East Texas State Fair Farmers Market
I’ve heard it said that every man has at least one good novel in him, I hope that is true. I think it is also true that most people have a have a gardener in there somewhere. I very much enjoy the process of experimenting with different plants and watching things grow in Tyler TX. For me however the journey is something of its own reward. I am a nominal gardener at best. I generally do ok, and I enjoy eating the fresh fruits and vegetables I grow, but I certainly don’t produce enough to supply all my nutritional needs. In recent years I have less time to devote to the pursuit of gardening, but I definitely miss the process, as well as the fresh food.
The East Texas State Fair Farmer’s Market has as its mission to “promote a sense of community within the City of Tyler, to bring fresh local food to the public and to provide farmers and producers a place to sell their goods at a reasonable price.” For those of us who don’t have our own farms or gardens, the Farmers Market offers access to quality local produce. Not only does the community stand to eat better, but the money spent at the market stays home in Tyler. And the venue offers more than just fruits and vegetables. There are booths that sell fresh eggs, honey, stone ground corn meal, even craft items like quilted goods and candles as well.
The Farmers Market is open three days a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday), from seven in the morning to one in the afternoon. It runs from May eight to August fourteenth. For those interested in becoming a vendor at the local Farmer’s Market there is a fairly extensive application as well as a list of rules. Interested readers can find the application by going to http://www.etstatefair.com/documents/ETSFFARMERSMKTVENDORCONTRACT2010.pdf. For general info visit: http://www.etstatefair.com/farmers-market.php. Different products peak at different times obviously, so I also recemend checking out the market’s Facebook page in order to see what kind of produce is likely to be available. Just click on the link below to go to the site directly. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tyler-TX/East-Texas-State-Fair-Farmers-Market/10150123220645427?filter=1,
So while I may not have time to grow my own garden this year, I can still enjoy the freshest possible food and keep more of my dollars home in East Texas.