Summertime is here, and that means some shifts in our Food Access programming! With schools being closed for the summer, so are several of our Fresh for Less Markets. Formerly referred to as “Farm Stands,” these are small markets, supported...

What the 2017 Census of Agriculture says about Texas Farms and Ranches

The U.S. Census is critically important. It allocates government spending, political representation, and guides regional planning.

Just as important is the...

Here at SFC, the team in charge of running our two farmers’ markets, administering the Farm to Work program, and supporting producers is called...

Hello everyone, my name is Sergio Torres, and I am the Farm Direct Coordinator for the SFC Farmers Markets. My job is a stealthy one, but yet, an essential role at the market; I oversee...

For the past 2 decades, we have been running the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) here in Central Texas. Partnering with the Texas Department of Agriculture and Texas WIC, this seasonal program (April through October), provides...

If you follow food news closely, it seemed as though 2018 was the year of food-borne illness. Between contaminated lettuce, ground beef, burritos and eggs, it seemed like no food items - from grocery stores to fast casual dining - were left safe. After...

Show your friends and family some local love this holiday season with gifts from the SFC Farmers' Markets!

Sparkles For Your Sweet

Get your fill of something sparkly from...

As November has come and passed, so too has another season for the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP). FMNP is a seasonal program that SFC runs in collaboration with the...

I count myself pretty lucky to be a part of the farmers’ market team here at SFC. In a typical work week I might visit an iconic rancher, book a children’s choir to serenade our customers, or help a vendor design clearer signage. In the...

Sustainable Food Center is headed back to the land. This year our Farm Direct team will be visiting all 38 farms and ranches selling at our SFC’s Farmers’ Markets and through...

The U.S. loses an acre of farmland every minute to urban development.

Farmers’ markets provide an important sales outlet for our local farmers who are working to protect our land. Unlike other retail outlets, at a farmers’ market 100% of your dollar goes directly to the...

During National Farmers Market Week, we are joining farmers’ markets across the United States to celebrate the contribution that farmers’ markets make to American life and the nation’s economy. According to the U.S....

Photo by Caitlin Mathews Photography for Central Texas Breast Feeding Coalition

Our Farm Direct program recently went to Mexia, Texas to visit with Mary Lightsey of Lightsey Farms. Lightsey has been selling produce through our Farm to Work...

We talk a lot about how Double Dollars benefits SNAP and...

On May 3rd, 2003, 25 farmers, 26 food and craft vendors, 1 bleary eyed band and a handful of staffers woke before the sun and set out to transform an under-utilized city park into bustling pop up farmers’ market. There were over 3,500 visitors that first day and if you ask some of our longtime...

Celebrate the most abundant season Central Texas has to offer with Sustainable Food Center’s Eat Local Challenge during the month of May! While you may be under the impression that May brings spring flowers, it also brings spring produce like peaches, tomatoes, peas, lettuces, strawberries,...

This marks the 19th year that SFC has been running the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) with the Texas Department of Agriculture and Texas WIC. This is a seasonal program (April through...

Pictured Above: Our first customer, Alondra, at our Fresh For Less Farm Stand at Hart Elementary!

We first met Betty at a parent meeting at Hart Elementary. She was the kind of parent that showed eagerness through her eyes and her posture. We gave a presentation about our...

This week, SFC Farmers' Market Coordinator, Jessie Barber, shares a bit of his story and introduces us to Chef Njathi Kabui, renowned scholar and chef.

Wandering around the mountain city of San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas, Mexico without much of a plan, no tent, no sleeping...

I planted my first garden with my parents when I was just 5 years old. We had recently moved out of an apartment building and into a house with a backyard, so my Dad picked out a 3 by 5-foot area by the shed with a lot of morning light and got to work. I remember not being much of a good farm...

At Sustainable Food Center, we believe that more can be done to help educate consumers about the risks of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). We are proud to provide a trust-worthy shopping outlet to Austin consumers at our...

We are proud to announce the launch of our first ever Triple Dollar WIC Day at our SFC Farmers’ Market at Sunset Valley and Downtown on February 3rd!

So what is WIC and why are we doing a Triple Dollar WIC Day?...

Looking to fill your Saturday with extra holiday cheer this weekend? Come on down to Congress Avenue for the annual Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll! This year, as in years past, we have partnered...

With Thanksgiving just one week away, it’s time to finalize your menu, make your shopping list and start stocking up on ingredients. Instead of fighting the crowds at the grocery store, though, why not give thanks to and celebrate the bounty of Central Texas’ farmers, ranchers, and artisans at...

A Chill in the Air

Every year around this time I step outside, feel a crisp breeze and realize that fall has once again snuck quietly into Austin. I change my coffee order from iced to hot and dream about roasting pans of root veggies for dinner. It’s also around this time...

Republic Square Park is the oldest city park in Austin. In fact, this small urban park is home to the Auction Oaks of Austin, where the first lots of Austin were sold to the public. Over the past 18 months,...

We are thrilled to share an exciting milestone that our Food Access Department reached this week: Our first ever Community Engagement Workshop for Farm Stand Facilitators! Hailing from all across Austin, 10 Farm Stand Facilitators participated...

This week we're doing our part to enforce the federal mandate* to celebrate our farmers' markets all across the nation. Looking back, personally I have a lot to celebrate, and I'm sure you do too.

I grew up driving down country roads with my Dad in search of elusive roadside stands that...

It was the first day of the Farm Stand at Padron Elementary School and nerves were high. It was 1:45 p.m. and we...

Here at SFC, we love to listen to peoples’ stories. We especially love to hear and share stories about food, because food stories are so often tied to a home town, a grandma’s kitchen, or an unforgettable celebration. Food is, after all, family. However, we know that access to healthy,...

At Sustainable Food Center, we believe it is more important than ever to make our Farmers’ Markets accessible to everyone. One of the ways we can do that is through an initiative with the Texas Department of Agriculture called the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. This is a seasonal program that...

Valentine's Day is right around the corner. What better way to spoil your sweetie than with treats from the SFC Farmers' Markets? We've put together your essential shopping list for everything you need for a romantic (and locally sourced!)...

EXCITING NEWS!

New SFC Farmers’ Market Incentive for Farmers and Ranchers – Vendor Fees are WAIVED for One Month!

In conjunction with SFC restaurant partners,...

Ricardo Cruz has worked with food since he was a boy. He grew up on a farm, one of eleven children, and it was his mother and grandmother who taught him “how to feed a lot of hungry mouths”. At El Cruz Ranch, he raises vegetables, meat and poultry, which he sells at the Downtown SFC Farmer’s...

The SFC Community Farm Stand East will be taking a seasonal break through the winter. Our final market day of the year is coming up on October 11. We had a positive spring and summer season, reaching a great number of SNAP and WIC recipients....

“The bounty on your dinner table and the resulting boost to the state’s economy is the direct result of the sweat and toil of the state’s migrant farmworkers” –...

In a previous blog post, we talked about our commitment to Racial Justice and our ongoing internal Racial Justice trainings led by Dr. Martha Ramos-Duffer and Paula X. Rojas. Last month, we delved into what it meant to be an ally in our...

Sustainable Food Center is a longtime sponsor of the annual Food and Farm Leadership Conference, and is proud to announce the availability of Texas Farm to School Round Up Farmer Scholarships to attend...

August is coming with its intense heat, and we know that doesn’t stop Austinites from looking for something to do. So, come celebrate National Farmers’ Market Week with us...

This Saturday, June 18, we will have the pleasure of participating in the Juneteenth community event organized by the Greater East Austin Youth Association (G.E.A.Y.A.) at Rosewood...

Sustainable Food Center is excited to announce a new opportunity for our market farmers and clients that is expected to create additional sales and reach new customers with home produce delivery. SFC is working with UberEATS to help bring their delivery technology to the...

Have you ever shopped at SFC Farmers’ Markets and noticed the Double Dollars booth? Ever wondered why there was no produce being sold at the booth? At Sustainable Food Center,...

In Search of Sustainable: What is Sustainable Agriculture, Anyway?

You may have recently heard the word “sustainable” being thrown around, whether it’s on labels, in commercials, or in the name of our organization! The many farmers and gardeners...

...

With an increasing number of options for local food purchasing crowding the field – more farmers’ markets, new home delivery services, retailers and grocery stores, and more – it’s sometimes difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak.

In this...

Agriculture, and a connection to local foods, is a part of our heritage shared by many in Texas. In order to strengthen, or establish that connection among students, Austin ISD Food Services is continually striving to incorporate more local, healthy options into their schools. This month, they...

Did you know that the SFC Farmer’s Market Downtown has a local herbalist who makes love potions? Sarah Ross of Lemon Tree Herbs makes herbal remedies - tinctures, elixirs, seasonal bitters, infused vinegars, elderberry syrup...

Sustainable Food Center is dedicated to supporting Central Texas farms and our communities that can benefit from eating their delicious, healthy, fresh products. We’ve seen the healing power of fresh fruits and vegetables in action, and know it can do much to bridge communities and heal hearts -...

Here at Sustainable Food Center, we know that food inspires and transforms lives. To honor those experiences, we are collecting food stories from folks around the community. Here is Jacqueline's story:

Every week, Jacqueline and her family walk down the row of farmers at the SFC Farmers’...

Miki Cook, herbalist and founder of Medicine Woman Herbs, operates an Austin area apothecary using sustainably sourced organic herbs in teas, salves, tinctures, natural skin care, and cooking spice blends. Medicine Woman Herbs is dedicated to the belief that everything we need...

As temperatures dip this winter, you’ll want to stay toasty as you venture out to one of our four weekly SFC Farmers' Markets. We have all the tips and tricks of staying warm while you shop, browse, and eat at market; everything...

Food justice means that all people are able to choose healthy, culturally appropriate foods no matter their age, race, ethnicity, income level or where they live. At this moment in Central Texas, universal food access is a goal that we are still working towards. The inequities in our food...

Though just a few days in, 2016 is already proving to be a year of exciting awareness and growth throughout the world. The current calendar year has been designated the Year of Pulses by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Additionally, the Vatican has assigned 2016 to be a...

At SFC, we strive to help our local communities overcome some of the barriers they face to accessing healthy foods. Healthy food access is a huge issue for many people in our local community as well as our larger society as a whole today. It is a very real issue of hunger and nutrition....

During this holiday season, some families in our community will be filling their plates with delicious meals. For other families, this will not be so easy. That's why this time of year especially, Sustainable Food Center works to make access to healthy food possible for everybody.

The fact...

By now you have probably heard that Sustainable Food Center has four Farmers’ Markets to shop for your holiday cheer. Several people already had their Thanksgiving Turkey, and are ready for their Christmas ham and their pork for New Year’s day. We love to see you each and every holiday...

Part of our mission at Sustainable Food Center is to make sure that everyone has access to fresh, healthy, affordable food. All year long, each of our four Farmers’ Markets accept...

Three years ago, Steven Kubena of Kubena Farms decided to take the plunge and go into business growing fruits and vegetables on the family farm. Since then, Steven has been hard at work on the farm in Seguin, TX growing...

Central Texas offers a bountiful harvest for fall and early winter, with an overlap of seasons and a luscious variety of produce. The weather has reminded us that Texas is a challenging place to live and work. And yet, at the SFC Farmers’ Markets this fall are in full swing. Notice the heirloom...

This Saturday, October 31st, we will be hosting our annual “Doggone It to Summer” event at SFC Farmers’ Market Downtown. The market will have regular hours from 9am-1pm, with the parade starting 10am. There will be something for everyone to enjoy: a dog costume contest, local Austin judges, and...

Our food story begins with what I thought was a simple question. What made Springdale Farm owners Glenn and Paula Foore decide to get into farming? “You’d think that’s simple, but that’s absolutely not a simple question.” Since 1992, the...

In June for Father’s Day, we featured Evan and Matt of SFC’s Farm Direct department about how their respective family’s impact their work in local foods and why it provides the drive for what they do. Beyond our own families, we recognize that Sustainable Food Center is really a family of...

Central Texas has been an amalgam of different cultures for hundreds of years, each bringing their signature foods. The SFC Farmers’ Markets are a reflection of those blended food cultures.

Before Europeans settled in Texas, indigenous communities like the Coahuiltecan, Caddos, Jumanos,...

Build a Farmers Market Lunch with fruits & vegetables THAT ARE in season along with whole grains, protein, and dairy!

Join us and help support an Austin Elementary School Garden by donating garden tools and supplies!

• When: September 19-September 26

• Where: Collection sites at all...

...

On the upcoming Labor Day, please keep in mind all the work being done to provide fresh, nutritious local food in our community. This is a time to appreciate how hard the farmers and farmworkers toil in the soil, the sun and the rain in order to feed our families. The work is physically...

Summer is technically coming to a close with kids back in school this week. As we wrap up August, why not do it with friends in your backyard with food from the market that you throw on the grill? After all, the house stays cooler when you are cooking outside.

Market Manager Matt Macioge...

There’s more to school lunches than meets the eye. Every year, public schools across the country serve over 7 billion low-cost or free lunches to more 35 million students every school day. These meals provide some children with the most calories and nutrients they will receive all day - inside...

I have tried them all (mostly as I worked for another bakery at the Farmer’s Market) - Chocolate Hazelnut Tort, Frangipane, Pecan, Lemon, assorted Berry flavors, the sweet and the savory, all resting in correct and delicate crusts. The table was covered in small, Euro-Texan...

National Farmers’ Market Week began Sunday, August 2nd and runs through this Saturday August 8th. Though this is not an ideal time of year for farmers in Central Texas we still want to show our love and support the vendors. We have already kicked off a great week with our two weekday markets...

At Sustainable Food Center, it is part of our mission to increase access to healthy food for the Central Texas community. Despite the fact that we run and operate four markets on a weekly basis, the sweat and labor of the farmers who work so hard to bring fresh, local produce to these markets...

Sustainable Food Center recognizes the importance of urban farms like Springdale Farms. As they approach the final stage in securing a permit to operate, we ask others to learn about Springdale Farms’ contribution to our community and share your thoughts with City Council. SFC’s letter to Mayor...

My name is Carolina, and I’m one of the Community Engagement Coordinators at Sustainable Food Center (SFC). One of my responsibilities is running the information booth at the SFC Farmers’ Market at Sunset Valley. While getting up early on a Saturday sounds like it might be a chore, I really...

We are celebrating independence this weekend! The spirit of independence and self-reliance that launched the United States on it’s path to nationhood was rooted in the very land that the first American farmer’s cultivated.

Texans have our own, unique, histories and...

“Is anyone selling fruit at market today?” Oh, if I had a dollar every time I heard that, I’d be able to buy more than a few pounds of peaches! Why is it that we don’t have more fruit at our market? Between the blink-and-you’ll-miss it strawberry season and the seemingly endless stretch between...

SFC would like to honor all fathers on this Father’s Day, and thought we’d start with those close to home. Matt Macioge, SFC Farmers’ Market Operations Manager, and Evan Driscoll, Farm Direct Projects Manager posed a few questions to each other, and share their perspectives on their work and...

The sun is back to shining its typical face that we see this time of year in Central Texas, but despite the relief the recent rains offered to some, many farmers in our area are facing a slow recovery. Those of us who were not negatively impacted by the recent floods in our area could be...

“The Farmers’ Market was much bigger last year. Where are all the farmers?” As a Coordinator for the SFC Farmers’ Market at Sunset Valley, I have been answering this question every Saturday morning in May. Our regulars, our loyal consistent supporters have noticed, as good neighbors should, that...

There will be a new way to enter the SFC Farmers’ Market at Sunset Valley this coming Saturday because of construction for a new bus terminal for AISD. Shoppers who typically come from the south and use Jones Road to access the market’s parking will not be affected. The customers who use the 290...

Are you the type of farmers' market shopper who comes early every Saturday morning to buy the farm fresh eggs and grab some breakfast before the vendors sell out? We have some disappointing news for you: our farmers’ market vendors may soon not be able to stick around if proposed new state-wide...

At 5:00 every morning we stumble out of bed, grab our headlamps and start our days. Kris heads out to the pasture to feed our chickens, we’ve lost count at over 3,500 of them now. The low hum of the silo and the loud squawking of bellies that are begging to be fed can be heard throughout our...

When asked who the person who influenced you most in life, who would not answer their mother? Especially, this weekend with Mother’s Day on Sunday. If you are still looking for that perfect gift, come join us at the market. Sustainable Food Center Farmers’ Market at Sunset Valley this weekend...

The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program starts Saturday, May 2nd. The program benefits low income families in Travis County that receive Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits by providing them with $30...

It’s been quite the rainy season in Central Texas lately, but that hasn’t stopped the many spring festivals we enjoy here in Austin from taking place – or our veggies from growing! While we love the variety of things to do in our bustling city, our many festivals tend to take over our streets...

Well, spring has finally sprung! The rain and sun have brought an abundance of fresh produce and fruit to the markets. But often forgotten in the mix are the great herbs that our amazing Central Texas farmers produce. It’s the perfect addition to your next family picnic! If you were one of...

As we know (but probably don’t like to admit!); getting to farmers’ markets can sometimes be tough, despite our best intentions. A reality for many Austin families is that between working 2 jobs and raising a family, time can be a real constraint. Shopping trips are carefully budgeted, both time...

Could we be any greener? Get ready for a cool, ‘Green’ Easter Egg scavenger hunt this Saturday, April 4th, at the SFC Farmers’ Market Downtown, thanks to our sponsor One Gas. Bring the kiddos down to the market...

We know parking in downtown Austin can sometimes be a headache. But we’re here to let you in on a little secret: there are plenty of parking options near the SFC Farmers’ Market Downtown! Whether you’re just not sure where to...

The SFC Farmers’ Market East is moving and shaking – just a bit south of our current location at MLK Blvd, between Miriam and Alexander Streets. Beginning March 3, we will be just a little over one block south, at...

Most people don’t think of taking someone on a “date” to the farmers’ market. But you can actually learn a lot about a person by taking them to the market to spend some time with them. Much more so that going to a movie or dinner. And, you can reinforce your relationship with an endearing...

Margaret Taylor from Margaret’s Farm has been raising and growing food since she was a young girl in Kenya. Her roots in agriculture go deep and play an important role in her life. Although Margaret has been in Texas for 13 years, she only started farming part-time in the last three years. Time...

The roots that farmers have in Texas history can show up in the most surprising cases, including this story from B5 Farm’s Jamey Gage. His ancestor was the alcalde (mayor) of Gonzales, Texas, that wrote the letter back to Santa Ana’s regiment in San Antonio the town’s refusal to give up the...

Roots are what is all about in January at the SFC Farmers’ Markets! We're talking about actual roots that come from the local farms directly to you at the markets, roots that are our undeniable linkage to food because we need it to thrive, and roots to our community because we gather at markets,...

January is Roots Month at the SFC Farmers’ Markets at our four market sites, and there’s nothing like thinking about the roots of where our food comes from to elicit the feeling of connectedness between ourselves and the farmers that bring us fresh, nutritious and sustainably grown food....

In our public schools, where we are trying to promote a culture of health among young people, why in the world are we promoting candy sales and “...

Ricardo Cruz has been raising food his whole life. After the birth of his son, he's more convinced than ever of the imperative to do it right. His growing practices are a legacy for his family, but, like all wise growers, he knows it's about more than himself. At El Cruz Ranch, he raises a...

Food, food, and more food--how could we love any holiday as much as we love Thanksgiving? While we're no fan of relentless holiday music in October, we're more than happy to start planning our favorite meal of the year as early as we can. Our farmers have been planning even earlier--raising...

Can women really have it all? Raise your hand if you're a wee bit tired of hearing this question. It's not so much that it's constantly being asked about women, but more that no one bothers to define "it all." When people say, "I don't know how you do it all," I always silently check off a...

Time to break out your pup's favorite Halloween costume--SFC's Doggone It to Summer is right around the corner! This year's costumed dog parade is this Saturday, October 25th at the SFC Farmers' Market Downtown, with Austin-local celebrity judges, pooch-friendly prizes, a pet adoption, and...

October 24th is our 10 year business anniversary. I fondly remember walking up to Suzanne Santos and some volunteers with a small cooler of my chocolates under my arm, offering them a taste, and asking if I could be at the market. Suzanne said, "When can you start!", and we joined the SFC...

Kids! The best way to stay healthy and have fun eating is to taste new and colorful foods all the time. Fearless Food Tasters are kids like you who eat fruits and vegetables from all colors of the rainbow. How do you become an SFC Fearless Food Taster? Follow these steps:

• Pick up a...

It takes a village. No one understands community like SFC's own Suzanne Santos. A tireless advocate for local farmers, ranchers, and food vendors, she's been integral to making sure Austin has access to local, healthy food and that farmers have the opportunity to make a living growing good food....

L'il Sprout has joined our SFC Farmers' Market Crew! We keep losing him, though--he spends the whole day at the market hiding out in a farmer's stall snacking on delicious, healthy fruits and vegetables. In fact, he's so hard to keep track of, that we need your help! Each market day, help us...

Heirlooms, cherries, slicers, and canners--we love them all! At SFC Farmers' Markets, July is a celebration of the summer tomato in all its glory. Market farmers and chefs are just as smitten as we are with this summer's lush, juicy, abundant harvest--here's the insider's scoop on our vendors...

Our favorite place for weekend brunch or breakfast? SFC Farmers' Markets! Visit early for a leisurely coffee, juice, lemonade or tea accompanied by treats from our artisan prepared foods vendors. Read on for some of our favorite picks, make a plan to meet friends, and settle in for the most...

The people have chosen! SFC Farmers’ Market vendors work rain or shine to bring us fresh, healthy, delicious food all year. We wanted to show our market vendors just how much we appreciate all the hard work they put in to make our community (and our bellies!) happier and healthier, so we asked...

Farming is a journey, and no one who embarks on it knows quite where it will lead. After a life-changing accident in 1991, Harry Simmons envisioned a career in law, but a move to Austin and a trip to Thailand led him back to a path begun in childhood raising animals and tending the earth. Life...

Jack Waite has some oceanfront property in East Austin. Well, maybe not, but he’s got the next-best thing: Agua Dulce, an aquaponic farm where he raises fish, organic vegetables, and culinary seaweed that tastes bright and briny, just like the sea. Agua Dulce is a model of sustainability; Jack...

Last Wednesday, Sustainable Food Center's Farmers' Market at The Triangle was fortunate to host yet another successful 'From Market to Menu' cooking demonstration, made possible by the Texas Department of Agriculture's GO TEXAN program. We welcomed Executive Chef and founder of The Peached...

At SFC Farmers' Markets, each season has its particular and distinctive delights. The rains this spring have yielded an abundance of lush produce unlike any we've seen in years, and we know the dangers of walking into such temptation without a plan! We're pretty good about making a list and...

We're there for the food, for sure, but almost just as motivating in getting us out of bed on Saturday morning is the opportunity to catch up with our friends! We were so happy to run into dedicated and always-smiling long-time SFC volunteer Dahlia Ture. With her bag full of blowsy flowering...

Shopping at the farmers' market is nothing like shopping at the grocery store--and this is great news! There are no fluorescent lights, no plastic-wrapped, food-like substances, no cleverly-crafted marketing ploys to get you to buy food that's not good for you. At SFC farmers' markets, we're all...

There are a few magical weeks in central Texas between spring and summer when crops from both seasons are abundant. Those of you who shop the market all year know these weeks, plan vacations and dinner parties around them, devise recipes that include root vegetables, greens, basil, and summer...

There's a certain magic to a really great loaf of bread--the crust is crackly and dark, the inside both chewy and airy, with a creamy tartness that signals a long-risen dough. Baker David Norman knows good bread--he's punched dough at the Michelin-starred Bouley in NYC, run a Hill Country resort...

Mothers may look like mortals, but we all know they're superheros in disguise. Who else could be a parent, life coach, personal chef, chauffeur, hair stylist, disciplinarian, mediator, protector, nurse, teacher, personal shopper, seamstress, therapist, tutor, financial adviser and best friend...

Some people are born chefs. That’s not David Ansel. The story of the Soup Peddler is a love story at heart. In love with a girl, a town, a way of life and inspired by the flavors he’d encountered in his travels, David set out on a classic Austin journey: he started his own thing. After rounding...

t's quite possible that Sebastien Bonneu has a recipe for duck pate encoded in his DNA. A French expat from Bordeaux, he brings a Frenchman's understanding of animal husbandry, quality, and all things goose fat to Central Texas. Sebastien's farming methods are old-fashioned and revolve around...

"One day, I'll get my guest bedroom back," Pamela Gage says with a sigh and a rueful smile. Nothing takes over and gets under your skin quite like growing food, and Jamey Gage has been doing it for almost longer than he can remember. From a single greenhouse, B5 Farm has grown into a sprawling...

Tom Pedersen's story is not your typical boy-meets-bean. He knows more about chocolate than most of us combined, and we're lucky that he's willing to share the fruits of his explorations in the world of cocoa with us at SFC Farmers' Markets. His signature product, the Kakawa Chocolate Covered...

Cecily Dennis was thrilled to discover Brussels sprouts at the market this week! She loves their earthy sweetness and nutrient density--she'll be tossing them in a little olive oil and salt and roasting them up with sweet onions and carrots. Before roasting, cut sprouts in half lengthwise so...

You might not give it much thought, but what you eat locally has as much to do with tradition and culture as climate and growing conditions. Olives in Texas? They grow here, but it took someone who was willing to go out on a limb to bring them to market in Texas. Jim Henry wanted to grow grapes,...

Small family farmers have to feed themselves too, and when food is destined first for your own table, you make sure it's grown right. It's this commitment to quality that makes the food you find at the farmers' market special. Family farmers work tirelessly to make sure the food they're growing...

Don Mason & Desmond Ng picked up some beautiful baby chard for a white bean and chard stew on this chilly week. With a loaf of bread, that ought to make a super-cozy supper!

There's something about kimchi--that funky, fermented, completely addictive Korean pickle--that's so much greater than the sum of its parts. Like most fermented dishes, something magical happens in the pickling crock that unlocks powerful nutrients and flavors. The best thing about Abbi Lunde's...

Jeff Ruyle has a big laugh and a friendly, easy affect, but he's serious about raising food. Deeply committed to the quality of the meat from his ranch and the humane treatment of animals, he'll be glad to talk to anyone about what makes I O Ranch lamb special. A certain confidence comes from...

As we drove up the bumpy driveway to Tecolote Farm on Saturday afternoon, amber sunlight slanted across winter fields of chicories and greens. The farm dogs ambled out to meet us and we gathered around to hear from Katie and David about more than 20 years of growing good food and community....

Farming runs in Katie Kraemer’s blood. “I used to be so proud to write ‘farmer’ for my parents’ occupation when I had to fill out forms in school or for college,” Katie says, laughing. Katie met husband David Pitre in college; they shared dreams of forging a connection to the land. ”David always...

Farmers are resilient folks. After a year of continuing historic drought, tens of thousands of plants lost to May freezes, 90% loss on the peach crop, floods in neighboring communities, and continuing water battles, one of our vendors could only laugh and say, “Well, if you are knocked flat on...

When we talk about food, it's easy to forget about our friends the bees. Their importance in our food system cannot be overstated, however--a staggering number of food crops would not exist without their work as pollinators. As much as we depend on bees to act as our co-workers in feeding our...

He might not see it this way, but to scores of devoted customers and loyal vendors, Jesse Griffiths is the moral compass of our local culinary scene. He founded his business on the simple principal that one could eat well--feast, even--on foods sourced solely from our own foodshed. This hardly...

What if you could capture the most exquisite autumn day and put it in a jar: the blue sky, the crisp air, the scent of crushed leaf fall, all the sweet, tender lusciousness that’s been ripening on the tree for months and months through the long days of summer? Inside every piece of fruit is...

A connection to the earth runs deep for Nathan Heath. Even as a child, he heard the land speaking to him, and was drawn to grow good food. His family has faced hardship, but this connection was strong enough that a new farm could rise from the ashes of past adversity. We spend much of our lives...

More than just making a living, farming is about making a life. This is all the more true on family farms, where parents, children, siblings, and grandparents often work together, each with a vital role in bringing forth food from the earth. Since 2002, Eli has worked alongside his brothers and...

Jane Levan has a wicked sense of humor. It doesn't take long to realize, though, that irreverence and sharp wit are her own special way of expressing a deep commitment to the environment and to her fellow humans. Like many small farmers, she and her husband Terry are world-weary idealists,...

When we started planning the site for our SFC Farmers' Market East, Farmers' Market Operations Director Michael Hanan was thrilled at the possibility of holding a market in our own front yard, but dismayed to be confronted with some stubborn poison ivy on the site. Recently, he seemed ready to...

A farmer’s job is to feed us good, nourishing food, to be stewards of our land and resources, and sometimes, to speak from their unique perspective and tell us what they see. LeeAnne and Tim Carlson shepherd a herd of almost 50 goats in Waller, Texas and bring milk, yogurt, and cheese to market...