It's a fabulous place. Cash, check or debit card only. The cafeteria is lots of fun and cash only. Spices are dirt cheap.

It's been 100 years since we last went down. Sounds like it's still as good as ever. Not sure how it is in winter though...

Bring a big cooler and allow plenty of time to shop. Lots of interesting beans, grains, rices, etc. sold cheap.
They really have it all at good prices. Lots of very interesting people to look at too!
I wish I lived closer.

I live about 3 hours east of there and make a pilgrimage at least twice a year.

Great deals on bulk spices. One thing to look for if you like spicy food: chipotle powder. You can find canned chipotles anywhere, but this is the only place I've found it as a powder. It's roughly equivalent to the hot pimenton (smoked Spanish paprika) but it's very smoky and very hot. Addictive, and very easy to use--I have a filled a dedicated salt shaker with it and keep it by my stove and add it to eggs, meats, whatever.

Great choice in oils. Lots of Spanish olive oils, classified as spicy or fruity or aromatic. Bulk organic coconut oil.

Ditto on the advice to bring a big cooler. Lots of meats, including stuff that's hard to find elsewhere: rabbit, fresh duck (whole, and duck legs & breasts sold separately as well)--they have a good selection of halal meats as well. (Halal goat seems to be a good seller.) Good sausages made there, including landjaeger.

Incredible seafood selection. They'll clean it for you right there. In addition to fish, they have all sorts of unusual items like octopus, squid, etc.

Breads and baked goods: made on the premises. Every item I've tried has been at least very good, and some have been outstanding.

Produce: lots of fresh veggies and fruits, including some really oddball stuff like durian fruit (don't ask--it's pretty nasty IMHO)

One thing to remember: you may wish to bring a sweater or jacket. They keep the whole inside area pretty cool.

It's a foodie paradise, and it's a good thing I live so far away; if I lived any closer I'd probably weigh 400 pounds. And as mentioned, it's cash or debit card only. No credit cards. Have fun!

There are no buggies inside. You must bring one in with you from the parking lot. They have a wide variety of flour, rice, and tea. My kids favorite place may be the jelly/jam/honey aisle. The ginger-flavored honey is my new favorite.

Now you have gone and dun it! We have a specific travel plan when going through Atlanta and it doesn't include the I-285 Bypass! Now I'm going to have to trick...I mean come up with a compelling reason for taking the bypass-east no less.

Thanks for the information. I wonder how it compares to NC's The Southern Seasons in Chapel Hill that TeresaNC took us to.

Thanks for the input, we're 6 hours away and added a day to our trip just to fit this in. The extent of speciality foods available in our area is the "ethnic aisle" at Kroger. :)
We are definitely hitting the cafeteria while there and I've added the chipotle powder to the list, that sounds like a wonderful new addiction!

Ditto what others posted about the cafeteria, meat, fish and cheese selections. (They have chicken feet!) It's a great place for buying a case of produce when you are in the canning mood and a good source for asian and other ethnic foods vegetables that you won't find anywhere else.

Be aware you have to check any large bag or backpack, including your own canvas bags, if you bring them. You pick them up right before check out.

There is one price for bagging your own produce, or pay slightly less if you choose the pre-bagged produce.

A few specific things I often get there are large cans of olive oil (Italian or Greek or Spanish, selection varies), dried Maine blueberries (the little ones), quark, kefir, and Greek-style yogurt, Chimay Cinq and other Belgian beers. Beer and wine is cheaper and the selection is good. 10% discount if you buy a case of any 12 bottles.

Just two or three blocks from there is a tiny bakery caller "Southern Sweets," mainly cakes and pies, though they also serve sandwiches and soups at lunchtime. They cater the desserts for a number of restaurants. For example, Chocolate raspberry mousse cake, lemon curd cheesecake and tiramisu layer cake.

Here is a link that might be useful: Southern Sweets Bakery

Adoptedbygreyhounds, Thanks for this first hand information.

Mustangs, you don't have to take I-285. You can get to the Dekalb Farmers Market from I-20 by taking the Candler road exit to downtown Decatur, then catch Ponce De Leon east. It's at 3000 East Ponce de Leon, on the north side of the road. Of course if you ARE on I-285 it's easy to just take the Ponce de Leon exit and head westward (i.e., toward Atlanta). Can't miss it; the place is HUGE.

I haven't been to Southern Season in Chapel Hill since the late seventies; at that time it was a pretty small boutique-ey gourmet shop. Judging from its website it has prospered, and the web site says it's 68,000 square feet; the Dekalb farmers market website says their place is 140,000 square feet. Still, the focus seems different. YDFM is more like a wholesale/warehouse/street market experience.

Arley, Thanks-you are my Hero! I'm putting this information in my "To Explore" file.

If anyone goes in the spring, they have the most gorgeous Linden trees (Tilia cordata) out front in the parking lot.
Ever since I experienced these trees I have wanted one. Still don't have one but they have the loveliest fragrance and such a pretty form.

Thanks everyone for the tips! Especially the smoked chipotle powder arley - it is so delicious!
We're headed back in a week and I'm already making a list.