Farmers Market News
New farmers markets sprout in Oak Cliff and at Paul Quinn College
Oak Cliff is set to get a new farmers market from Good Local Markets, an experienced hand in the farmers market world. Called Tyler Street Market, it will open on March 18 at 922 W. 9th St., in the parking lot of Tyler Street Tower and Tyler Street United Methodist Church.
This will be a weekly market with more than 100 vendors, including Highway 19 Produce and Berries, Wolfsong Farms, Barefoot Baker, Tribal Juice, JuHa Ranch, Piney Woods Farm Alliance/Lonesome Lady Ranch, Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters, Merlin’s Baking & Catering, Schorlemer Haus, Empire Baking Co., Yims Food, Texas Hill Country Olive Oil, Gardeners In Community Development, and tons more.
Good Local Markets was founded by Sarah Perry in 2009 as a 501c3 nonprofit to support local farmers, ranchers, and artisans by providing a public space to sell fruits, vegetables, cheese, meats, hand-crafted foods, and other products while serving residents looking for healthy and locally sourced foods. Good Local Markets is one of the only farmers markets in DFW that offers the Lone Star food stamp program, Love Your Farmer volunteer days, educational programs, and workshops.
Perry was able to get a market open in Oak Cliff with the aid of a grant from the USDA, which she says has been a long time in the making. "Our mission, and it's why we became a nonprofit, is to help vendors make money, so we can keep the fees low," she says.
One of the things she likes about the new Tyler Street location is that it's on the premises of a senior living facility.
"We're excited about the fact that it's right there, and hope to have them be part of our community, whether as vendors or customers," she says. "I've been over there a lot, and I see the residents sitting on the grounds. We want to create a great community-building activity on Saturdays."
As people begin to view farmers markets as a valuable commodity, Perry is being approached by a few entities to open outlets in their neighborhoods, and in fact has another in the works.
"We will soon be opening a market at Paul Quinn College," she says. "We're aiming for May. It'll be on Thursday afternoons, during after-school hours when parents are picking up their kids."
Tyler Street and the original White Rock Market will both be on Saturdays from 8 am-1 pm. The White Rock Market resides at 9150 Garland Rd., and will debut on April 1. For more information, event calendar, vendor listings, and sponsorships go to GoodLocalMarkets.org.
Beautiful vegetable plate at Bucket & RopeInstagram