Farmers Market

Farmers Market

Written by Jessica Sinn Thursday, 03 April 2008

To create more visibility for downtown businesses and promote local growers, Pflugerville Farmers Market Manager Micki Eubanks will open the city’s first farmers market May 6.

“There are a lot of neat little businesses downtown that many people don’t know about, and it’s a really nice little area,” Eubanks said. “So hopefully this will bring some folks there so they can see what’s available.”

The prospect of relocating Pflugerville’s city hall from downtown to a site closer to Toll 130 has spurred an ongoing debate among city officials, local business owners and some local residents.

“There’s a lot of trepidation about what’s going to take [city hall’s] place,” said Pflugerville planning committee representative Heather Strosser. “As of right now, there’s so much uncertainty, and there’s no way of telling what is to come. So the more people we can get down there to shop and to come see what’s available, the better.”

In addition to boosting the local economy, Eubanks wants to promote the vast health and environmental benefits of eating fresh produce and meats that are free of pesticides and harmful byproducts.

“Feeling good about what you’re putting into your body and knowing where you’re getting that food is a huge benefit,” Eubanks said. “The nutritional value of fresh produce is so much better than produce that has been on a truck for two weeks and on a shelf for another week.”

Eubanks said the farmers market features something that can’t be found at a local grocery store — a chance to get to know local farmers and learn valuable gardening and cooking tips.

“It’s a very personal experience,” Eubanks said. “I really don’t like going to the grocery store, but I get excited at the thought of going to the farmers market. Gardeners and farmers are so open to giving their customers new ideas and gardening advice. A lot of them have worked in corporate and [information technology] jobs, and now they’re trying to get back to a more simple life, and it’s really interesting to talk to them about their journey.”

Although more people are shopping at farmers markets, keeping a full supply of produce to accommodate their needs can be a big challenge, said Greg Coley, manager of the Georgetown Farmers Market Association.

“We don’t have enough farmers in Central Texas,” said Coley, who also manages the Round Rock market. “A lot of markets start up and can’t get enough growers. We have more customers coming in because people are more excited about homegrown food, so we need more sellers to give them what they need.”

Market Schedules

PFLUGERVILLE

• Season: May through October
• Day and Time: 3–7 p.m. Tuesdays
• Where: Downtown Pflugerville, west of the First United Methodist Church, 500 E. Pecan St., at the old gin property
• Sponsors:
  • Pflugerville Downtown Association
  • First United Methodist Church
  • Pfriends pfor Pflugerville’s Pfuture
• Vendors:
  • Lil’ Mama’s Delicious Desserts: cheesecakes
  • Rasco Farms: Longhorn beef
  • Country Grill: rotisserie chicken, roasted corn
  • Caeda Farms: produce
  • Eubanks Farm: eggs
  • Round Rock Honey

GEORGETOWN

• Season: April through November
• Day and Time: 3:30–6:30 p.m. Thursdays
• Where: 400 Block of South Austin Avenue

Sun City:

• Season: April through November
• Day and Time: 10 a.m.-noon Tuesdays
• Where: Sun City Village Activity Center on Texas Drive

ROUND ROCK

• Season: April through July
• Day and time: 8 a.m.–noon Saturdays
• Where: Downtown Round Rock at the city hall parking garage 200 E. Bagdad Ave.
• Vendors:
  • The Vegetable Cart: vegetables, lamb, eggs and soaps
  • Husband Family Nursery: native plants
  • Cowan’s: vegetables
  • Two Happy Children Farm: beef and vegetables
  • Olive Hills Farm: vegetables
  • Round Rock Honey
  • Schwegmann Orchard: pecans and fruit

MANOR

• Season: year round
• Day and time: 4–7 p.m. Wednesdays
• Where: Jennie Lane Smart Park, 104 E. Rector, six miles east of US 290 and US 183
• Vendors:
  • Petals for Healing: jewelry, greeting cards
  • Decker Creek Bed & Breakfast & Biscuit: birdhouses, aprons and pillows
  • Richardson Farms: pork and beef
  • Walnut Creek Organic Farms: produce
  • Bikkurim Farm: produce and eggs
  • Frank Toussaint Beekeeper: honey
  • Herb Garland: herb plants, dried herbs, peaches, pecans and vegetables
  • Stephanie’s Specialties: salsa, pecans, jams and jellies
  • Lavern’s Vegetable Patch: produce
  • Bloor House Handcrafted Necessities: skin and home care products
  • O & T Trading Co.: handmade knitwear and dog biscuits
  • Walden of Hitchcock: produce

Vegetables in Season

• April: Lettuce, Radishes, Beets, Turnips, Greens
• May: Potatoes, Squash, Cucumbers, Greens, Beets, Blackberries, Onions
• June: Tomatoes, Squash, Cucumbers, Melons, Peppers, Corn, Peaches, Blackberries
• July: Tomatoes, Okra, Peppers, Squash, Melons, Peaches, Figs
• Aug.: Tomatoes, Okra, Melons, Peppers
• Sept.: Tomatoes, Okra, Melons, Peppers, Winter Squash
• Oct.: Tomatoes, Okra, Squash, Melons, Peppers, Winter Squash
• Nov.: Squash, Winter Squash, Peppers, Greens