Guns, Farmers, and Mexicans
I’m on a roll here. Two farmer’s markets in two weeks. Ha! Except I really didn’t come for the farmer’s market originally. It just so happens that there was a gun show inside the farmer’s market. Yep, that’s what I said, too. So this past Sunday, there was a gun show that my mom dragged me to. A festival of some sort. Inside the Atlanta State Farmers Market. In Forest Park, south of the airport. Since we were already in the area — in this case, inside the venue — my mom decided to look around and get some melons and tomatoes.
ASFM is the biggest farmers market in the nation. It’s also open 24 hours a day. Inside the 150-acre compound, there is a Welcome Center, a USDA office, and three restaurants. There’s also a 26,000-ft exhibition hall with a snack bar inside. Most produce from big-time farmers is delivered by 18-wheeler trucks but smaller scale farmers also sell their produce.
A couple of years ago, my best friend Mark and I used to eat at their cafeteria/restaurant weekly, driving from our Cobb Pkwy offices to burn our 2-hour lunch breaks. There are now two additional restaurants in the premises but only one is open on Sundays: Taco Rancho. There was a lot of talk when this place opened last year due to the colorful resume of its chef Jose Rego. Good friend Jimmy liked it when he visited last year.
I had their cheese dip, steak burrito, chicken burrito, carnitas taco, chicken enchiladas, and Mexican corn. Let me just say I’m not a big fan. But it’s great that there’s a restaurant open on Sundays if you happen to be there on those days. The cafeteria/restaurant is still my favorite place to get cheap eats at ASFM. Don’t miss it when you visit!
Atlanta State Farmers Market
16 Forest Parkway
Forest Park, Georgia 30297
(404) 675-1782
Open 24 hours a day
Welcome Center: Tuesday thru Saturday 10:00 AM thru 4:00 PM.
Taco Rancho
16 Forest Parkway
Building 38 (free-standing building next to the garden center)
Forest Park, GA 30297
404.366.1968
M-F 7AM-4PM
Sat/Sun 10AM-4PM
Technorati Tags: farmers market, Mexican, Forest Park
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2 responses so far ↓
1 David LaMont // Jul 26, 2011 at 11:31 am
Just before reading this post, I heard some new music from these guys on 88.5 http://mexicanswithguns.com/ . I’m sure they appreciate farmers, too.
2 FoodNearSnellville // Jul 27, 2011 at 12:48 pm
Chloe,
ASFM may claim to be the largest farmer’s market in the world, but in terms of surface area actually used, I’m not sure it’s really bigger than “the Flea” near San Jose.
One sec, I’ll find the link..my link actually (since I took photos..)
http://foodnearsnellville.wordpress.com/2009/12/12/the-flea-san-jose-ca/
FnS.
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