St. Louis Farm-to-Table Essentials

“Buy local” is a phrase that has come to mean more these days than simply supporting our neighboring farmers. It means buying products with no added chemicals, no dyes, and nothing artificial. So when families want their food to be fresh from the field, there are countless options around the bistate area—farms where you can pull up and load up.  

FRUITS & VEGETABLES

EarthDance 

EarthDance grows more than 75 varieties of produce. The farm offers tours for the public to learn about the importance of buying local and organic products. Aside from EarthDance’s community-supported agriculture, the produce is sold at the Tower Grove and Ferguson farmers’ markets. 233 S. Dade, Ferguson, 314-521-1006, earthdancefarms.org.

Kamp’s Peach Orchard

The scenic route down the Great River Road to Kamp’s in Golden Eagle is almost movie-perfect. Fruits and vegetables are in abundance, including seasonal peaches. Pickles and preserves are also sold at the farm. Auer Landing, Rural Route 1, Golden Eagle, Ill., 618-883-2410.

Lakeview Farms

What can be fresher than the strawberries or raspberries you pluck straight from the vine? Located in St. Charles County, Lakeview is a place where your kids can pretend to mine for gold and silver in the creek or go on treasure hunts while you gather fresh fruit. 8265 Mexico, St. Peters, 636-978-8830, lakeview-farms.com. 

Mills Apple Farm

Mills is one of many “U-pick” farms and orchards that get busy when the weather is nice and families decide to explore the countryside. When they’re ripe, you have your choice of apples, peaches, and pumpkins. 11477 Pocahontas, Marine, Ill., 618-887-4732, millsapplefarm.com.

Sunflower Savannah

Year-round items include spices, lamb products, and pecans. But the farm is perhaps best known for its heirloom tomatoes. You can find Sunflower Savannah products at the Tower Grove and Schlafly farmers’ markets, but Sunflower no longer sells its wares at the farm. Beaufort, 573-259-1533, sunflowersavannah.blogspot.com.

Thies Farm and Greenhouses

Thies Farm’s locations across the area are known as “the closer farms” for strawberry picking and for the autumn Pumpkinland, where kids can enjoy rides, mazes, and lots of hay. Hayrides show visitors more of the squash, vegetables, and fruits. 4215 N. Hanley, 314-428-9878; 3120 Creve Coeur Mill, 314-469-7559; 3200 Greens Bottom, 636-447-2230, St. Charles; thiesfarm.com.

Utterback Farms

Owned by Beverly and Dave McConnell, this farm raises vegetables, herbs, and mushrooms using aquaponics. The McConnells’ produce can be found at Dierbergs and Local Harvest Grocery. 27387 Highway AC, Middletown, 573-549-2353, utterback-farms.com.

Wind Ridge Farm

Head here to pick your own fresh blackberries, blueberries, and seven varieties of peaches. Check the website for the prime picking days. You can ride the wagon out to the best, most heavily laden trees to get your fill of some of the freshest fruits around. 3511 Highway F, New Melle, 636-828-5900, windridgefarm.net.

BISON, BEEF, AND PORK FARMS & BUTCHERS

Benne’s Best Meat

The farm doesn’t hold official hours and asks only that visitors not come by on Sundays. Benne’s sells beef, pork, and free-range chicken. 850 Breeze Park,

St. Charles, 636-486-6024, bennesbest.com.

Farmer Girl Meats

Leslie Moore, the company’s founder, went from a corporate career to being a stay-at-home mom of three to serving

as a hard-working farmer, putting better meats on area dinner tables. Boxes of grass-fed and pasture-raised meat, including pork and poultry, are available for delivery right to your doorstep or for pickup in Clayton. (See p. 14 for more info.) 22327 Lix, Warrenton, 636-456-3384, farmergirlmeats.com.

Fresh Pasture Farms

Pastured turkey and pork are available from March through November, and pastured eggs are available all year round. The farm is just 20 minutes from downtown St. Louis. 1931 Kropp, Millstadt, Ill., 618-719-1983, freshpasturefarms.com.

Hinkebein Hills Farm

Grass-fed cows and deer roam the range on this farm, which sells all cuts of meat, including its own house-made sausages, bratwurst, smoked meats, and even venison. The farm caters, too. 434 Whispering Wind, Cape Girardeau, 573-332-8530, hinkebeinhillsfarm.com.

Laura Lane Lambs

This provider offers organic lamb for your freezer. Make sure it’s empty before you bring your supply home! The farm also sells all sorts of jellies and jams. Occasionally, it even makes an Odds & Endsberry jelly. 7437 Laura, Edwardsville, Ill., 618-692-6353.

Live Springs Farm

This farm offers grass-fed beef, pastured pork, chicken, and eggs for on-site pickup. Products can also be found at several farmers’ markets, including the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market, the Schlafly Farmers Market, and the Land of Goshen Community Market. If you want to visit, call ahead to make arrangements. Rural Route 3, Carrollton, Ill., 217-942-5060, livespringsfarm.com.

Might As Well Ranch

What started out as a teaching tool for two boys—taking responsibility for raising a couple of calves—evolved into a ranch selling meat from a small herd of Texas longhorns, known for the wide span of their horns and their tender cuts. The farm also raises chickens and sells the eggs. All the products are available at the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market. 4225 Hunters Run, Pacific, 314-409-1104, mightaswellranch.com.

Missouri Grass Fed Meats

This operation consists of two family farms where the owners started raising their own meats out of concern for their families’ health. The herds of Highland cattle, sheep, and goats only graze on grass. The farms also raise Berkshire pigs and chickens. The produce is available at delivery locations in St. Peters, Kirkwood, and Collinsville, Ill., and is sold at the Maplewood and Tower Grove farmers’ markets, Local Harvest Grocery, and at the farm—but remember to call before stopping by. 12901 Cedar Hollow, De Soto, 314-570-5858, eatmograssfedmeats.com.

Price Family Farm

You can buy the cow—literally—at the Price Family Farm near Troy in Lincoln County. In addition to grazing in the pastures, the cattle are fed a mixture of cracked corn and soybean meal pellets.

A quarter of the cow runs just under $600, and the whole deal is just below $2,300, which comes out to less than $6 per pound. Smaller package deals are available in bundles at Greene’s Country Store and Feed and Thies Farm & Greenhouses in St. Charles. 149 Strack Farm, Troy, 636-338-1418, pricefamilyfarm.com.

Sugar Creek Piedmontese 

Piedmontese cattle are bred to be higher in protein, as well as yield a leaner cut of meat. The herd at Sugar Creek grazes on grass and is raised on vegetarian feed, with no animal byproducts added to the mix. The meat is sold at the Ferguson and Clayton farmers’ markets. 343 Barrett, Elsberry, 636-734-6620, sugarcreekpiedmontese.com.

DAIRY, CHEESE & EGGS

Baetje Farms

The goats at Baetje Farms are likely fed a healthier diet than the average man or woman. They drink filtered spring water and organic herbal teas and are fed alfalfa hay and an antibiotic-free grain ration. The cheeses made at the farm include savory, seasonal, and sweet varieties, along with aged products. The farm is 45 minutes south of the St. Louis area, but you can find the cheeses at the Soulard, Schlafly, and Tower Grove farmers’ markets. 8932 Jackson School, Bloomsdale, 573-483-9021, baetjefarms.com.

Cackle Farms

Farm-fresh free-range eggs sell for $3 per dozen. But the farms also sell produce, seeds, and a variety of canned items, such as zucchini relish and bread-and-butter pickles. You can purchase Cackle Farms’ products at the St. Charles Farmers Market. 6845 Teson, Hazelwood, 314-712-2331.

Cock and Bull Farms 

Don’t let the name fool you—this is primarily a chicken farm. It does sell some meat from Rensing’s Pork and Beef in New Douglas, Ill., but the focus is on those free-range cluckers and the eggs they lay. 12100 Hoyt Monken, Highland, Ill., 618-972-4291, cockandbullfarms.com.

Farrar Out Farm

Located in Frohna, between Perryville and Cape Girardeau, about a 2-hour drive from St. Louis, Farrar Out is one of few area farms that offer whole turkeys around Thanksgiving. The farm sells its selection of fruits and vegetables, chicken, lamb, pork, rabbit, eggs, and honey at the Kirkwood and Schlafly farmers’ markets. 573-579-9550.

Heartland Creamery

It would be a long drive to northeast Missouri to pick up goat cheese from the 17,000-acre farm that 8,500 cows and 2,100 goats call home. But there’s no need. Schnucks stocks Heartland’s chevre, Gouda, and cheddar. Rural Route 1, Newark,Mo., 877-484-2269, heartlandcreamery.com.

Ludwig Farmstead Creamery

The European-style creamery is open to the public for cheese demonstrations on Tuesdays through Saturdays. The farm was originally settled in 1866 and is now run by the family’s fifth generation. The cheeses are all made by hand and can be purchased online, as well as at Dierbergs locations, Local Harvest Grocery, and Straub’s. Ludwig also makes ice cream. 17591 N. 600 East, Fithian, Ill., 217-213-3048, ludwigfarmsteadcreamery.com.

Marcoot Jersey Creamery

Some of the farm’s specialty raw-milk cheeses are aged up to 12 months in a cave. Now being run by the seventh generation of the Marcoot family, the farm is located about an hour east on Interstate 70. Aside from a variety of cheeses, you can buy plain cheese curds and ice creams. And the farm has a monthly cheese club. 526 Dudleyville, Greenville, Ill., 618-664-1110, marcootjerseycreamery.com.

Rising Moon Ranch

If you drive about an hour southwest of St. Louis, you’ll find Rising Moon Ranch. Goat milk is available in glass bottles. The CSA costs $35 a share, which includes an evening of milking one of the goats. Rising Moon also sells a number of types of goat cheese, yogurt, butter, fruits, and vegetables. 2896 Kommer Loop, Lonedell, 636-629-5883.

Windcrest Dairy

The dairy is farmed by two families, the Bizenbergers and the Eickmeyers, and has been for more than a century. You can visit the farm, pick up your milk, yogurt,

or cheese, and—if you come by around

2:30 p.m.—also milk one of the cows. Or you can buy the products at Fields Foods, Local Harvest Grocery, Schnucks, and Straub’s. 14898 Old Trenton, Trenton, Ill., 618-224-7802, windcrestdairy.com.

BAKERS

4 Seasons Bakery

A husband-and-wife baking team, Agi and Aaron Groff are both graduates of the CIA—the Culinary Institute of America, not the spy outfit. They source ingredients locally and serve up recipes handed down by Agi’s German ancestors. This shop is becoming a very tasty tradition. 2012 Campus, St. Charles, 314-288-9176, 4seasonsbakery.com.

The Bagel Factory

Crave old-school, East Coast–style bagels? This cash-only spot isn’t an all-purpose bakery, but it’s one of the few places in town that offers the real thing, bagelwise. You’ll think you’re living in New York City. 11256 Olive, 314-432-3583.

Black Bear Bakery

If you’re hankering for the dense breads from the old Lickhalter Bakery, Black Bear is your huckleberry. It’s a collective that is heavily involved in improving the community; we give it an A+ for product and effort. 2639 Cherokee, 314-771-2236.

La Bonne Bouchée

C’est magnifique. It has the best croissants in town, and it’s one of the more civilized places for lunch in West County. The pastries are perfection. Westgate Centre, 12344 Olive, 314-576-6606,

labonnebouchee.com.

Breadsmith

If you like your bread heavy and hearty or are searching for the perfect pizza shell or oversize oatmeal cookie, you’ve come to the right place. 10031 Manchester, 314-822-8200, breadsmith.com.

The Cakery/The Cup

The bakery that established The Cup sits on the top rung when it comes to cakes. Order ahead, and be sure to get your cake frosted in buttercream. There’s none better. 1420 Tamm, 314-647-6000, thecakery

bakery.net; 28 Maryland Plaza Rear, 314-367-6111; 1057 Century, Edwardsville, Ill., 618-656-2287; 1590 Clarkson, Chesterfield, 636-536-2287; cravethecup.com.

Chouquette

Simone Faure, once the executive pastry chef at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, opened this French patisserie, which carries Japanese-influenced chouquettes, signature wedding cakes, “smash cakes” for kids, and of course, Petit Faures. 1626 Tower Grove, 314-932-7935, simonefaure.com.

Clayton’s Bakery & Deli

Sure, the breakfast rolls are sweet, but this is the place for iced cookies, which are fresh daily and seasonally themed. Clayton’s also features many delicacies from the dearly beloved—and departed—Lake Forest Pastry Shop. 11744 Manchester, Des Peres, 314-821-2509, claytonsbakerydesperesmo.com.

Companion

It’s a beacon for great bread, natch, but also for excellent house-made soups, with four selections daily at each café. (If its New England clam chowder isn’t the best in town, tell us whose is.) 8143 Maryland, 314-721-5454; 9781 Clayton, 314-218-2280; companionstl.com.

The Daily Bread Bakery & Cafe

The muffins are magnificent; the apple, blueberry, and pumpkin ones are perfection. If you want a great pie, try one here. The seasonal brie-and-mushroom soup is a don’t-miss. Heck, even the wood-fired pizzas are good. 11719 Manchester, 314-909-0010, thedbcafe.com.

Federhofer’s Bakery

Look for the neon sign with the chef holding a birthday cake—it marks one of the city’s best vintage German bakeries. 9005 Gravois, 314-832-5116, federhofersbakery.com.

Great Harvest Bread Co.

Just the scent of the store will lead you to buy many more loaves than you had planned. To us, the standout is the olive bread. Multiple locations, greatharvest.com.

Jilly’s Cupcake Bar & Café

The cupcakes are huge, almost too much for one person. And the sandwiches? They’re stupendous. 8509 Delmar, 314-993-5455, jillyscupcakebar.com.

KNEAD

Flour, water, yeast, and salt are the only ingredients used in KNEAD’s organic artisan breads, which can be purchased online and are available on Tuesdays and Saturdays at Greene’s Country Store and Feed in Lake Saint Louis, as well as at the Lake Saint Louis Farmers & Artists Market. Also, check out the macarons. St. Charles, 636-699-6250, knead-bread.com.

Knodel’s Bakery

Open since 1901 and still going strong in North County, this bakery makes cakes, cakes, and more fancy cakes—for every fancy. 6621 W. Florissant, 314-385-2000, knodelsbakery.com.

Lubeley’s Bakery & Deli

If your daughter dotes on Barbie, come here for her birthday cake. Lubeley’s will put the Mattel marvel in the middle and make the cake her multitiered skirt. 7815 Watson, 314-961-7160, lubeleysbakery.com.

McArthur’s Bakery

This bakery is a great place to start your day. But you’ll have to get in line; you aren’t the first to realize it. 3055 Lemay Ferry; 113 N. Kirkwood; 13700 Olive, Chesterfield; 314-894-0900; mcarthurs.com.

Missouri Baking Company

At this institution on The Hill, it’s a tossup as to which of the delicacies on offer is the best. The cannoli? The biscotti? The Napoleon or the Josephine? The chocolate drops? We crave them all. 2027 Edwards, 314-773-4122.

Nadoz Bakery + Cafe

We opt for the sandwiches and single-serve pastries—and do our best to remember to take home some chocolates from artisan chocolatier Christopher Elbow. 3701 Lindell, 314-446-6800; 12 The Boulevard–St. Louis, 314-726-3100; Taubman Prestige Outlets Chesterfield, 17089 N. Outer 40, Chesterfield, 636-536-4100; nadozcafe.com.

Party Pastry Shop

This is a bakery from the old school, right out of the 1960s. It has ladies in white aprons, glass cases, and a delightfully antique ambience—plus dynamite donuts and great seasonal cookies, hot cross buns, party rolls, bear claws, apple turnovers… If you’re missing Pfeiffer’s shaved-chocolate cake, head here. 15447 Clayton, Ballwin, 636-227-7188.

Piccione Pastry

St. Louis’ only late-night Italian pastry shop of its kind specializes in single-serve Italian desserts, gelato and sorbet, Italian coffees and sodas, and seasonal breakfast and lunch selections. The menu includes vegan, sugar-free and gluten-free items. The chefs create recipes from scratch, bake in small batches, and use the highest quality ingredients. 6197 Delmar, 314-932-1355, piccionepastry.com.

PieCraft

You gotta love an operation that’s so dedicated, it makes everything—down to the marshmallows and candied rose petals—from scratch. And it’s hard to imagine anyone being able to resist a slice of coffee mousse pie with Kakao dark chocolate whipped cream. PieCraft doesn’t have a storefront yet, but you can order online and have the delicacy delivered to your door, or you can meet the pie masters at various local farmers’ markets. 314-324-4298, piecraftstl.com.

Pie Oh My!

If you love your pies fresh but prefer a tart-size version to the gluttony of a whole 9-incher, Jane Callahan is your baker. 2719 Sutton, 314-704-4416, pieohmystl.com.

Pint Size Bakery

The name describes the place, but the flavor and assortment (albeit in limited batches) are humongous. We’re especially fond of the savory muffins, quiches, and blondies, as well as the oatmeal cream pies, a best-seller. 3825 Watson, 314-645-7142, pintsizebakery.com.

Princess Delights

It’s one of the few local places that bakes gluten-free bread without added salt or processed sugar. If you’ve ever frequented The Woman’s Exchange of St. Louis, you may have been tempted by Princess Delights’ mint brownies. The breads and other products can be found at the Kirkwood, Ellisville, and Byrnes Mill farmers’ markets. Orders can be placed online, but be forewarned: there’s a six-loaf minimum order. 314-951-4488, princessdelights.com.

Saint Louis Bread Co.

The salads and sandwiches are great, but don’t forget those breakfast soufflés. While they are caloric, they’re a great way to start the day. The pumpkin muffins are also a fave. Multiple locations, 314-781-0508, panerabread.com.

Sarah’s Cake Shop

According to one connoisseur, the salted-caramel cupcakes are “insane!” Other favorites here: the mini cupcake towers, the red-velvet cupcakes, and the glitter bites. 10 Clarkson Wilson Center, Chesterfield, 636-728-1140,  sarahscakeshopstl.com. 

Sugaree Baking Company

One of the best ways to spend $5 in St. Louis? Pick up one of Sugaree’s 6-inch Caramel Apple Crunch pies. Sugaree has savory treats, too, like quiche, as well as chicken and beef pot pies. It’s open from

11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 1242 Tamm, 314-645-5496, sugareebaking.com.

SweetArt

“Follow your heart” is this bake shop’s prime directive. Reine Bayoc is the baker and chef; her husband, Cbabi, is the artist. Located in the Shaw neighborhood, the studio and café are one. 2203 S. 39th, 314-771-4278, sweetartstl.com.

OTHER LOCAL FOODS

Earth Angel Mushrooms

Oyster and shiitake mushrooms are grown at Earth Angel. Check out Earth Angel’s updates on Facebook (facebook.com/earthangelmushrooms) for a fun perspective on backyard edibles. 9738 Gravois, Affton, 314-304-1522.

Legacy Chutney

Made locally by Uzma Quader, this chutney stands out from all of the others. First, there are four varieties: Sweet Fruit, Date Nite, Mango Mania, and Cherry Kiss. Quader works from her grand-

mother’s recipe and only uses fresh fruit, sugar, and spices. And the delicious chut-

neys are available to buy online. 314-707-9551, legacychutney.com.

Ozark Forest Mushrooms

Also known as Timber Farms, The Sinks, this mushroom farm is in an area that’s been designated by The Nature Conservancy as one of the “last great places.” The varieties offered include dried shiitake, fresh shiitake, oyster, and pom pom mushrooms. Ozark Forest sells at the Schlafly Farmers Market in Maplewood, and on certain days, you can go out and pick your own. Mushrooms and grow-your-own kits also sell online. Salem, 314-531-9935, ozarkforest.com.

“R” Pizza Farm

It’s called a pizza farm because the “R” Pizza Farm is actually divided into pizza wedges. The meats, wheat, cheeses, tomatoes, and herbs for the sauces are all sourced on the farm, making it an official pizza production farm. Tours are available. The farm is about an hour from St. Louis. 25873 State Highway 3, Dow, Ill., 618-466-5950.

Two Men and a Garden

This company’s pickles and salsas, produced by Fenton neighbors Joel Austin and John Sikorski, are now sold at a number of stores, including The Smokehouse Market, Schnucks’ Culinaria market, and Fields Foods. You can also order online. Fenton, 314-277-4229, 314-565-0111, twomenandagarden.com.

SPECIALTY SHOPS

Bissinger’s

Oh, those molasses puffs…and molasses lollipops…and chunks of chocolate. We could go on. And on. 32 Maryland Plaza, 314-367-7750; Plaza Frontenac, 1701 S. Lindbergh, 314-367-9750; bissingers.com.

Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company

Dan Abel used the original leather-bound recipe book passed down by Mavrakos’ last owner and opened his first store in 1981. He’s been churning out super chocolates ever since. Multiple locations, 314-338-3501, chocolatechocolate.com.

Crown Candy Kitchen

At just about every holiday, there’s no better place to stock up than this haven for all things sweet and sugary. Try the Crown Candy hash and the molasses puffs. 1401 St. Louis, 314-621-9650, crowncandykitchen.com.

Di Olivas

This “tasting emporium” carries extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar from around the world, plus coffee and infused olive oils. 617 S. Main, St. Charles, 636-724-8282; West County Center, 314-909-1171; diolivas.com.

G&W Bavarian Style Sausage Company

Buy authentic Bavarian-style sausages straight from the source. Cousins Bob and Gerhard Wanninger still use the family’s secret recipe. 4828 Parker, 314-352-5066, gwsausage.com.

Kakao Chocolate

Owner and master chocolatier Brian Pelletier creates his delicacies in small batches that are well worth the trip. Sweet and salt don’t come better than in the caramels cooked up here. 2301 S. Jefferson, 314-771-2310; 7272 Manchester, 314-645-4446; kakaochocolate.com.

Lake Forest Confections

Remember the old Bissinger’s location on McPherson Avenue? Well, that’s what this shop looks like, and aside from carrying many of the same confections as its rival, it has the recipe for gooey butter cake from the original Lake Forest Pastry Shop. In a word: Yum. 7801 Clayton, 314-721-9997, lakeforestchocolates.com.

Manzo Sausage Kitchen & Market

Before last September, you could go into the store and chow down on a freshly made sandwich. The store’s closed, but you can order online and pick up your items at the plant. 5348 Devonshire, 314-481-5200, manzosausage.com.

Oldani Brothers Sausage Company

After moving to The Hill in 1939, Leopold Oldani was unhappy with the state of local salumi. So he started making his own—and the family still does. 2201 Edwards, 314-772-2125, oldanisalami.com.

Penzeys Spices

This is a one-stop shop for spices in quantities large and small. They don’t come fresher. And once you’ve tried it, you’ll never buy your seasonings at the supermarket again. 7338 Manchester, 314-781-7177, penzeys.com.

Piekutowski’s European Style Sausage

People from all over the area make the pilgrimage to North City’s Hyde Park neighborhood to get their Polish sausage here. Stop by earlier in the day for the best selection. 4100 N. Florissant, 314-534-6256, piekutowskimeat.webs.com.

RJ Chocolatier

Rick Jordan worked with some of the finest chocolatiers in Europe. Old-world chocolate artistry can definitely be found here. 14882 Clayton, 636-230-9300, rjchocolatier.com.

Salume Beddu

Stop by at lunchtime—we recommend the soppressata sandwich—and you won’t be able to resist picking up some house-made artisan meats to take home. 3467 Hampton, 314-353-3100, salumebeddu.com.

Soulard Spice Shop

Dating back to 1914, this was originally called Schmitz’s Market and was the first tenant of Soulard Farmers Market. The years have only broadened the breadth of its offerings. 730 Carroll, 314-783-2100, soulardspiceshop.com.

VanBuskirk Artisanal Chocolates

The website sums it up nicely: “Chocolate, Cocktails, Coffee, Ice Cream, Cigars, and Conversations.” The “artisanal” moniker is for real: This chocolate is as good as any in the area. 5326 Highway N, Cottleville, 636-352-1139, vanbuskirkartisanal.com.

Volpi Italian Deli

Volpi salami is known worldwide, and it has a (delicious) taste all its own. Ask for it sliced, and just try to stop eating it. 5250 Daggett, 314-446-7950, volpifoods.com.

Vom Fass

The St. Louis outpost of this merchant carries a wide variety of oils, vinegars, spirits, and other specialties—and you can sample many of the offerings. 7314 Manchester, 314-932-5262, vomfassusa.com.

The Wine & Cheese Place

This practical, straightforward shop carries, as the name suggests, wines and cheeses you can’t find anywhere else in St. Louis. 7435 Forsyth, 314-727-8788; 9755 Manchester, 314-962-8150; 14748 Clayton, Ballwin, 636-227-9001; wineandcheeseplace.com.

HOME DELIVERY (NON-CSA) & GROW-YOUR-OWN GARDEN KITS

Backdoor Harvest

Options include having a farmer come out to help you start a garden, participating in a crop share from another member’s garden, or simply signing up as a cropless member who receives fresh produce from a local garden. 314-810-2684, backdoorharvest.com.

Green BEAN Delivery

You can either order a preselected box of produce, which may also include dairy and other grocery items, or choose your own products, ultimately deciding which farms you want products from and whether you want organic or conventional produce. 314-717-1099, greenbeandelivery.com. 

Healthy Harvest Gardens

Ready to dig in the dirt and launch your own backyard vegetable garden? This Wildwood farming team will send a starter kit with detailed instructions on how to grow your own vegetables and herbs. It also sells the frames for raised beds and delivers for free. Wildwood, 636-405-1960, healthyharvestgardens.com.

FARMERS’ MARKETS

Alton Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market

Piasa and Ninth streets, Alton, Ill., 618-463-1016, altonmainstreet.org.

Belleville Farmer’s Market

1901 N. Belt West, Belleville, Ill., 618-235-9500, bellevillefarmersmarket.com.

Belleville Old Town Market

First and West Main streets, Belleville, Ill., 618-233-2015, bellevillemainstreet.net.

Carondelet Farmers Market

7701 S. Broadway, 314-752-6339.

Clayton Farmers Market

North Central Avenue in Downtown Clayton, 314-620-0576, claytonfarmersmarket.net.

Eckert’s St. Louis Farm Market

11520 Gravois, 618-233-0513, eckerts.com/stlfarmmarket.htm.

Ellisville Community Farmer’s Market

Bluebird Park, 225 Kiefer Creek, Ellisville, 636-686-0005, ellisvillefarmersmarket.org.

Ferguson Farmers Market

20 S. Florissant, 314-324-4298, fergusonfarmersmarket.com.

Kirkwood Farmers’ Market

150 E. Argonne, 314-822-0084, downtownkirkwood.com.

Lake Saint Louis Farmers & Artists Market

The Meadows at Lake Saint Louis, 20 Meadows Circle, 314-495-2531, lakestlouisfarmersandartistsmarket.com.

The Market in the Loop

6655 Delmar, 314-749-4156.

North City Farmers’ Market

Crown Square, 14th Street and St. Louis Avenue, 314-241-5031, onsl.org/blog/category/north-city-farmers-market.

Overland Farmers Market

2500 Woodson, 314-769-6360, overlandfarmersmarket.com.

Schlafly Farmers Market

Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest, 314-241-2337, schlaflyfarmersmarket.com.

Soulard Farmers Market

730 Carroll, 314-622-4180, soulardmarket.com.

St. Charles Lions Club Farmers Market

300 Riverside, St. Charles, 636-723-1545.

Tower Grove Farmers’ Market

Pool Pavilion, Tower Grove Park, 4256 Magnolia, tgmarket.org.

Webster Groves Farmers Market

4 E. Lockwood, 314-963-5696 x5888, webstergrovesfarmersmarket.com.

Wildwood Farmers Market

220 Plaza, Wildwood, 636-686-0005.

Note: Many of these markets are open only part of the year; contact each market for the specific days and  hours it operates.