Farmer’s Market Finds

I love farmer's markets.  It's always wonderful to go and see all of the different vendors offering their products.  To chat with them and learn more about what they do and their vision of real food/real products that they create to share with those who appreciate it.

This past weekend I went to a local farmer's market with a couple of friends.  It was held at a local brewery and had an eclectic gathering of vendors.  I wanted to share a few that I had the opportunity to visit with.

Patrick from Katera Exotics shared about their pasture raised Texas bison.  He says they “love them, raise them well, and then we eat them.”  They have two locations, one near San Antonio and one in Katy.  I purchased a sirloin and made it for dinner that night.  It was absolutely delicious!  Raised without hormones or antibiotics on grassland, this is sirloin the way it's mean to be.

There was a salsa vendor, Shane and Nina of the Salinas Salsa Co.  I confess that I only tried their mild salsa.  It was fabulous but way too hot for this Yankee girl.  I muscled down the rest of the sample because it was so delicious and Shane told me that they are working on a “really mild” version for folks like me that have trouble with the Texas heat.

My Texas friends, however, informed me that the mild was, indeed, mild. Whoo boy!

An unexpected and delightful stop was my chat with Jason of Leadbelly Elevator.  He's a perfumer, essential oil product maker, and permaculturist.  We had a fabulous conversation about growing real food, chemical free products, and his commitment to making great products that smell good and are good for you.

Next up was the amazing variety of Texas Hill Country Olive Oils.  I know, hard to believe, but there are parts of Texas that are the right appellation to grow amazing olive oils.  Demetria was happy to sample out her products.  She also had some balsamic vinegars that won rave reviews from my friends.

Last, but certainly not least, was the barbecue sauce from The Sauce Factory and my visit with Darrel and Gerald.

At first I wasn't going to buy any but I tried their sugar free (sweetened with stevia) bbq sauce. It was great so I bought a bottle. Then I was tempted by their mustard bbq sauce, tried it and was hooked. So I bought two bottles. I refrained from trying their other varieties for fear that I might come home with five bottles of sauce, but this stuff is good.

Afterwards my foodie friends and I ran down the street to the raw dairy where I bought some butter and got to say hello to these adorable calves and goats.

 
Farmer's markets are a great way to connect with the people that make your food. They're also a wonderful way to get real food. Support your health and your local farmers, you'll be glad you did.