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Farm to Market Report: Weekend of July 28-29

By Erin Ahlfinger |
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The heat is on in North Texas, and no one knows it better than local farmers and growers. Berries are becoming scarce, while certain herbs (such as cilantro) are dwindling or have vanished. Peaches and tomatoes are still around, but if you have your heart set on them, come to the market early. Even grocers who usually have a good variety of local produce have to look outside North Texas this time of year to maintain a selection. This means that farmers markets are your best source for produce that is truly local and grown naturally: outside, in the dirt. Most markets have a limit on the number of miles produce can be trucked or shipped and still be called “local,” so you know you’re getting the freshest produce grown right here at home, and that you’re truly supporting local small businesses when they need it most. Take heart, lovers of local lettuce. Summer produce such as cucumbers, squash, melons, okra, onions, and peppers are still readily available and waiting for you at local markets all over the metroplex. If you’ve suffered a recent disappointment upon discovering your favorite veggies have vanished from under the market tents, here are two great charts, provided by the Dallas Farmers Market and The McKinney Farmers Market, that will tell you how long you have to hold out until they return, and what you may find to sub in that’s available now. Without further ado, here’s the list of what’s tasty around town this weekend.

Jump if you love local food.

Celebration Farmers Market welcomes a new vendor this Saturday. Spain’s Catering will be selling their all natural, gluten-free spice blends to help you spice up some of that Red Wattle pork or a whole chicken from Holleman Farms. Reeves Farms will have red beets, corn, tomatoes and melons. Stephanie’s Cookies has added macaroons to her lineup, and I couldn’t possibly get there to try them soon enough.

4515 W. Lovers Ln.
Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Meet the Rocky Ford melon, available from Pure Land Organics.

St. Michaels Farmers Market: My visit to this market last Saturday has made for some excellent eating this week. Sachse Herritage Farm has the crunchiest cucumbers I’ve tasted in a while. They also had some great silver dollar sized sweet yellow onions that I loved because they’re the perfect size for one batch of anything. My favorite of the more unique produce offerings at St. Michaels was the Rocky Ford melon from Pure Land Organics. They’re little guys – about the size of a large grapefruit, and while the look of the rind suggests cantaloupe similarities, the meat is green and tastes much like a very sweet honeydew. I have been promised they’ll be available this weekend as well, so I will return.

If you’re still contemplating your market destination, you need only look inside yourself and ask “do I love goat cheese?” If so, look no further. Rosa Family Farm has about 12 flavors and they’d love you to sample them all. And I don’t mean twelve different herbs on goat cheese. They have blueberry, honey nut apricot, sundried tomato, chocolate, chipotle, spinach and red pepper, and dill goat cheese to name a few. I was surprised to find the chocolate one rather enjoyable. So, don’t be shy with the tasting spoon.

8011 Douglas
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Dallas Farmers Market: I know you’re sad that there isn’t an AWIF cooking class this weekend. Chin up. The crew of the Martha Stewart show will be at the market from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Saturday handing out samples.

If the mere mention of the do-it-yourself kitchen queen inspires you to take on new projects, you’re in luck. The Dallas Farmers Market is offering a rare opportunity to learn to make your own soda at home. You’ll make enough ginger ale and root beer to take home in class, but you’ll also learn about and sample some fizzy tonics from such distant places as Russia and South America. Registration is open for the August 8th class, but you must register by August 6th.

1010 S. Pearl Expressway
Daily, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Summer squash is going strong and available everywhere.

Coppell Farmers Market: Crunchy cookie fans will love any or all of Wacym’s Kitchen’s ten flavors of cookie. They’re crisp (not hard) but light, and they’re perfect for dunking in milk. I tried the seasonally available cherry lemonade flavor last week and loved them, though I think the margarita flavor are still my favorite. There’s no need to hold your breath for Hatch Fest to begin to start reveling in all the green chili goodness when Paul Wacym will have his Hatch Chili Chocolate Chip cookies this very Saturday in Coppell. Dead End Farm will be the go-to source for melons this weekend. Also look for tomatoes and squash to be plentiful.

793 S. Coppell Rd.
Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Frisco Farmers Market: All farmers are boasting great Israel melons, cantaloupe, and okra right now. Okra is a vegetable that can be hard to get excited about. Like most foods people don’t generally salivate over, it’s packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Sure, frying it is a great way to get people to eat it, but if you’d prefer the health conscious route, chop it up and add it to soup, stew, or gumbo.

6048 Frisco Square Blvd.
Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

John Doumas and Jenifer Yates of Pop Star will be waiting at White Rock Local Market to cool you off.

White Rock Local Market is back, and it’s just farmers and food this Saturday. Be sure to be there by 9:30 a.m. to see a cooking demonstration from Chef Nicole Van Camp of Chef Nicole’s Secret Suppers. Every market seems to have their unique way to help shoppers beat the heat, and my favorite of them all will be here this weekend. Pop Star will have every kid’s favorite summer treat in such grown up flavors as Cucumber Lemon Mint and Arnold Palmer (they’ll have kid-friendly flavors too). Look for the plastic back end of a VW Bus. We Over Me Farm will sell their produce grown on the Paul Quinn College football field. Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters will be here this weekend. Last week I tried their Ethiopia Yirgacheffe. African coffees are known for their citrusy notes and this one is no exception. It paired excellently enough with Mary B Cakes lemon cranberry loaf that it might be worth a two-market shopping trip to acquire both items for Sunday breakfast.

702 N. Buckner Blvd.
Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Four Seasons Market has changed their hours of operation from 10 – 3 to 9 -2, and who can blame them in this heat. This is one of my favorites because it opens and closes later than most of the others. If you need something that sold out elsewhere, they can almost always be counted upon to have it. Mary B Cakes will be back this weekend, as will Gilbert – Pruett Farm and La Esperanza Farm.

677 W. Campbell Rd.
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Grand Prairie Farmers Market: If just the thought of a juicy, refreshing slice of watermelon makes the Texas heat bearable, you’ll want to head to the Grand Prairie farmers market this weekend, where watermelon is the theme of the entire market.

120 W. Main St.
Saturday, 8:00 a.m.  –  1:00 p.m.

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