Soda City Market in Columbia again nominated for best farmers market in US. How you can vote
Columbia’s favorite farmers market might just be the nation’s best in 2026. It depends on your vote.
Soda City Market was nominated for the second year in a row for USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards in the Farmers Market category. After being awarded the top spot last year, Soda City Market is a frontrunner in the competition.
“This nomination means even more the second time around,” said Erin Curtis, CEO and Co-Owner of Soda City Market, in a press release. “Winning in 2025 was an incredible honor for our vendors and the City. To be nominated again affirms that what happens on Main Street every Saturday resonates far beyond Columbia.”
Running every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., through rain and shine, Soda City Market has made itself a staple of the Columbia community.
“We’re proud of the Market’s small business vendors, loyal customers and a trusted partnership with the City that has allowed this event to thrive and become a catalyst for growth in Columbia,” Curtis said.
Why Soda City Market was nominated
A panel of USA Today editors and experts reviews thousands of farmers’ markets nationwide and selects the top 20 based on vendor diversity, product quality, local culture, and overall atmosphere.
Soda City Market left a superb impression on USA Today’s panel, leading to its nomination.
According to a press release from the City of Columbia, Soda City Market’s reputation as a premier destination for local food, artisanal goods and Southern culture was a key factor in the farmers market’s nomination.
The history of Soda City Market
What started as a small local farmers market at Gervais & Vine in the Vista, with only six vendors and a few hundred customers in November 2005, has grown significantly.
When Soda City Marker moved to Main Street in 2012, covering five blocks between 1300 and 1700 Main St., it became a cultural hotspot in Columbia and now attracts over 7,000 visitors and 200 vendors weekly. The dog-friendly market draws in crowds of people who want to find the freshest produce, unique items and listen to live music.
“Over the past decade, we’ve seen a complete turnaround and revitalization of Columbia’s downtown, and one of the biggest contributing factors has undoubtedly been the Soda City Market,” said Ryan Coleman, the Director of Economic Development for the City of Columbia.
Since 2005, the market has contributed to thousands of business licenses in the region and generates over $5 million in taxable gross sales annually, according to their website.
How to vote on USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards
On USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for the Farmers Market category, you can vote for Soda City Market. You can cast one vote per day.
Soda City Market is currently ranked #1 out of 20 for Best Farmers Market.
Public voting began on March 16 and will end on April 13 at 12 p.m.