It’s Saturday, and you know what that means! Okay, maybe you don’t know what that means. But at our house, Saturday means a trip to the local (The Woodlands, TX) Farmer’s Market. I don’t know why I love going to the Farmer’s Market so much but I do. Especially our local market. And apparently, I’m not the only one. It’s always somewhat crowded and if you don’t get there early you’re probably going to miss out. Especially if you’re going for fruit and vegetables or eggs.
Fresh Eggs
There is a lady there every Saturday who sells eggs. They’re not pretty. They’re not perfect (different sizes and colors). But what they are is fresh and, in my opinion, more tasty than the eggs you buy at the grocery store. More importantly, the price is consistent.
When the whole “Bird Flu” fiasco was going on and, assuming they were even available, egg prices were sky rocketing. My egg lady consistently had eggs and her price never changed. $6 a dozen. So, while everyone else was losing their minds over the price and availability of eggs, I was going to the Farmer’s Market every Saturday, getting my eggs and vegetables, and going home with a smile on my face. I imagine the egg lady was doing the same.
Delicious Seasonal Produce
And then there are the vegetables. There are several local farmers who bring their produce each Saturday. But my favorite is Atkinson Farms. They’re there every Saturday, their prices are reasonable and the produce is always fresh and delicious. Especially their green beans. I don’t know what the difference is but fruits and vegetables from a local grower are noticeably tastier than the stuff we buy at the grocery store.
Don’t get me wrong. There is still a lot of produce we can only get from the grocery store because it simply does not grow locally. Bananas for example. But when given a choice….
Artisan Breads, Homemade Goods, and Artwork and More
There are lots of other vendor there. Home made tamales, wood crafts, salsas, home made soaps, dog treats, local honey, plants, home made breads, etc. But of all the vendors there, one really stands out. It’s a vendor who sells home made breads. I don’t think I’ve ever been there when there wasn’t at least 20 people deep waiting to buy bread. Since I make my own home made bread I’ve never found myself waiting in that line but one of these days I’m going to have to ask someone why in the hell they would wait in such a long line for bread. It must be amazing.
And speaking of amazing home made bread. Here is my own recipe for super soft home made white bread.
Entertainment and Community Activities
There’s also live music, refreshments, outdoor games such as corn hole, and people willing to pay the booth fee to advocate for various causes such as global warming, etc. It’s a fun, family friendly, pet friendly atmosphere enjoyed by many.
Have a favorite vendor at your local farmer’s market? Share your experiences in the comments below!
