image image image image
What is a Farmers Market?
Farmers' market produce is renowned for being locally-grown and very fresh. People argue farmers' markets allow farmers to pick produce at the peak of flavor, preserve the nutritional content of fresh produce, and since locally-grown produce does not travel as far to get to your table, the difference in mileage saves fossil fuels.
El Mercado Mall - El Jardin The jardin at El Mercado Mall is one of Harlingen's enchanting secrets. As you leave your car behind you in the Morgan Street parking lot, walk toward the jardin and notice the delightful patterns of Saltillo and Talavera tile under your feet. Just as the cool shade of the live oak starts loosening your mind, your gaze will rest on the calming green branches of palm and ficus trees... you know you are entering a refuge from the heat and noise of everyday life.
Why Buy Local? Most produce in the US is picked 4 to 7 days before being placed on supermarket shelves, and is shipped for an average of 1500 miles before being sold. And this is when taking into account only US grown products! Those distances are substantially longer when we take into consideration produce imported from Mexico, Asia, Canada, South America, and other places.
Seasonal Produce
Texas is a big place with many diverse climates and regions. And that means something great is always cropping up in the Lone Star State - no matter the season! Click on a month to get the inside line on the freshest picks. This is a general guide. Use it to know the best time to be on the look-out for your favorite fruit or vegetable. You might even discover a few you didn't even know were Texas-grown. Over the next couple of month we will develop a very local local growing season availabillity table, taking our sub tropical climate into consideration.

Farmers Market Every Saturday 3 - 5 pm

The number of farmers markets in the US went from 1,755 in 1994 to 4,385 in 2006, and has probably doubled since then. This growth is due in part to increased interest in healthier foods, a greater desire to preserve local types of cultivars or livestock, and a heightened understanding among the general public of the importance of maintaining small, sustainable farms on the fringe of urban environments.

We in the Rio Grande Valley are fortunate... look around you and notice that this is exactly the type of environment we live in.

Many of you have visited or lived in large cities and are already familiar with markets where people can buy locally grown, raised or produced food. Farmers markets usually offer a weekly market day, which is a normal part of life in town squares throughout the world. The market acts as a focal point for the social life of the community.

Please join us if you are hungry for change.

 

Fans of the Market - Please Join Us on Facebook