Monday, June 9, 2008

The Farmer's Market



Fort Worth takes second place to Dallas in few matters of concern to me. There is one establishment I would like to move 30 miles west of its current Big D location, though. The Farmers Market, established in 1941, draws farmers and their produce from around the Dallas area, and there is nothing like it anywhere in the DFW area. I have mentioned it once or twice before but it is the time of the year where a trip is, well, worth the trip. I make a tomato based pico de gallo / salsa which has an award winning flavor (in my view) when it is made with sweet, vine-ripened tomatoes. You can get any local summer fruit and vegetable at the Market, plus other groceries like farm fresh eggs, spices, flowers, and anything fresh food related. Now for peaches, I go towards Weatherford, but that's another post after summer's over.

6 comments:

Pete Wann said...

FW has two farmer's markets, both of which are in their infancy...

One is on the 183 circle, near the big outdoors store that I can't remember the name of.

The other is at Elizabeth Anna's Old World Garden on 8th Ave.

Both are on Saturdays. The one on 183 (Cowtown Farmer's Market) opens when the asparagus guy shows up, usually around 8AM.

Elizabeth Anna's is similarly early.

Francis Shivone said...

Fort Worth has had a half-dozen Farmers' Markets, including the latest at the old Train Station. I visited everyone and left disappointed because of the hit and miss nature of produce. I wish we could have one that farmers and brokers could make enough money to come back but apparently we don't. Thanks for letting us know of the latest markets.

Anonymous said...

We lived in Dallas for a few benighted childhood years, and I fondly remember the Farmer's Market, when you actually drove in under the shed's and parked. With family in East Texas, though, we got most fresh produce from Granddaddy's garden or roadside stands (which don't seem to be there anymore).

Last time I was in the Dallas Market, most of the produce was commercially grown and presented as though it garden fresh. I can go over by Ridgmar Mall in FW for that, thank you. From what I hear, though, Dallas's market has come back to more real farmers.

There is a Farmer's Market in Weatherford, come to think of it, just across from the First Monday grounds. It's been 5 years since I was there, however.

Francis Shivone said...

Rambler -- only partly true. The sellers must post whether they are growers or brokers. If you look for the growers you can get locally grown vine ripened tomatoes at bushel prices -- as well as other local produce.

Anonymous said...

Have you been to one of the "Pick Your Own" farms in the area? I believe there's one in Parker. I'm curious about whether it's worth the trip!

Francis Shivone said...

MC -- I have not, but would like to hear from anyone who has. Many years ago we bought a Christmas tree from one of those pick and cut your own places southeast of Fort Worth -- an event that ended up being a scene out of a Chevy Chase/Vacation movie.