By Annie Henderson, News Staff

The smell of fresh bread and spring flowers wafts through the air as vendors smile and offer samples. Couples, dogs, college students and families stroll through canopies, picking up organic food and locally-made crafts. A South End staple since 2003, this is the SoWa open market.
Located at 460 Harrison Ave., the SoWa open market offers local artists and vendors a place to sell their wares in the summer. It’s open every Sunday through Oct. 30.
Many of the vendors make appearances at other Boston farmers’ and crafts markets, but SoWa is distinctive in that it brings all kinds of products together in one location, from antiques to fresh produce to art. It is also larger than many other markets in the area, featuring over 100 vendor stands that rotate weekly, providing a new selection every Sunday.
“It’s a much more diverse type of market, covering a lot of interesting things as opposed to just food or just crafts,” said David Tschiegg, a junior music industry major who attended the market last Sunday.
Cindy Jacobs, owner of The Best Damn Granola Company, said she attends farmers’ markets all over the city,but especially enjoys SoWa because of the “eclectic array of vendors and clientele.”
In one section of the market, vendors feature locally-made and organically-grown food products. Offerings include fresh-cut flowers, artisan pasta and pesto, free range meats, decadent brownies, homemade pies and even do-it-yourself beer brewing kits. Most of these vendors provide free samples of their goods, allowing shoppers to get a taste of everything the market has to offer.
Another section houses craftsmen displaying a wide range of handmade pieces, including screen-printed T-shirts, custom journals, soaps, children’s toys, paintings and funky jewelry.
“This is the place to be for indie craft people and artists who want to make a name for themselves in the Boston community,” said Stephanie Cave, who runs a booth where she peddles her clothing line, Stephanie Cave Designs. She sells her hand-made kitchen accessories such as aprons and pot holders.
In addition to the open stands that fill up the entire parking lot where the market is housed, SoWa includes an indoor vintage flea market next door that is also open every Sunday.
For a shopping break, SoWa hosts an array of food trucks on location, with traditional fair food such as hot dogs and popcorn, or more unconventional stands selling Vietnamese fusion or organic pita wraps. Like the rest of the market, the food trucks are locally owned and operated.
“I liked the basil limeaid [from Bon Me] best,” Tschiegg said. “It tasted like nothing I’ve ever had before.”
JoAnn Marsh, owner of Burnin’ Love Sauces, a local company that makes homemade gluten-free, vegan sauces, said what she likes best about SoWa is the atmosphere.
“I love the crowd here,” Marsh said. “I’ve seen dogs and babies, daughters shopping with their moms, it’s so cute.”
With all of the food choices and extensive stalls, it’s easy to make a day of the SoWa open market.
“This market has such a great atmosphere. You’ve got antiques, food, and art all wrapped into one,” Cave said. “It’s a wonderful complement to the neighborhood.”