Shopping Tips & More Resources

Why shop at the Farmers’ Market?

Buying Locally is Better for the Environment

Shopping locally means that the food you are eating comes from within 150 miles of our markets, is available seasonally and does not require the waste of energy and petroleum to ship the food half-way around the world. Produce at the farmers market also doesn’t require as much packaging as you typically find in grocery stores – especially if you bring your own bags! If you forget your reusable bags, you can always purchase a Texas Farmers’ Market tote bag at our Info Booth or our online store.

…and Better for You!

Anyone will tell you that produce from the farmers’ market just tastes better! That’s because it is fresher – there’s a good chance the produce you purchase was picked as recently as that morning! This also means that it is at its peak ripeness, when it has the most nutrients to nourish your body.

Sustainable & Humane Practices

Texas Farmers’ Markets are leadership-inspected, producer only farmers’ markets. All vendors sell only what they grow or produce. There is no reselling or repackaging of any products based on the definitions that follow at our markets. While some of our farmers are certified organic, the majority of our farmers do also use organic farming methods but just aren’t technically certified, as the process can be expensive for smaller farmers. Our team inspects all farmers and ranchers to ensure that they meet our market sustainability guidelines and animals are treated humanely. Read more here. 

Supporting Your Local Economy & Farmers

You are supporting local human beings and the local economy, not massive agribusiness, GMO food conglomerates.  Not only will your money be staying in the area, but you will support the the farmer (and their family) that worked to grow that food. When you know your farmer, you gain a new appreciation for the hard work that goes into growing the food you eat. By shopping at the farmers’ market you are helping us in our mission to grow a sustainable food system for the Austin community.

Eating Seasonally

By shopping at your local farmers market, You are eating food from your own environment, where it has perfectly-created nutrients for your specific climate and region.  Because farmers’ market produce is grown locally, there is a good chance that the greens you buy from the farmer were picked as recently as that morning.Eating seasonal, locally-grown fruits and vegetables is great for your health. Try some local honey – it has just the right components for allergy prevention in Central Texas!

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Nutrition

• USDA’s Choose My Plate
• The Nutrition Source by Harvard School of Public Health
• Vegetables & Fruits by Harvard School of Public Health
• Fruits & veggies Nutrition Database
• What are Macronutrients?

Kid’s Nutrition

• Childhood Nutrition Face by the CDC
• USDA’s Kid’s Corner
• 10 Best Health & Nutrition Education Aps for Kids
• BBC Good Food Kids’ Cooking Recipes
• Kids eat more vegetables after nutrition lessons, Stanford study finds
• 8 Super Healthy Foods We Guarantee Your kid will Eat
• Nutrition for kids: Guidelines for a healthy diet by Mayo Clinic Staff (by age)

How to Eat Ethically & Sustainably

• Natural Resources Defense Council’s Eat Green Guide
• Natural Resources Defense Council’s Local Food Systems
• What is Missing? Foundation’s What You Can Do to Support Sustainable Agriculture
• World Wildlife Fund’s Food Initiative

Food Justice & Anti-Racism in the Food System

• Food & Tech Connect’s Food & Ag Anti-Racism Resources
• Black Lives Matter in the Food System by Civil Eats
• The Making of the ‘Magic Valley’ by the Texas Observer
• There were nearly a million black farmers in 1920. Why have they disappeared? by The Guardian
• Food Tank: The Think Tank for Food

Food Preservation

• TFM & Book People’s List of Favorite Fermentation-Focused Books
• How to Store Fruits & Vegetables
• Food in Jars
• 12 Tips for Properly Organizing Your Fridge
• How to Make Sauerkraut
• National Center for Home Food Preservation
• Food Safety & Health, Wisconsin EDU
• Video about canning tomatoes; Tomato Sauce and Salsa
• How to Freeze Fruits and Vegetables
• Lower East Side Dill Pickles

Recommended Films

• The Greenhorns
• Rise, Root, Revolution
• King Corn
• Sustainable
• Polyfaces
• Wasted! The Story of Food Waste
• MODIFIED
•The Biggest Little Farm

Recipes

• TFM’s Market Chef Recipe Archive
• Bon Appetit’s Farmers’ Market Challenge
• The Hip Girl’s Guide to Homemaking
• Marisa Moore’s Recipes
• Smitten Kitchen
• Food52
• Healthy Seasonal Recipes
• Love & Lemons
• From Farm to Table recipes

Recipes for Children

• GoodFood, Kids cooking recipes
• Food Network’s Our Best Healthy Recipes for Kids and Families
• Eating Well Healthy Kids Recipes

Recycling & Composting

• TFM’s Community Compost Program
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Most of All, Reduce 
• Austin Resource Recovery
• What Can Be Recycled?