San Marcos Farmers Market Provides All Things Fresh, Homegrown And Homemade

by, JeriLynn Thorpe

The San Marcos Farmers Market is a grass root association, created by and for the community.

Every Tuesday and Saturday, local business owners and farmers come together to sell their fresh produce, art, health products and more to the community.

With over 40 vendors participating throughout the year, the Tuesday market has been in effect for 35 years, while the Saturday market has been going on for about 10.

“It started with one vendor, which was me,” said Kevin Adams, market manager and farmer for Cascabel Farms. “We just decided to start our own from the ground up, on Saturdays, focusing on local farmers for local citizens.”

Among the various vendors on Saturday, the market secretary and owner of Genfan Family Farm, Alisin Genfan, sells flowers, vegetables, herbs and honey. Her fan favorite item, squash blossoms, are frequently featured at the local restaurant, Palmer’s Restaurant, Bar & Courtyard. Genfan values the market because it promotes shopping locally and allows for one-of-a-kind items.

“It’s like a community family,” Genfan said. “It’s smaller than some of the other (markets). It’s a good, manageable size, with a good mix of people.”

The Texas State organization, Bobcat Blend, along with other sister departments, is one of the vendors. Bobcat Blend sells their compost tea, while the horticultural department sells their greenhouse plants.

Amber Joy, president of the horticultural association, feels the farmers market brings the community together while featuring diverse items.

“(The San Marcos Farmers Market) is just really an awesome group to work for,” Joy said. “They let us bring whatever we want.”
 
 
 
Monique Broussard, San Marcos resident, comes to the farmers market because there will always be a variety of products she and her family will enjoy. From cherry tomatoes, to tea, to purchasing homemade hummus from Sassy Cassie’s, Broussard is no stranger to the allure of the market. She said her favorite vendor, “the soap lady,” or, Suzi’s Naturals, is responsible for leaving her with no stretch marks after pregnancy.

Adams said it’s a likely occurrence to see poets, artists and musicians, many of whom are gardeners themselves, at the market.

“What makes it completely unique, in my experience, from farmers markets across the country, is that it truly is grass roots and driven entirely by the local citizenry,” Adams said. “We are self-funded. We are not a budget item for the city. It’s a completely traditional non-profit.”

Aside from the variety of handcrafted products and homemade goods, Adams said it’s important to shop at a farmers market to promote local agriculture.

“Even if you have no interest in the ecological ramifications of industrial agriculture, and you’re just coming for the fun of it, you can find things that really don’t exist except at the small scale,” Adams said. “It’s fresher, it’s local. By definition, it’s in season.”

The Saturday Market is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on San Antonio Street, and the Tuesday market occurs between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. at 312 East Hopkins St. 

This article originally published in The University Star.