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Pick a peck of peppers.: Photo by R. Clayton McKee
One of the charms of the modern farmers market is that you don’t have to be a cook to appreciate them. Most offer plenty of ready-made foods and confections and gift-ready products such as natural soaps and lotions and handmade pottery.
The markets are a nosher’s paradise. Nisha’s Quick N Ezee Indian Food is a regular at a half dozen farmers markets. Its representatives are always eager to offer tastings of chutneys and sauces. Ditto for cheese-makers such as Hammond Farm and Houston Dairymaids.
The greater Houston area has nearly two dozen weekly farmers markets. (Not to mention popular veggie markets and farm stands such as Canino’s on Airline and Froberg’s Farm in Alvin.)
Theresa Atkinson of Atkinson Farms assists a customer.: Photo by R. Clayton McKee
Here are some tips before you go:
Here are some markets to check out:
TUESDAYS
Rice University Farmers Market
when: 3:30-7 p.m.
where: Rice University, Visitors West Lot, 2100 University
who's there: More than 30 vendors showcasing everything from organic dog biscuits and gluten-free cakes to infused vinegars and heat-and-serve Indian dishes. This is a very popular market and a boon to those with busy weekends, a time when most other markets take place.
WEDNESDAYS
City Hall Farmers Market
when: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
where: City Hall, 901 Bagby. (Garage parking available at 400 Rusk.)
who's there: Two dozen vendors offering prepared foods and produce, as well as cooking demonstrations by local chefs. This very recent addition to the FM scene already is attracting a loyal following thanks to plentiful lunch-ready fare and the picnic-friendly grounds of City Hall. tip: arrive early and head straight to Melange Creperie, where Sean Carroll is making savory and sweet crepes. They’re worth the wait and easy to consume as you check out the rest of the market. Trust us.
Spring Branch Farmers Market
when: 2:30-6:30 p.m.
where: Southeast corner of the intersection of Wirt Road and Westview Drive
who's there: A small but sweet market with vendors offering artisan breads and cheeses, organic pet treats, ready-made meals and more. The plentiful, adjacent parking makes popping into this market for a loaf of freshly baked bread or some free-range eggs quick and easy.
Baby bok choy: Photo by R. Clayton McKee
THURSDAYS
Kingwood Farmers Market
when: 3-7 p.m.
where: Town Center Park, 8 N. Main, Kingwood
who's there: Nearly two dozen vendors offering local fruit and produce, cheeses, flowers, jellies and jams. There’s live music, and a park setting lends itself to picnicking.
Sugar Land Town Square Farmers Market
when: 4-7 p.m.
where: Sugar Land Town Square, 2711 Town Center Blvd., Sugar Land
who's there: This is one of the region's newest farmers market. Organized by Urban Harvest, it draws a good mix of local farmers and vendors.
FRIDAYS
HCC Southwest Farmers Market
when: 3-7 p.m.
where: HCC Southwest campus, 5601 West Loop South Freeway
who's there: The usual suspects as this is organized by Urban Harvest.
SATURDAYS
Urban Harvest Farmers Market
when: 8 a.m.-noon
where: Parking lot behind 3000 Richmond at Eastside
who's there: This is the granddaddy of Houston farmers markets, with more than 50 farmers and vendors selling everything from freshly harvested produce and artisan breads to grass-fed beef and emu eggs. This market gets a lot of regulars who are on a first-name basis with the vendors. Most markets feature live music, too. Parking is sometimes a hassle, but it’s worth the effort.
Eco-Farmers Market
when: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday through November.
where: CityCentre, 800 Town and Country Blvd.
who's there: Vendors of locally grown produce, fresh flowers, meats and cheeses, and fresh baked goods.
Pearland Old Townsite Farmers Market
when: 8 a.m.-noon. every second and fourth Saturday
where: Zylinski Park, 2243 Grand Blvd. in Pearland
who's there: Vendors selling fresh eggs, grass-fed beef and smoked sausages, as well as arts and crafts.
Julie Hammond, owner of Hammond Farm, serves samples of her peach goat cheese at the Kingwood Farmers Market.: Photo by Jerry BakerGrogan’s Mill Village Farmers Market
when: 8 a.m.-noon, Oct. 2-Dec. 10
where: Grogan’s Mill Center, 7 Switchbud Place in The Woodlands
who's there: More than 20 vendors offering baked good, artisin cheeses, fresh fruit and vegetables and handmade crafts. Live music, too.
Farmers Market at LaCenterra
when: 8 a.m.-noon.; hours change to 9 a.m.-1 p.m. beginning Nov. 12
where: LaCenterra, 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd. in Katy
who's there: Dozens of vendors offering everything from fresh produce and raw honey to soy candles and scones.
Farmers Market at Imperial
when: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 1-Dec. 10
where: 198 Kempner, Sugar Land
who's there: Names familiar to farmers market-prowling foodies, including Angela’s Oven, Sinfull Bakery and Georgia’s Grass Fed Beef. Also on hand: jewelry artists, a potter and Berryhill Baja Grill (serving breakfast tacos!).
Don Lie of Debbie Garden bags produce at the farmers market at La Centerra.: Nick de la Torre : 29-95
Farmers Market at Clear Lake Shores
when: 8 a.m.-noon
where: 1020 Marina Bay Drive in Clear Lake
who's there: More than two dozen vendors sell everything from homemade cheesecakes and barbecue to pasta and hand-pressed Texas olive oil.
Tomball Farmers Market
when: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday April through July and during the fall season
where: Corner of Main Street (FM 2920) and Cherry Street in downtown Tomball
who's there: Olivero Farms, Mittelstadt Farms and more.
Kemah Farmers & Open Air Market
when: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
where: 204 FM 2094 at Highway 146
who's there: Well, if the name didn’t give it away, this market is a mixed bag. You’ll find some fresh produce, and there are always home-baked and jarred goods. There’s also a lot of flea market-type goods. Live entertainment, too.
Feast of Artisans Farmer's Market
when: 8 a.m.-noon (Oct. 1-Dec. 10)
where: 26106 Oak Ridge in Spring
who's there: This new market will include some names familiar to the local FM scene, including Angela's Oven, Lucia's Especialidades Argentina and Sugar Hill Farm.
SUNDAYS
Highland Village Farmers Market
when: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
where: Parking lot behind Highland Village Shopping Center, 2720 Suffolk.
who's there: A dozen or so vendors offering organic produce, free-range meats, fresh seafood and artisanal breads and cheeses. I’m a fan of the scale of this festive market. The covered pavilion encourages grazing on the prepared foods while being serenaded by live performers. Mobile food trucks often show up with snacks and cold drinks.
Magnolia Farmers Market
when: 11 a.m.-3 p.m every second and fourth Sunday
where: Intersection of FM 1488 and FM 1774 in Magnolia
who's there: These are neighbor gatherings with about a dozen farmers and vendors who have their businesses in the same ZIP code. Several of the vendors’ have been threatened by the recent wildfires, which is another good reason to show them some love.
Wild West World Farmer’s Market
when: noon-4 p.m.
where: 5005 FM 359 in Richmond
who's there: Local farmers offering freshly harvest produce, as well as homemade jellies, jams and honey.
None of the markets listed are actual FARMER'S markets. Just folks taking advantage of silly yupster food crazes.
If I want to go to a real farmer's market I'll leave town.
@Smeg - nonsense! I have known those vendors personally for five years and they are indeed real farmers. Come meet them tomorrow and see for yourself.
Your comment is pure proof you never bother to actually go to any of these markets. Hopefully the arrogant ignorance will dissuade anyone from taking you seriously.
A farmers market I always go to is Delorio's in Hempstead,off old 290 going west into town. Great choices,local produce,lots of variety. It worth the drive from cypress where we live and makes for fun time... check it out yourself!
DeIorios is on Highway 6, actually, about a mile north of the intersection with 290. I go there on my way back from trips that go through College Station. My wife loves it there.
DiIorio's has both locations - the original in town (Hempstead) on the old 290 and the new one on Hwy 6 just north of the split from the "New" 290. They moved out when the new highway was built and most people no longer went through town. Both locations are good, they have some different things.
There is still a farmers' market in the Heights at the White Oak Cafe on White Oak, Saturday mornings. It's called the White Oak Farmers' Market. It is small- maybe 2 produce vendors, hand made soaps and such, plants and sometimes some really good jellies.
If you patronize it, it will grow. Vendors are unwilling to commit to a market without sufficient customer traffic, yet customers are unwilling to continue to patronize a small market to help it to grow. Kind of a Catch 22.
Both current produce vendors grow sustainably, although they are not Certified Organic.
The Eastside Urban Harvest Market (north of Richmond/south of Alabama) is GREAT!! I am ALWAYS finding GREAT fruit and vegetables as well as farm fresh eggs, artisian breads, cheeses, prepared foods, etc.
The farmers that drive in for the Urban Harvest markets each week with their products might take offense at Luther saying they are not, in fact, farmers.
What if one wants to donate over a hundred (slightly used) plastic grocery bags? Might anyone want 'em for use at any of these markets?
Canino's has really gone done in quality. What can u expect when the produce is sitting in 90 weather with no AC. They told me they do not put out the best because people in the are will not pay top dollar for quality. they are trying to feed families....
Hi, do you know wich is the best farmer market to sell art crafts?. I do wood bowls to use for food and I think I can sell very good in any of the markets.Thanks for your help.
I would love for you to be a vendor at my car boot sale. It is located at 4220 FM 1960 and is open every Saturday. Please call Maureen at 713 297 1740 for more information. Thanks
The Farmers Market at Imperial in Sugar Land is GREAT! Many local farmers like Gundermann Acres and Georgia Grass Fed Beef.
It must have improved, because I went when it first opened and it was horrible. Mostly vendors hawking food from their restaurants, crafts, and stuff other than produce.
I see orchids in the picture .. which farmers market has them??
Froberg's lets you pick your own strawberries when their in season, a great family trip. There's also a little place that smokes meat next door.
Fried pies at Froberg's are awesome! Every flavor you could ever want.
For those in NW Houston, there is a farmer's market called Debbie's Garden located on Huffmeister just south of 290. Debbie's is open from Wednesday to Sunday, and she has produce, farm eggs, baked goods, grass-fed beef, and more!
Orchids are available at the Grogan's Mill
Farmers Market, Kingwood Farmers Market and
Eastside Farmers Market.
The following markets are now year round markets:
Farmers Market at Imperial and Grogan's Mill in the Woodlands.
This article keeps re-appearing (comments back to August 2011), which is fine because farmer's markets can't be talked about too much. The White Oak Market is still missing though and should be on the list. 3106 White Oak Dr, 77008, in Onion Creek parking area.
The Eco-Farmers market at CityCentre has interesting varieties like baby eggplant -- great for imam baldi. Also local honey. Sorry it ends in November. Anyone know when it reopens?
Orchids are also at the Rice University Farmer's Market
Rip off markets is more like it! I will go to my back yard and pick my fresh items. These set up markets are OVER PRICED SCAMS! Beware. Go over to Airline and get a much better deal!
Jamesh, this article is about FARMER'S MARKETS, which the stands on Airline are not. Further, many of our area farmers are not spraying Roundup and Sevin all over the food I will eventually eat. For their hard work, I am willing to pay a little more over the prices on Airline. Good for you for growing your own garden--I hope you have a good growing season this year.
Each of these markets has different things to offer. "Rip off" is not a fair assessment AT ALL. At Airline, you can get some good stuff. You can also get some stuff that has been refused by reputable grocers as grown with unacceptable pestacides, is not fresh, or might otherwise be something you don't want to eat. It''s definitely caveat emptor. The markets listed have market managers who enforce rules about growing practices, and assuring that those are FARMERS who are selling to you, not truck drivers. You can choose where to buy, and who to support. But I think you should do so with KNOWLEDGE and not presumption.
went to two today after reading this article - overall was very disappointed. one or two booths with overpriced produce - the rest was flea mkt type stuff...
Would like to know which markets you visited.
Jamesh, good for you on keeping a garden! Since you do so, you must certainly understand that the local, more sustainable, often pesticide- and GMO-free items at our local farmer's markets are far superior in taste and nutrition to the produce trucked in to the produce terminal on Airline. I will continue to support my farmers' hard work and excellent products.
Does anyone know who to contact to do music at some of these farmer's markets?
Urban Harvest sponsors 5 of the markets, so that would be a good place to start. You should find some contact information at urbanharvest.org.
There is also a Farm and Garden Market In Tomball 19243 FM 2920 Called Fresh Pickings they have a mixed variety of Fresh Produce, Mexican Pottery, Spices, And Wooden Crafts. This is a pretty neat place they are open 7 days a week from 9 am to 9pm Check them out on face book. or google the Fresh Pickings!!
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