Blog – Austin Farmers’ Market

The severe thunderstorms–combining a 20-degree drop in temps, sleeting rain and high winds–did not keep too many of the committed farmers away from selling at their home spot of Sunset Valley this past Saturday, March 20th. Eighteen farmers braved the weather and there were 10 food vendors as well, to offer a spot of warmth to the shopping experience for customers, South Austin Food Co-op also came for the opening market under new management. Luckily, the rain stopped just at market time, 9 am to 1 pm, and several hundred shoppers did come out. The City of Sunset Valley councilmember Bruce Smith gave out hand warmers to the farmers and vendors, mayor pro tem John Moore shopped up a storm and city administrator Clay Collins helped out to get the market open. Mayor Jeff Mills supplied support during the week through his coordination with AISD.  

The Sustainable Food Center (SFC) expects almost 50 vendors to appear next week in a more pleasant kick-off of the continuation of a farmers’ market at Sunset Valley. Yes, it is a continuation of the farmers’ market at Sunset Valley!

Now called the SFC Farmers’ Market at Sunset Valley, the non-profit SFC stepped in to run the market on a temporary permit because a majority of the vendors wanted to stay, to remain loyal to their customers and to work out an alternative home base that is still within the AISD Toney Burger Center area, using part City of Sunset Valley property (for tents, music, cooking, and educational activities) and part AISD property (for parking). SFC also has an application in to run the market on a more permanent basis, which will be considered by the City of Sunset Valley April 6th.

Here’s who has committed to continue at the market, please come support them (and we expect more and more as the season continues)!

Who’s at the SFC Farmers’ Market at Sunset Valley? Aunt Nita’s, Austin Natural Soap, Bar W Farm, Bella Verdi Farm, Bradshaw Farm, Comanche Farm, Co-op Coffee/Owltree, Doug Benjamin, Elevated Goods, Empanada La Boca, Engel Farm, Flintrock Hill Farm, Gwen Rocks, Hairston Creek Farm, Hill Country Cupcake, Hill Country Homestyle Canning, Indian Hills Farm, It’s About Thyme, Johnson’s Backyard Garden, Kelly Jo Salsas, Kocurek Family Artisinal Charcuterie, La La Lemonade, Loncito’s Lamb, Mediterranean Chef, Microbial Earth, McKemie Farm, Montesino Farm, Nile Valley Tea, Ottmer’s Family Farm, Pasta & Co., Rasmey Farm, Richardson Farm, Round Rock Honey, St. Pepper’s, Straight from the Vine, Swede Dairy, Sweetish Hill Bakery, Texas Lavender, Texas Olive Ranch, Thai Fresh, Thunderheart Bison, Treasured Earth, Texas French Bread, Two Happy Children Farm, Vital Farms, Watson Farm, Way Back When Dairy.

Coming soon: Spring Orchids, Naegelin Farm, Tecolote Farm, Markley Family Farm, and Animal Farm.

NOTE: The Thomas Carnival (www.thomascarnival.com) will be set up the next 2 weeks, March 27 – April 3.

THE MARKET WILL CONTINUE ON PILLOW ROAD!

Follow the signs to drive your car on the ‘roadway’ to the right or left around the carnival to get to the Market. There are still several hundred parking spaces for parking available.

If you want to take a neighborhood route, then turn right on Ernest Robles Way just after Kohl’s and before the AISD Transporation Facility (you’ll see busses).  Turn left on Jones Road and then turn left on Pillow Road.   From Westgate, turn west on Jones Road and then right on Pillow Road. 

Turn left at the barricades for the market and turn left into the south pocket parking lot (several hundred spaces), or, turn right into a small pocket parking area right by the carnival. Have fun!

Sustainable Food Center (SFC), a local non-profit, has answered to the call from the farming and small local business community to keep a farmers’ market at Sunset Valley. SFC will begin operating a Saturday farmers’ market next week under a temporary permit, March 20, pending approval by the Sunset Valley city council. A majority of the vendors from the previous Sunset Valley Farmers Market will be continuing to sell in the Toney Burger Center area and adjacent Pillow Street. Some farmers who have only been at SFC’s Austin Farmers’ Market downtown will now be at both locations. Now called the SFC Farmers’ Market at Sunset Valley, the market will feature about 50 vendors to start, with a majority of them farmers. There will also be quality ready-to-eat and value added vendors, as well as a small group of artisans.

Customers are welcome to use the same ample parking that they are accustomed to, and are invited to stop by the Information Booth to learn about the change and how to continue support of the farmers. After an interim temporary period of operation, the market is up for review of an annual permit at the City of Sunset Valley April 6th council meeting.

The market hours remain the same, from 9 am to 1 pm, and the location of the market will move slightly to the east within the area. SFC’s application with the City of Sunset Valley expresses an intent to run the market weekly, rain or shine, year-round.

SFC is prepared to carry out our mission of cultivating a healthy community by strengthening the local food system and improving access to nutritious, affordable food.  We institute a number of educational and accessible programs at the markets we operate, including the SNAP Lone Star program, Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons for fruits and vegetables during the summertime, farmers’ product tasting tent, chef’s demos, gardening workshops, etc.  We are a local 501 (c)(3) non-profit and have been involved in the community of growing food for more than 35 years.

Find out more about SFC’s family of farmers’ markets and programs at www.austinfarmersmarket.org and www.sustainablefoodcenter.org . We’ll see you at Sunset Valley this Saturday!

Thank you,

Suzanne Santos, Austin Farmers’ Market Director    Ronda Rutledge, Executive Director

Sustainable Food Center                                      Sustainable Food Center