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    Uncertain Future

    Dallas Farmers Market grapples with identity as redevelopment looms

    Hayden Bernstein
    Jul 12, 2013 | 6:00 am

    After 73 years under city rule, the Dallas Farmers Market became a privately owned venture in June when the 12-acre facility was purchased for $3.2 million by a group called DF Market Holdings.

    At one time the hub of wholesale food distribution for the entire region, the Farmers Market has been stagnant for years. The group has ambitious plans to redevelop the market, but there are details to be worked out, and construction won’t start until later this year.

    The sale has farmers, wholesalers and restaurateurs at the market asking the same question: Where will my business be in a year?

    "I hope they make room for us all," says L.D. Stubblefield, a wholesaler and vendor who has been making his living at the market since 1957.

    "We want local farmers at the Farmers Market," says developer Brian Bergersen.

    Two sheds down
    Stubblefield and his family have been at the market since the 1940s. The tractor resting at the corner of Harwood and Marilla streets belonged to his wife's family. He has seen the evolution of the market through the decades, but he knows this redevelopment will be the most drastic change to date.

    "We want local farmers at the Farmers Market," says developer Brian Bergersen. “The redesigned Shed 1 will accommodate a retail market rather than wholesale."

    With a renewed focus on local farmers rather than wholesalers, there will be ample space in Shed 1 for the current vendors to sell to the public, according to Bergersen. As for the wholesale market, which takes place Mondays and Thursdays through the middle of the night, plans are being discussed to relocate this commerce to a lot south of I-30.

    The street traffic and parking that currently runs through the center of the Shed 1 will be eliminated to provide space for vendors, creating a more pedestrian-friendly market. The remaining outdoor Sheds 3 and 4 will be demolished to make way for apartments and parking to serve the area. Also slated for the wrecking ball are La Marketa Cafe and the adjacent warehouse.

    The developers are meeting with the vendors and farmers in an effort to make the redeveloped farmers market work for all parties. The group of investors includes a mix of real estate and food industry veterans: Bergersen of Spectrum Properties, the real estate developer behind various downtown lofts; restaurateurs Blair Black and Janet Cobb; and wholesale food industrialists Ruthie Pack and Lucian LaBarba.

    A major issue being discussed is where the vendors will store their goods. According to the plans put forth, vendors will no longer be allowed to park their refrigerated trucks behind their stalls. One option is a common refrigerated space, where the vendors could store their produce until they are ready to sell it at the booths.

    "I already sold my 48-foot refrigerated trailer, because they say we won’t be able to park the trailers next to our booth like before," Stubblefield says.

    Mayors from three surrounding cities have approached Pecan Lodge owners Diane and Justin Fourton, hoping to lure away the barbecue hot spot.

    The redeveloped Shed 1 is the only part of the market to remain under city management. The air-conditioned Shed 2, home to the acclaimed Pecan Lodge, will be redeveloped with restaurants and specialty retailers.

    The uncertain future of barbecue restaurant Pecan Lodge has received a lot of media attention. Owner Justin Fourton has stated they hope to stay, but they are exploring their options. Mayors from three surrounding cities have approached Fourton, hoping to lure away Pecan Lodge. Fourton will not name these cities, but he says Dallas has remained silent. Thus far, the proposed plans have been insufficient for Fourton to commit to the Farmers Market.

    Pecan Lodge is a local favorite that has received national attention as a result of its appearance on Diners Drive-ins & Dives. People line up for the barbecue for hours every weekend morning, a fact not lost on the developers who have stated Pecan Lodge is their No. 1 tenant to keep at the market.

    What will the neighbors say?
    The tenants of the sheds are not the only people keeping a close eye on the looming changes. Across from the market on Harwood Street is the warehouse of Thomas Mushroom and Specialty Produce, a wholesale distributor that has occupied the corner since 1993.

    "It's a few years away, but when the price is right, this entire block will sell out and be redeveloped," says owner Steward Thomas, pointing to the low-rise condos being built a block away. Though their land was not part of the deal made with the city, Thomas foresees that their block will be in play in the coming years.

    The Bridge homeless shelter, one block southwest of the market, is another neighbor affected by the redevelopment. Constructed in 2008, The Bridge serves approximately 1,200 people each day, many of whom line up on Park Avenue to enter the shelter.

    Concerns about crime associated with the homeless population has prompted a planned reorientation of the entrance to the southwest side of the building. This will traffic the homeless into The Bridge through the other side of the building and out of sight from the planned apartment development.

    Jay Dunn, president of The Bridge, confirmed the plan for a recessed entrance on the other side of the building, preventing people from lining up along Park Avenue, as is the case now. But Dunn is optimistic about the changes coming to the area. He sees The Bridge growing with the Farmers Market as it redefines itself in the coming years, with a benefit to the shelter in the long term.

    "The continued development is very exciting," he says. "Crime is significantly down, and there's a lot of investment in the area. We’re in a great neighborhood, and it’s getting better."

    According to city officials, major construction will not happen until the sewer line running beneath several of the sheds is removed; that could be a few years away. If all goes to plan, the people who have made their living at the market for generations won't get lost in the construction dust.

    After 73 years as a city-run operation, the Dallas Farmers Market became a privately owned venture.

    Dallas skyline with Farmers Market
      
    Photo by Clay Coleman Dallas CVB
    After 73 years as a city-run operation, the Dallas Farmers Market became a privately owned venture.
    unspecified
    news/restaurants-bars

    Farm News

    Dallas farm-to-table champion Profound Farms closes produce operation

    Teresa Gubbins
    May 16, 2025 | 12:59 pm
    Profound Microfarms
    Profound
    Profound Microfarms

    A Dallas farm-to-table champion is pulling the plug: Profound Microfarms, the small farm in Lucas that provided locally-grown produce to chefs and the general public for nearly a decade, is shutting down its growing operation and discontinuing deliveries. Their final delivery and pickup day will be May 23.

    According to cofounder Jeff Bednar, they were simply unable to keep the business afloat.

    "It's always been tough for small farmers, and it's only getting harder," Bednar says. "I'd hate to count how many farmers and ranchers we've known in the last 10 years that have gone out of business. Honestly, I know very few farmers that could make it with out having off-farm income from a spouse or other sources."

    Jeff and Lee Bednar first bought their 2.6-acre plot in Lucas in 2014, then spent three years learning hydroponic methods and building industry relationships. In May 2017, they began selling produce to Dallas-area chefs, helping to support DFW’s burgeoning farm-to-table restaurant scene, delivering to restaurants multiple times per week.

    In 2018, Profound Foods received a USDA grant to create a local "food hub" — a business that helps small farmers grow by offering a combination of production, distribution, and marketing services. At their peak, by the end of 2019, they were serving 130 restaurants.

    And then the pandemic arrived. They pivoted, expanding into retail sales in March 2020, offering weekly home delivery and pickup outpost options for home consumers.

    Profound Microfarms lettuceBeautiful lettuces at Profound MicrofarmsProfound Microfarms

    "Unfortunately, running a year-round food hub became tougher than we can sustain right now," he says. "It's disheartening we were not able to make it work after trying for 11 years. But we were able to raise our daughters the way we wanted to and we really had a great run. Profound impacted hundreds of Dallas chefs and thousands of families in our community and we'll continue to do that, just differently."

    Over the years, Profound grew from harvesting greens to aggregating and delivering for other producers, then into community gathering spaces, commercial kitchens, and hands-on education.

    "Profound has never been just a farm — it’s our commitment to connecting North Texans with local food, and that commitment will keep evolving even as the farm operations wind down," Bednar says.

    So while the growing part has gone away, Profound will continue hosting cooking classes and other foodie events. In the interim, they'll also be listing their plants, hydroponic supplies, and greenhouses for sale.

    Some of their stats:

    • Moved more than $4.5 million of truly local food into North Texas kitchens.
    • Sent 75 cents on every dollar to 185 farmers, ranchers, and producers in North Texas.
    • Delivered 34,000+ restaurant and home orders.
    • Donated over 90,000 lbs of fresh food to area charities and food banks.
    • Hosted dozens of interns and hundreds of volunteers for hands-on learning on our farm.
    • Helped over 22 companies launch food-based business in our incubator kitchen and hub.
    • Hosted tours for more than 15,000 people, schoolchildren, and aspiring farmers.
    closingssustainabilityfarmer-diaries
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