Meet the Farmers
Alverez Farm, Nile Valley Tea, Hill Country Barkery and Jim O's Fine and Fancy Foods
Miguel and Sylvia Alverez, Bikkirum Farm
Miguel, with Syvia and their two children Naomi and Miguel, farm some five acres on the ten acres that they own in Lexington. They are becoming certified organic this year and growing a wide variety of crops from tomatoes to cauliflower. Expect some excellent fall produce that this family grows all the way from the seed planted in the flats, to the transplanting, to the great care and nurturing, to the harvest straight to your taste buds. They have been growing for market for four years, growing and ranching since the 80s and come from strong familial ties in Mexico with agricuture backgrounds.
Awad Abdelgadir, Nile Valley Herbs Company
Awad sells his refreshing vitamin C-rich hibiscus tea at the market as a cool drink. He has both regular and mint-infused drinks. With designated proceeds from the sales, Awad funds community improvement projects back in his home village of Az-Zawrat in Nubia
Kristina Earl, Hill Country Barkery
Kristina developed her line of wheat, nuts, yeast and dairy-free dog treats out of desperation to find alergen-free treats to feed her dog. After years of research, a natural knack for baking, and with a heart of gold for the four-legged friends, Kristina launched her Hill Country Barkery products at the Market and various stores. She creates hand made gourmet and healthy treats for dogs that are natural, preservative, and chemical free. Come by her booth to help your pet explore what flavor is best!
Jim O'Brien, Jim O's Fine and Fancy Foods
Jim produces some colorful and heat-busting sno cones, including half of his offerings in organic juices that he has distilled himself. Take a try at the cool treats to banish the heat a take a seat in the cafe shaded seating area directly across from him.
For your information, farmers undergo inspections to verify that they are indeed growing what they are selling and it has to be within 150 miles. The Austin Farmers' Market is a growers-only market. Our record keeping and farm inspection process, developed with farmers' input, is perhaps the most stringent in the state. Our policy is to expel any vendor who is found to be reselling at this market and no evidence in our inspections to date has implicated any farmer as a reseller. If any customers have specific questions about our process, please contact Suzanne Santos at Sustainable Food center, 236-0074.
posted August 27, 2003 | permanent link to this article
Bat Creek Farm, Reese Farm, Texas French Bread and Round Rock Honey
Kim and Jacque McBride, Bat Creek Farm
Kim started out experimenting with apple growing about seven years ago because he "just liked apples." With 30 acres near Burnet, he went to other apple growing regions of Texas, talked with orchardists and learned from experts across the country to start his avocation. Now with more than 800 apple trees on about four acres, Kim and his family are hoping to continue to expand so that the Bat Creek Farm will one day be his only vocation. Kim had the apple orchard previously certified organic but now he practices an organic regiment with no certification. He uses sustainable practices of natural plant based fertilizers, ground cover, and does not apply pesticides.
Sam Reese, Reese Farm
Sam is a fourth-generation farmer from near Bastrop where his family has had land holdings for 97 years. Working on 16 acres of the 130 acre farmstead, Sam this year offers hundreds of Jubilees to market buyers through September. Sam learned most of his farming skills from his father, Ruben, who still works side by side with Sam in the watermelon farm. He also raises cattle and wants to expand into more growing seasons. His sister, Verna, will be the smiling face greeting you at the Austin Farmers' Market.
Texas French Bread
Texas French Bread was formed in Austin in 1981 by Judy Willcott, whose bread recipe propelled her into the business. Within 14 years, the Willcott family had 11 stores in Austin. The business owners Judy and Murph Willcott found that smaller could mean better, so to that end, Texas French Bread is now at only three locations and has a significant wholesale business. They also have a stake in the Austin Farmers' Market as one of the four bakeries that sells there.
The company's restaurants/bakeries are at 2900 Rio Grande, 1722 S. Congress Avenue and 3213 Red River Street.
Round Rock Honey Company
Round Rock Honey came to fruition as a part of the Austin Farmers' Market's mission. The Market serves as a springboard and a place where small businesses can gain exposure and a customer base as they bring their products direct to the consumer. Konrad and Elizabeth Bouffard began coming to the market in the spring with superlative vegetables that Konrad grows in his larger home garden plot in Round Rock. He was also setting out hives at a neighboring farm and collecting honey that was unfiltered and unheated, thus began Round Rock Honey company. Look for Round Rock Honey to make a full-court press marketing debut soon.
For your information, farmers undergo inspections to verify that they are indeed growing what they are selling and it has to be within 150 miles. The Austin Farmers' Market is a growers-only market. Our record keeping and farm inspection process, developed with farmers' input, is perhaps the most stringent in the state. Our policy is to expel any vendor who is found to be reselling at this market and no evidence in our inspections to date has implicated any farmer as a reseller. If any customers have specific questions about our process, please contact Suzanne Santos at Sustainable Food center, 236-0074.
posted August 20, 2003 | permanent link to this article
posted August 14, 2003 | permanent link to this article
McCrary Farms, Wild Wood Art Café and David Fox Company
Mark and his family with two teen-aged sons moved up from Houston about two years ago to get back to the land. They originally bought their 335 acres in Kosse to lease out for hunters but pulled up stakes in Houston when the economy went bad to take advantage of the 800 various peach trees at their disposal and grow some summer crops on about four acres for the Austin Farmers' Market. Both Mark and Terri have other 'day' jobs, as some farm families do in order to pay the bills, but they are working so that at least Mark, Jay, 14, and Craig, 12, can become full-time farmers in the next few years (with day school still for the sons, of course).
Wild Wood Art Café is known for its wheat-free delicious spelt products. They also have sandwiches and other baked goods. Joan Griffin, owner of the bakery/café, also leads tours to the interior of Mexico where she imports directly from indigenous families some of her ingredients to help support their livelihood.
Dave has a high-quality selection of tie-dyed t-shirts dyed especially by him. He is also a glass blower and has wonderful small glass sun catchers or something for a glass menagerie.
KRLU-TV (PBS) will be airing an interview on the Central Texas Gardener show with the Alverez farm family August 30 at noon and 4 p.m. and September 4 at 12:30 p.m. It also appears on KLRU 2 (Time Warner cable 20), August 30 at 9 p.m. and September 3 at 10 a.m. The Alverez's own Bikkirum Farm in Lexington and Miguel Alverez sells at the Austin Farmers' Market. (They are in between crops so they will be back in late August, early September).
As you come to know these vendors, you may be wondering why there are ingredients that are not local in the products that they sell. The reason is because not every single ingredient that is made by the prepared food vendors, the value-added vendors, or the craft artisans can come from within 150 miles of Repulic Square Park. We do give preference to vendors that do include local items in their final products that they sell. The other vendors at the market DO mix, roast, squeeze, bake, create and mold their product from their places of business in the Central Texas region and that is what makes them local vendors (only within 150 miles).
The farmers, however, do have to undergo inspections to verify that they are indeed growing what they are selling and it has to be within 150 miles. The Austin Farmers' Market is a growers-only market. Our record keeping and farm inspection process, developed with farmers' input, is perhaps the most stringent in the state. Our policy is to expel any vendor who is found to be reselling at this market and no evidence in our inspections to date has implicated any farmer as a reseller. If any customers have specific questions about our process, please contact Suzanne Santos at Sustainable Food Center, 236-0074.
posted August 13, 2003 | permanent link to this article
Oasis Gardens, Rusty Metal Works and Sweetish Hill Bakery
Mike Nolan, Oasis Gardens
Mike is the farmer on the popular Oasis Gardens farm that also serves as a Community Supported Agriculture farm that enlists participation from its members. Great certified organic vegetables of many different tastes come to Market.
Victor Rodriguz, Rusty Metal Works
Ever seen a pitchfork stork? Or a shovel turtle? Victor makes whimsical creatures out of old farm implements and tools to create one of a kind yard or garden art. He'll even make special custom creations.
Sweetish Hill Bakery
Sweetish Hill was recognized in a recent edition of the Austin Chronicle for the mark they made in the Austin scene as the first European-style bakery to come to town in the 80's. Since then Patricia-Bauer Slate and Jim Murphy have continued to break new ground and new bread. At the Sweetish Hill Bakery booth buy your fresh herb, tomato and cheese topped focaccia, artisan breads, and baguette stick sandwiches called 'Sidewalk' sandwiches.
posted August 5, 2003 | permanent link to this article
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