farms.
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