Are you looking for fresh, locally-grown produce in Tarrant County? Farmers markets are a great way to get your hands on fresh, nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. But what types of produce can you find at farmers markets in Tarrant County?The types of produce available at farmers markets in Tarrant County depend on the vendors who participate in the market. Generally, farmers and food producers make up the majority of vendors who take part in the market throughout the year. In addition, a farmers market may include vendors who are not farmers or food producers. The Agricultural Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) offers coupons to buy fresh produce at authorized farmers markets to low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women and children between 1 and 5 years old.
This year, Neighborhood Farmers Market locations include the Dan Dipert Career+ Technical Center in Arlington; the Christian Lutheran Church and Grace Temple Adventist Church in Fort Worth; the Wisdom Center in Haltom City; and the Cowtown Farmers Market, in its usual location on the Weatherford roundabout, in west Fort Worth. The Tarrant Area Food Bank operates the FMNP because neighborhood farmers' markets help close the gap between demand for farmers markets and the lack of accessibility among all communities. Other organizations such as The Blue Zones Project (BZP), Healthy Tarrant County Collaboration, Grow Southeast and Tarrant County Food Policy Council (TCFPC) are also working to bridge this gap. The local health department or department can issue a permit to a farmer or food producer who sells food at a farmers market. If the food vendor is associated with a “good faith” cooking demonstration, the farmer's market must have a certified food manager. Whether in community gardens, retail gardens, farm stands, or farmers markets, food grown and sold in your neighborhood gives your community the power to address food insecurity and increase social capital by building a community, creating jobs, and increasing the availability of nutrient-rich, affordable, and culturally relevant foods. The TCFPC also has a local food map that catalogs the places in Tarrant County where local products are grown and sold.
So it's no surprise that Texas farmers grow every product they can think of and sell them at local farmers markets. For more information on local dining options in North Texas, see the Tarrant County Food Policy Council's “Local Food Map”.
