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Dueling Farmers Markets on Sat

7,176 Views | 42 Replies | Last: 5 mo ago by maddiedou
Hammerheadjim
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I am a pseudo regular visitor to the downtown Bryan Farmers Market that is held on Saturday mornings. Recently, I noticed there is a different Farmers Market at about the same time on Saturday at Post Oak Mall. I think this one is called Aggieland Farmers Market and it looks like it runs only in the summer. Do they have the same vendors? Or is it worth the trip from NW Brazos county to hit both markets? Thanks in advance.
Walk softly and carry a big stick! Make sure the big stick makes big boom noises and flashy bright lights.
DonHenley
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I think many of the vendors at the Mall farmer's market used to be part of the downtown Bryan Farmer's market. There was some sort of issue and they left I'm guessing.
motherrunnersBCS
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Personally, I think the Post Oak mall one makes perfect sense on game days, visible to the people coming into town. The rest of the time, I'd rather see them all in one place. I always have to choose, and I'd rather make one trip.
trouble
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Yup
Mr.Short-termMemory
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trouble said:

Yup
What was the issue with the Bryan market?
Hammerheadjim
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motherrunnersBCS said:

Personally, I think the Post Oak mall one makes perfect sense on game days, visible to the people coming into town. The rest of the time, I'd rather see them all in one place. I always have to choose, and I'd rather make one trip.
Thats my line of thought also. The downtown one was getting pretty large the last couple of times I was there, but one trip would be my preference.
Walk softly and carry a big stick! Make sure the big stick makes big boom noises and flashy bright lights.
FlyRod
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I generally hit them both, as often only one has specific things I want. Usually both have staples like eggs and meat.
trouble
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My understanding is that it was personal disagreements about how it was being run.
oklaunion
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Mr.Short-termMemory said:

trouble said:

Yup
What was the issue with the Bryan market?
I quit selling downtown after they started requiring liability insurance for everyone. I can understand it for bakers and canners but for raw produce like berries and tomatoes it seemed onerous. I even have liability insurance for my property but was told I needed to purchase it from an agent who was on the board. $200 was a bit much.
Plus when I requested to sell frozen meat that was USDA inspected, I was denied since "someone else already sells that." Yeah, when she shows up which was about every third Saturday and ground meat was $14 per pound.
philothea
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A couple vendors are at both markets. Some are just at one. Both are year round with the Aggieland (Mall location) is open till 1pm Fall-Spring and noon in summer. The downtown Bryan one is till 8-noon year round.

While I will not comment on the reason for the split I do think that there are some people that prefer the Bryan location and other people (esp. some College Station residents) that will never venture into Bryan for a farmers market but might come to one in College Station.

Both are affected by day football games with less traffic and honestly if you are going to football game are you going to pick up produce before the game?

The hardest part to explain to new people is these are farmers markets so the produce is supposed to be grown locally so you are not going to find the same thing year round like tomatoes in December (unless they are doing greenhouse production) or broccoli and cauliflower in August. If you want that shopping experience go to Farm Patch. I think both markets limit some new vendors and it has always been that way. You don't need 10 egg vendors or really even 10 bakers unless they are all different.

Personally I have sold at both and didn't do any better at the Mall than Bryan and the fees are less in Bryan based on a yearly basis and I only sell 4-6 months out of the year. mid april - mid/late June for mainly produce and herb starts and then the fall (produce if I can get a late summer planting) plus canned goods (jams, jellies, looking to make some cowboy candy from jalapenos from my farm I harvest this week) and I am best known for my sheep milk caramels. They melt in the heat so another reason I am not selling right now. If I can ever get a extra free moment I am hoping to make dryer balls from wool from my sheep (and/or felted jewelry) as well just not enough hours in the day to have a full time job and manage/run a small farm with animals and crops.
Broncos
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Mr.Short-termMemory said:

trouble said:

Yup
What was the issue with the Bryan market?
FARMERS FIGHT! FARMERS FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FARMERS, FARMERS FIGHT!
BiochemAg97
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oklaunion said:

Mr.Short-termMemory said:

trouble said:

Yup
What was the issue with the Bryan market?
I quit selling downtown after they started requiring liability insurance for everyone. I can understand it for bakers and canners but for raw produce like berries and tomatoes it seemed onerous. I even have liability insurance for my property but was told I needed to purchase it from an agent who was on the board. $200 was a bit much.
Plus when I requested to sell frozen meat that was USDA inspected, I was denied since "someone else already sells that." Yeah, when she shows up which was about every third Saturday and ground meat was $14 per pound.


Have to buy it from someone on the board. Definitely not an extortion racket.
gigem92
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When are the best times to get fresh vegetables and fruits there? My wife and I have been several times to both and have been very disappointed in the lack of fresh fruit and vegetables being sold.

We have gone at different times in the year and maybe we are just not hitting it right.

trouble
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A lot of markets are requiring food liability now. When I inquired about the one in Bryan, I was told that I needed it but buying from someone on the board was never mentioned. I have it anyway. I just consider it part of the price of having a business. It's through a national provider.
trouble
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What times are y'all getting there? I'm usually there before 9 and get everything I want.
philothea
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gigem92 said:

When are the best times to get fresh vegetables and fruits there? My wife and I have been several times to both and have been very disappointed in the lack of fresh fruit and vegetables being sold.

We have gone at different times in the year and maybe we are just not hitting it right.


Best time is first thing in the morning for the largest selection. Best time of year depends what you are looking for.
Tomatoes late May - end of June, maybe early July depending on weather. Cucumbers can be earlier as well. Green beans May/June. I usually have apples in late May/June. Corn is June, peppers May/June depending how cool the spring was. Onions/Potatoes - May usually. Green onions earlier.

Fall tomatoes if anyone grows any you are looking at Oct to first frost, same with peppers, fall green beans late Oct to November (try to get that planting around labor day and it is about a 60 day crop). Sweet potatoes are in the fall. Melons are June-now. Okra if anyone is selling would be around now. Bryan did have a peach vendor this year and they had peaches for awhile. (Most of the peaches and blackberries I produce I use for canned goods.) I had lots of figs this year but due to short shelf life I usually just dehydrate or can them.

Eggs usually plenty in spring. Excessive heat and shorter days can affect production so might be less in fall/winter. I have seen strawberries in the spring as well. That one is a crop I would like to do but it is alot of work to plant in fall and get through winter.

Herbs can be in summer. I just don't usually sell fresh herbs because they don't sell alot and not a ton I can do with the leftovers.

All that said if a particular vendor is flooded out, burned up in the summer heat or gets a hail storm all bets are off.

I know the main produce person at the Aggieland market it taking a few weeks off right now to prep for fall planting.
philothea
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oklaunion said:

Mr.Short-termMemory said:

trouble said:

Yup
What was the issue with the Bryan market?
I quit selling downtown after they started requiring liability insurance for everyone. I can understand it for bakers and canners but for raw produce like berries and tomatoes it seemed onerous. I even have liability insurance for my property but was told I needed to purchase it from an agent who was on the board. $200 was a bit much.
Plus when I requested to sell frozen meat that was USDA inspected, I was denied since "someone else already sells that." Yeah, when she shows up which was about every third Saturday and ground meat was $14 per pound.
The liability insurance rule was because the overall policy for the full farmers market required each individual vendor had to have their own insurance in order to get the group policy. You could find it with any insurance agent, they might have directed to someone on the board that was familiar with the processes.
gigem92
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Usually we get there between 8:30-9.
gigem92
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Thank you, this information was what I was looking for.

The times we have gone to the Bryan market, there was one person selling vegetables and the stuff was not what we were looking for at the time. Same with the College Station one, we just did not find what we were looking for, but that is probably just an us problem :-)

We will keep visiting both, because we like to support the local folks when we can.
JMac03
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I'm glad you mentioned this. I always forget abut these. May try to hit the mall one up after my gym class in the AM.
FlyRod
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The reality is (and I say this as a veteran home gardener) this is not an easy area to grow most produce. The seasons can be very very short and ruined fast by unexpected disasters. One woman at the market I buy beans and squash from told me how much she loses to the elements and how short the season usually is for both. I'm still struggling to figure out what does really well in the peak of our summer heat so I can only imagine what the farmers contend with. Some things I'll buy in bulk and just freeze because the season is so short.
woodiewood
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FlyRod said:

The reality is (and I say this as a veteran home gardener) this is not an easy area to grow most produce. The seasons can be very very short and ruined fast by unexpected disasters. One woman at the market I buy beans and squash from told me how much she loses to the elements and how short the season usually is for both. I'm still struggling to figure out what does really well in the peak of our summer heat so I can only imagine what the farmers contend with. Some things I'll buy in bulk and just freeze because the season is so short.
Not here, but I used to sell a lot of produce and my two best sellers were blackberries and blueberries (which you can't grow here to any success). I was also selling blackberries to some local stores.

You're correct about a tough place to grow veggies and fruit. Some years I have a great tomato crop spring and fall and other years marginal. Same with other veggies.
scd88
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Broncos said:

Mr.Short-termMemory said:

trouble said:

Yup
What was the issue with the Bryan market?
FARMERS FIGHT! FARMERS FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FARMERS, FARMERS FIGHT!


This might be the best reply I've seen on Texags in a long time. Well done.
oklaunion
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FlyRod said:

The reality is (and I say this as a veteran home gardener) this is not an easy area to grow most produce. The seasons can be very very short and ruined fast by unexpected disasters. One woman at the market I buy beans and squash from told me how much she loses to the elements and how short the season usually is for both. I'm still struggling to figure out what does really well in the peak of our summer heat so I can only imagine what the farmers contend with. Some things I'll buy in bulk and just freeze because the season is so short.
I don't know how many new gardeners I have counseled by explaining that the suggestion on the back of a seed packet that says "Plant in full sun" does not mean full Texas sun. Give it some shade in the afternoon.
JMac03
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So I went to the one at the mall for the first time. I've also never been downtown. I bought a shirt lol. I'm not much into jams and herbs and all that stuff. Will be good to see if they have more vegetables in the fall. I think the only fresh fruit or vegetable that I saw were pears.

Headed to Farm patch, I think I've only been there once and I've lived here a long time.
meinkee
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A bit off subject, but...I went to Farm Patch this morning for the first time in a very long time and was completely shocked at the prices. Guess I will stick to Kroger HEB and Aldi.

I did buy beautiful non hydroponic tomatoes.
woodiewood
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oklaunion said:

FlyRod said:

The reality is (and I say this as a veteran home gardener) this is not an easy area to grow most produce. The seasons can be very very short and ruined fast by unexpected disasters. One woman at the market I buy beans and squash from told me how much she loses to the elements and how short the season usually is for both. I'm still struggling to figure out what does really well in the peak of our summer heat so I can only imagine what the farmers contend with. Some things I'll buy in bulk and just freeze because the season is so short.
I don't know how many new gardeners I have counseled by explaining that the suggestion on the back of a seed packet that says "Plant in full sun" does not mean full Texas sun. Give it some shade in the afternoon.

Same with some small trees and shrubs. I have a friend here in town who planted a couple of Japanese maples in his front yard. When I was visiting him he asked me why they were near death. I told him that they needed just mottled sunlight most of the day and can't take the direct Texas summer sun. He said, "but the tag said they werea sun-tolerant variety."

They might be on Vancouver Island.


maddiedou
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FlyRod said:

The reality is (and I say this as a veteran home gardener) this is not an easy area to grow most produce. The seasons can be very very short and ruined fast by unexpected disasters. One woman at the market I buy beans and squash from told me how much she loses to the elements and how short the season usually is for both. I'm still struggling to figure out what does really well in the peak of our summer heat so I can only imagine what the farmers contend with. Some things I'll buy in bulk and just freeze because the season is so short.


If I sold beans or peas I would have to charge 10.00 a pound just because how much work they are to pull

Green beans are the worse each plant has about 15 on them and all are most the time hiding

Peas are not as bad because they grow to the top and easy to pick

Pintos are only hard because my wife likes them pulled at a certain color not dried out
maddiedou
philothea
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woodiewood said:

FlyRod said:

The reality is (and I say this as a veteran home gardener) this is not an easy area to grow most produce. The seasons can be very very short and ruined fast by unexpected disasters. One woman at the market I buy beans and squash from told me how much she loses to the elements and how short the season usually is for both. I'm still struggling to figure out what does really well in the peak of our summer heat so I can only imagine what the farmers contend with. Some things I'll buy in bulk and just freeze because the season is so short.
Not here, but I used to sell a lot of produce and my two best sellers were blackberries and blueberries (which you can't grow here to any success). I was also selling blackberries to some local stores.

You're correct about a tough place to grow veggies and fruit. Some years I have a great tomato crop spring and fall and other years marginal. Same with other veggies.
I would love to try to grow blueberries but the soil I am on is too much clay to too alkaline. That and my dream would be artichokes but I haven't had much success there either. Growing hibiscus for tea this summer so hopefully something comes off of that in the fall. I do pretty well with zucchini because I get it in super early before the vine borers take them out. I can usually get about a 4-5 weeks of harvest. Cucumbers did really well for me this year. Corn, not so much due to rain at the wrong times.

Ironically one of my best crops this year was apples. I didn't thin so they were on the smaller side but good. Problem is people ask what variety and when I say Anna that isn't a grocery store brand they are familiar with so they stay away. Sorry but store varieties don't grow great here. I like Anna since they come off in May/June and don't have to make it through the heat of the summer. Still have some in the fridge. Hoping to make some apple butter and Jam soon. Got to make cowboy candy tonight from the 6 lbs of jalapenos I harvested this weekend.
maddiedou
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If you ever need any jalapeƱos let me know but mine are stupid hot this year But everybody has different hot tolerance
maddiedou
AgTrip
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Is there a market in the Med hospital parking lot off Rock Prairie? I could have sworn I saw vendors there this past Saturday morning but I didn't stop to see what was being sold.
FlyRod
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Slightly off topic but there's a sad story in Texas Monthly about how the Pecos canteloupe is going the way of the passenger pigeon. Used to buy them at Farm Patch and the farmers markets.
Jetty
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I've bought Pecos cantaloupe at tower point HEB as recently as last Friday. Delicious as always.
Aggieland Farmers Market
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We are a year round market, rain or shine. 8-noon right now, 8-1 the rest of year that isn't scorching hot! A few vendors participate in both markets, but most don't. Each market offers unique items, so definitely worth it to check them out!
Hammerheadjim
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Good to know, I will try the Aggieland Market this Saturday.
Walk softly and carry a big stick! Make sure the big stick makes big boom noises and flashy bright lights.
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