Market Update: A Bounty of Saturday Farmers Markets in Austin

0 Comments 15 March 2010

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Vegetables and produce aren’t the only things sprouting up this spring – farmers markets are popping up everywhere. Hopefully, you’ve had a chance to check out the delightful new format at the Market in the Park at the Downtown Austin Farmers Market. I’ve really enjoyed the expanded layout and the variety of vendors.

If you don’t feel like trekking downtown on a Saturday, you still have plenty of choices. Starting this week there are now two markets in Southwest Austin and Cedar Park launches its first market on March 27th.

One of Austin’s longest running markets which started in Westlake then moved to Sunset Valley is rebranding once again as the Barton Creek Farmers Market. The market will now be located in the northeast corner of the Barton Creek Square mall parking lot and will continue to be open from 9am-1pm every Saturday morning. This weekend, March 20th, they will be featuring a South By Barton Creek festival with bands from Italy, Scotland, New York, Texas.

If you’re in the Sunset Valley area, don’t despair. The Sustainable Food Center, the nonprofit that operates the Downtown Austin Farmers Market and the Triangle Farmers Market, is opening the SFC Farmers’ Market at Sunset Valley beginning this Saturday, Marth 20th from 9 am to 1 pm. The market will be located in the Toney Burger Center area and adjacent Pillow Street (3200 Jones Rd.). The market features about 50 vendors to start, with a majority of them farmers, but will also inlcude quality ready-to-eat and value added vendors, as well as a small group of artisans.

Cedar Park Farms to Market, opening on Saturday March 27th, rounds out the new Saturday farmers markets. Carla Jenkins, the market founder, has attracted a variety of local and statewide vendors to serve the NW Austin/Cedar Park/Leander market. Vendors include some familiar names like Amador Farms (hydroponic lettuces and greens) and Sweetish Hill (breads and baked goods). Rockin B will be selling grassfed beef and goat and she’ll even have yak meat available once each month (yes, yak meat) from a ranch outside of Weatherford. The market is every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm and will be located in the 1890 Ranch Shopping Center, Cedar Park at 183A and FM 1431.