FLAVOR

HOUSTON CHRONICLE • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021 • SECTION D

The definitive guide

to Houston’s
farmers markets
Get your shopping list ready and support local businesses

By Emma Balter
STA F F W R I T ER

T
here’s no better place to buy fresh, local
produce than a farmers market.
Houston has many, but not all are creat-
ed equal. Over the past six months, I vis-
ited more than 30 farmers markets in the
area, getting to know the lay of the land while adding
hundreds of miles to my car’s odometer. I went inside
the Loop and out, to Katy and Fulshear, The Wood-
lands and Kingwood, Baytown and Galveston, and
everything in between.
What makes a good farmers market? At the onset of
this project, I believed it should be a venue that, as
much as possible, can replace someone’s grocery
store. It should have several options for fresh fruit and
vegetables, meat, fish, as well as packaged foods. The
way I see it, a good farmers market should be able to
convince people to skip a trip to H-E-B that week.
The reality is that few farmers markets in Houston
fit this criteria. The majority I visited only had one
Farmers continues on D7

Candice Pink inspects a head of cabbage while shopping at Gundermann Acres tent during the Urban Harvest Farmers Market.
There are more than 30 farmers markets located in the Houston area.

Godofredo A. Vásquez / Staff photographer


FLAVOR
Tracy Hamblin arranges produce from Animal Farm at the Heights Mercantile Farmers Market in Houston. The farm is located in Cat Spring, about 65 miles west of
Houston.
FARMERS
From page D1
produce stand, if any. Some are
better categorized as artisan
markets, with more jewelry and
handmade soaps than food. Of
course, there are only so many
growers in the area who can
commit to staffing a market
every week.
Still, markets act as impor-
tant community spaces, venues
for weekend entertainment and
socialization with friends and
family, and a platform to sup-
port small, local businesses. It’s
been wonderful to observe how
many independent makers exist
and thrive in the city.
Here is the definitive guide to
what you can expect at Hous-
ton’s farmers markets.
Best overall
URBAN HARVEST
FARMERS MARKET
Located in the parking lot of
St. John’s School, the Urban
Harvest Farmers Market is as
close as you’ll get in Houston to
a full shopping experience.
About half of the 100 vendors
are farmers and ranchers, in-
cluding produce growers such
as Atkinson Farms, Gunder-
mann Acres, Plant It Forward,
Three Sister Farms, Wood Duck
Farm and more. Need some-
thing on the side of your fruit
and vegetables? You can buy
rice from Harvest Grain Mills,
tortillas from Tatemó, bread
from Artisana, cheese from
Blue Heron Farm, eggs from
Dustin’s Eggs and, of course,
meat and fish from Katerra
Exotics, Law Ranch Cattle and
Airline Seafood.
After a pause on certain
activities during the pandemic,
Urban Harvest is back to having
live music, samples and cooking
demos from the prepared foods
section. Every Saturday morn-
ing, the market is a scene. Ur-
ban Harvest is also a nonprofit
with a broader mission beyond
its main farmers market in
River Oaks. For the past year,
the team has been operating
eight mobile markets in neigh-
borhoods across Houston,
where they match SNAP bene-
fits up to $40 a day. 2752 Buffalo
Speedway, 8 a.m.-noon Satur-
day; urbanharvest.org
Runner-up
TOMBALL FARMERS
MARKET
The Tomball Farmers Market
is one of the largest in the re-
gion. The market brings more
than 60 vendors to downtown
Tomball every Saturday. There
are several produce options
from local operations such as
Soil & Soul, Verdegreens, At-
kinson Farms, Texas U.S.
Farms, Three Sister Farms, Rain
Song Farm and Theiss Farm.
Meat purveyors Katerra Exotics
and Wagyuru Beef are there
every week. Round out your
purchases with mushrooms
from Lone Star Mushrooms,
olive oil from Olivero Farms,
sauces from Pain Train Salsa,
drinks from Juiced and Steam-
punk Juice, baked goods from
Manzioni Bakery and Flour
House Bakers, and more. A
section of the market is dedicat-
ed to nonfood vendors — this is
where you’ll find jewelry, can-
dles and such. 205 W. Main,
Tomball, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday;
tomballfarmersmarket.org
Jon Shapley / Staff photographer
Andre Evans and his children, Chancellor,
3, right, and Addison, 1, visit the Heights
Mercantile Farmers Market in Houston.
Notable
HEIGHTS MERCANTILE
FARMERS MARKET
A smaller operation with
enough variety to make up part
of a grocery haul, the farmers
market in the Heights Mercantile
shopping center is always a good
time, with live music and an
energetic bustle of people
throughout market hours. Get
your produce at Plant It For-
ward, Animal Farm, Wood Duck
Farm and Zero-Point Organics,
your grass-fed meats at Regen
Ranch, your fish at Daily Catch
Seafood, and your chicken and
eggs at Driftwood Meadows. The
Heights market has a great selec-
tion of bakers, including Artisa-
na, Cake & Bacon, Leven Baking
and Sasha’s Focaccia. Prepared
and packaged foods are sprin-
kled in there, and a knife sharp-
ening stand is a nice, very useful
touch. Parking is a nightmare on
market days; finding a spot on a
side street is your best bet. 714
Yale, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. second and
fourth Sunday;
heightsmercantile.com
MEMORIAL VILLAGES
FARMERS MARKET
Nestled in a tree-shaded patch
at the First Congregational
Church in the affluent Memorial
Villages area — Hunters Creek,
Piney Point, Bunker Hill and
Hilshire — this farmers market is
good at staying focused on the
food. The operation’s strength is
in its meat options. There’s beef
from Circle J Meat and RC
Ranch, bison from Katerra Exot-
ics, chicken from Hillside Cluck-
ers, and Robin’s Gourmet
Smoked Salmon. Fruit and vege-
table vendors include Plant It
Ranjani Girish shows off an Indian food meal kit being offered
at the Rice Village Farmers Market in Houston.
Houston Chronicle | HoustonChronicle.com | Wednesday, June 30, 2021 |
Godofredo A. Vásquez / Staff photographer
A customer picks out peaches at the Theiss
Market tent while visiting the Tomball Farmers
Market.
Forward, Atkinson Farms, Veg-
gies in the Burbs and Eureka
Acres. Bakeries, prepared and
packaged foods, and crafts
round out the mix. 10840 Bein-
horn, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday;
mvfarmersmarket.org
New and
noteworthy
RICE VILLAGE FARMERS
MARKET
Run by the same team as the
Heights Mercantile Farmers
Market, the Rice Village iteration
is the new kid on the block — the
first market was in December
2020. Also a small operation, the
market offers produce from
Sustainable Harvesters, Plant It
Forward, Animal Farm, Three
Sister Farms and Wood Duck
Farm. Get your meats at Wagyu-
ru and your eggs from Driftwood
Meadows. The market also has
two honey purveyors, Bee2Bee
and Hive Bee Farm, among other
miscellaneous vendors. Live
music and an El Topo food truck
adds to the ambiance. 2504
Amherst, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. first and
third Sunday; rice-village.com
FREEDSMEN’S TOWN
FARMERS MARKET
The Freedsmen’s Town Farm-
ers Market aims to bring more
food shopping options to the
historic section of Fourth Ward
that was founded by formerly
enslaved Texans and Louisian-
ans after the Civil War. The mar-
ket debuted in November 2020
in the parking lot of St. James
United Methodist Church but
recently moved to a bigger loca-
tion a few blocks away, in a large
clearing. The team offers a pro-
Jon Shapley / Staff photographer
duce box that can be ordered via
a Google form then picked up at
the market every other week.
On-site, My Mark 61 Cattle sells
several cuts of beef, and other,
mostly Black-owned small busi-
nesses, offer juices, hot sauces,
honey, prepared foods, cosmet-
ics and more. 1108 Victor, 9 a.m.-2
p.m. Saturday; facebook.com/
FreedmensTownFarmersMarket
Worth the drive
GALVESTON’S OWN
FARMERS MARKET
The Bryan Museum’s historic
building and surrounding gar-
dens added real charm to the
small but mighty farmers market
in Galveston, although the oper-
ation recently moved to 28th and
Market streets. It has enough
core vendors to substitute for a
shop: vegetables from B’s Farm
Produce, Agricola Family Farm,
Moon Dog Farms and Sustain-
able Vegetable Garden; greens
from Grow4Health; fruit from
Wilson Blueberry Farm; chicken
from Jolly Farms; and Law
Ranch Cattle and Wagyuru for
beef. Two coffee vendors, 3rd
Coast Kombucha, sweet treats
and prepared foods add to the
mix. 2728 Market, Galveston, 9
a.m.-noon Sunday (1 p.m. October
through May); galvestonsown
farmers market.com
Most accessible
BLODGETT URBAN
GARDENS FARMERS
MARKET
This Third Ward spot is more
of a farm stand than a market,
but it’s made its mark on the
neighborhood. Run by Texas
Southern University, Blodgett
Urban Gardens is a community
farm that welcomes volunteers
throughout the week. On Satur-
days, Sheri Smith and Kirk Jack-
son pick vegetables, fruits and
herbs that are ready to eat and
bring them straight to the stand,
making Blodgett’s offerings some
of the freshest produce around.
Most importantly, they sell it via
a pay-what-you-can model, as
part of their mission to reduce
food insecurity in the area. 3216
Blodgett, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Satur-
day; blodgetturbangardens.com
One to watch
HOUSTON FARMERS
MARKET
The only daily produce mar-
ket in Houston has been around
since 1942 in the Heights. Most of
the produce sold here is impor-
D7
Jon Shapley / Staff photographer
ted and not local, but it’s abun-
dant — stacks of ripe mangoes,
giant papayas and tiny bananas,
chile peppers of all kinds, ample
vegetables, as well as nuts, dried
spices, enchilado candy, corn
husks and more. A multimillion
dollar redevelopment of the
space is currently in the works,
which by this fall will add res-
taurant space for spots like
Underbelly Burger and Crawfish
& Noodles, a butcher, an egg
purveyor, and a general store
with local products. 2520 Air-
line, 5:30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily;
thehoustonfarmersmarket.com
Other farmers
markets
LACENTERRA AT CINCO
RANCH
Part of the Your Neighbor-
hood Farmers Market (YNFM)
organization, this Katy market
in the shopping mall’s plaza is
quite large, with one abundant
produce stand, greens, eggs,
honey, ready-to-eat foods, sauc-
es, and nonfood vendors selling
apparel, candles and such. 23501
Cinco Ranch, Katy, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
second and fourth Sunday;
ynfma.org
THE BOARDWALK AT
TOWNE LAKE
Also a YNFM spot, this market
is in a shopping center with a
lake view and a large produce
stand, plus snacks, spices, hon-
ey, apparel and other nonfood
items. 9945 Barker Cypress,
Cypress, 12:30-3 p.m. third Satur-
day; ynfma.org
JERSEY VILLAGE
FARMERS MARKET
Expect produce from Kmiec
Farm and microgreens from
Screamin’ Good Greens, beef via
Erbe Ranch and Watermelon
Hill. Bread, snacks, spices,
baked goods and other sweet
treats, and nonfood vendors
round out the mix. 16327 Lake-
view, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. third Sunday;
jerseyvillagetx.com
SPRING BRANCH
FARMERS MARKET
One of the newest markets in
Houston, this one’s from the
same team as Heights Mercan-
tile and Rice Village, in the park-
ing lot of a strip mall. Get your
produce from Sustainable Har-
vesters, Angell’s Farmstead and
JSH Microgreens, eggs from Rise
& Shine, meat from Circle J.
There are three bakeries for
bread and other treats, plus
honey, sauces, snacks and more.
8141 Long Point, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
second Saturday;
sbfarmersmarket.com
BAY AREA FARMERS
MARKET
Located in a Friendswood
strip mall, this venue has pro-
duce from Winter Family Farm,
Plant It Foward and Veggies in
the Burbs, meat and eggs from
Katerra Exotics and Hillside
Cluckers, plus bakeries, honey,
hot sauce, pickles, kombucha
and more, as well as two food
trucks. 500 Baybrook Mall,
Friendswood, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun-
day; bayareafarmersmarket
texas.com
WESTCHASE DISTRICT
FARMERS MARKET
Produce from Peas Farm and
Market continues on D8
D8 | Wednesday, June 30, 2021 | HoustonChronicle.com | Houston Chronicle

FLAVOR

MARKET a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday;

From page D7
meats from Erbe Ranch,
plus snacks, condiments,
prepared foods and non-
food items. 10503 West-
heimer, 3-7 p.m. Thursday;
westchase
districtfarmersmarket.com
REDEMPTION
SQUARE
From the YNFM folks,
this northeast Houston
market is in a luxury apart-
ment complex and has one
fairly big vegetable stand,
complemented by Ruby
Cattle beef, dips and sal-
sas, coffee, jams and many
nonfood vendors from
candles to jewelry. 250
Assay, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. fourth
Saturday; ynfma.org
SHENANDOAH
Another YNFM market
in a mostly empty shop-
ping complex with a large
produce stand as well as
veggies from Heavenly
Fresh Farm. This spot also
has meat from Ruby Cattle,
eggs, pasta, sauces, des-
serts, jams, coffee, honey,
prepared foods and a
bunch of nonfood stands,
including cosmetics and
crafts. 8888 Metropark,
Shenandoah, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
second Saturday;
ynfma.org
FARMERS MARKET
ON TAMINA
Produce from Vincent
Farms, Silver Oaks Farm
and Theiss Farms, plus
spices, honey, a bakery,
hot sauce, jam, kombucha,
jewelry and other nonfood
stands. 32907 Tamina, 9
a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday;
farmersmarketon
tamina.com
Crysta Parker selects produce sold by Ely Ngou, left, at the Sustainable Vegetabe Garden tent at the Urban
Harvest Farmers Market.
p.m. third Saturday;
baytown.org
ELEANORA’S
MARKET
In the parking lot of
Heights Italian restaurant
Cavatore, this small mar-
ket’s vendors rotate reg-
ularly but include eggs
from Genzer Farms, meat
from J&R Ranch and Law
Ranch Cattle, prepared
foods, snacks, condiments
and nonfood stands. 2120
Ella, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Satur-
day; eleanorasmarket.com
eastendhouston.com
BRIDGELAND
FARMERS MARKET
Located in a large clear-
ing, this YNFM market has
scant produce, with meats
from Erbe Ranch and
Marchese Italian Sausage,
honey, desserts, coffee,
prepared foods and more.
10519 Fry, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
second and fourth Sunday;
ynfma.org
KINGWOOD
FARMERS MARKET
On a green, tree-shaded
square in the middle
of a shopping center,
this market does not
have produce but offer
meats from Law Ranch
Cattle, eggs, baked goods,
prepared foods and
three jewelry stands.
8 N. Main, Kingwood,
3-7 p.m. Thursday;
kwdfarmersmarket.com
Godofredo A. Vásquez / Staff photographer
BRAESWOOD
FARMERS MARKET
This operation has
RIVER OAKS more recently has been elry and a few more two to three different
DISTRICT operating between five stands. 1225 Grand Park- markets that sometimes
A very small YNFM and 10. D’Shack Gardens is way, Katy, 8 a.m.- noon change dates and loca-
market in a ritzy shopping the main produce source. Saturday; farmersmarket tions, not always with
center, with one produce The operation is run by ongrandparkway.com clear communication.
stand, Lone Star Mush- the Acres Homes Health The vendor options are
rooms and Screamin’ Action Team. 4333 W. uneven depending on the
EAST END FARMERS
Good Greens, plus pre- Little York, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. venue and the day you
MARKET
pared foods and condi- every other Saturday; show up but overall is
Very small, on an espla-
ments. 4444 Westheimer, 11 ahhat.org low on produce and
nade on Navigation. An meat, with a focus on
a.m.-3 p.m. third Sunday; Atkinson Farms stand is
bakers, condiments and
ynfma.org FARMERS MARKET the main produce source,
prepared foods. 8620
ON GRAND PARKWAY accompanied by Cake &
Stella Link, 3-7 p.m. Wed-
ACRES HOMES Not much produce here Bacon, prepared foods nesday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
FARMERS MARKET but some meats via Fry- from Momma’s Tamales Saturday; facebook.com/
This market used to dek Heritage Farm and and Manish’s, condiments, braeswoodfarmersmarket
have up to 20 vendors Watermelon Hill, honey, and several nonfood ven-
before the pandemic but baked goods, juice, jew- dors. 2800 Navigation, 10 emma.balter@chron.com

FULSHEAR FARMERS
MARKET
In a clearing off a main
road, this market has one
small produce stand, meat
from Erbe Ranch, beef and
lamb from Cross T, a few
bakers, jerky, jams, pre-
pared foods and gifts. 9035
Bois d’Arc Lane, Fulshear, 9
a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday;
fulshearfarmersmarket.com

KATY FARMERS
MARKET
On a piece of artificial
grass in a big shopping
center, this spot offers
produce from Kmiec Farm;
eggs, beef and pork from
Gina’s Acres; spices, hon-
ey, baked goods, sauces
and many nonfood items.
9930 Gaston, Katy, 9 a.m.-1
p.m. Saturday;
katyfarmersmarket.org

FAIRFIELD PLAZA
Run by YNFM, expect
the anchor produce stand
plus meat and eggs from
Texas U.S. Farms, Dustin’s
Eggs, many baked goods
and desserts, sauces, juice
and apparel. 15103 Mason,
Cypress, 12:30-3 p.m. third
Sunday; ynfma.org

THE WOODLANDS
FARMERS MARKET
Very spread out in a
parking lot in Grogan’s
Mill, the main source of
produce here is from At-
kinson Farms, plus greens
from Breezy Hill and Go
Go Greens. There are a
couple meat purveyors,
bread, coffee, plus gift and
crafts vendors. 7 Switchbud
Place, The Woodlands, 8
a.m.-noon Saturday;
grogansmill.org

FARMER’S MARKET
AT IMPERIAL
A small market with one
decent-size produce stand,
Jolly Farms chicken, bread,
honey, sweet treats and
many nonfood vendors.
234 Matlage Way, Sugar
Land, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Satur-
day; fortbendchamber.com

BAYTOWN FARMERS
MARKET
In the town square
downtown, you’ll find two
produce stands, Yellow
Rose Beef, honey, jams,
pantry staples, baked
goods, and a lot of crafts
and gift-type items. 213 W.
Texas, Baytown, 8 a.m.-1