Sunday, June 22, 2008

A Top Ten Market

Gosh, you guys, I just haven’t been home much the past week, and I won’t be home tonight for a Sunday dinner with Chase. So I thought I would share yesterday morning’s trip to the farmers market with you. It was the first time I’ve had the chance to go this year.

The Sunset Valley Farmers Market in south Austin is fabulous. It’s 30 miles from my house, but definitely my market of choice (it’s only 10 miles from my mom’s house). It’s ranked as one of the top ten in the nation and apparently the rest of the city is coming to appreciate that fact, as this particular morning it was as crowded as I’ve ever seen it. My mom and I arrived seven minutes after it opened and it was already full.



The above picture is a covered area to rest, eat, and listen to live music. Below shows one of the rows of busy vendors.


I’ve never been so happy to see a crowd of people. I bought a nice selection of produce – peaches, tomatoes, carrots (for Smokey), zucchini, purple kohlrabi, and onions. So far I’ve only had a peach and it was perfect. I love our Texas peaches!


I always look for carrots with full tops because Smokey absolutely loves them. The vendor I purchased from gave me all the loose tops he had, and told me that just one minute earlier he had given most of what he had to a man who wanted to feed them to his five rabbits. I still got plenty, and I’m glad to now know where I can get free treats for Smokey.

I also found a new vendor selling raw treats. He had samples out and oh my goodness, they are incredibly delicious. This is still in the wrapper, but check it out:




We also made a stop at Whole Foods. I found a locally made salad that I couldn’t resist buying.





Yes it is as tasty as it looks.


I hadn’t seen my son in nearly 2 weeks until he came by yesterday afternoon. I only got a quick look at him because he had just a 30 minute “lunch” break at 4:00. I put together a plate of leftover stirfried veggies, homemade pintos, and fries from one of our favorite restaurants. I also made two fresh salads, one with the sprouts and one with peaches and blueberries.




It's awfully hot here and I’m getting a little heat weary. How about you?

33 comments:

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Wow, what a fabulous farmer's market - those raw treats and the fruit salad look amazing!!

It's actually kind of cold here - only in the 60s!! Hope the heat cools down for you though!!

Thank you so much for your kinds words on my blog, Diann.

Anonymous said...

it's hot here too, no fair.
it's also good to see a post from you Diann! have a great Sunday.

ChocolateCoveredVegan said...

Wow, your farmers' market is huge! Our little market is so tiny in comparison.

Ooh, and thanks to your suggestion, I purchased some kohlrabi at Whole Foods yesterday. Haven't made it yet, but I already love it for its purple hue!

Katy said...

You're so lucky to have such a great farmer's market!

It's pretty hot up here too, so I feel your pain! I hope it cools down a little for us!

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

That veg looks lovely! And I bet Smokey was happy with that haul :)

If you liked the fruit bars you should check out the ones that Lisa made with dates, prunes cranberries, cocoa powder and a few other ingredients. I am definitely going to try them!

Anonymous said...

I could eta that fruit salad right now! Thankfully I have watermelon and that will have to do :)

Anonymous said...

Wow!! Your farmer's market is awesome!

Katelyn P said...

i do love this farmers market... there are tons of kids and dogs everywhere with live music and lots of yummy produce...

HOWEVER, 2 dogs got into a fight when i was there last... a few weekends ago. it looked like one dog took a chunk out of the other dog... the owner of the bit dog was crying hysterically, her arm covered in her dogs blood while she was holding a tuft of her dogs hair... it was pretty frightening... be careful taking children and dogs!!

Amy said...

Mmmmm I love the farmers market loot! Yum!

And those fries look delicious too.

Not hot here at all. In fact, it's freeeeeeezing, brrrr :P

Susan G said...

It all looks so good!

Can you tell me how you insert your pictures in the middle of your post? I just started my blog and I can;t figure it out! It seems I can only add them at the top, and I can't drag them around.

Thanks!

LK Sisters said...

Oh, I'm so jealous - your farmer's market looks superb! We bought some Texas Peaches at HEB, but I'm sure they're not nearly as freshly-picked as yours. Yes, it is very hot here, too, and we are in a major drought!

The raw treat you bought looks good, I'll have to check out the website.

Cheers to good summer produce!

jessy said...

oh my goodness! that so awesome that the Farmer's Market was that full after just opening up. looks like they had some great produce and goodies! the raw bar looks delicious. and those sprouts - mmmmmmmm!

Cherry said...

I love Sunset Valley Farmers Market, but I'm so far from Pflugerville that I don't go very often. Those raw bars sound great. I hear you about the heat! If it's this hot now, how hot is is going to be in August?!

erica said...

As you know I have red hair (well maybe you don't know that but I do), and whenever someone called me a carrot top I would retort "carrot tops are green". Man, what a mouth brat I was. :)

Hey - I have pictures of my garden up, come check them out!

Kumudha said...

Fabulous market!

Here in Detroit, some days the temp is around 90 f and on some just around 60 's. Summer is beautiful, everything looks so bright and beautiful in midwest!

Vegan_Noodle said...

Yep, I'm about ready for summer to wind down.... the afternoon thunderstorms have started up here.

The Austin farmer's market looks huge! The one I go to in Houston is definitely growing, it's great to see all this happen in Texas!

Meg Wolff said...

Wow, sounds like you have a good Farmer's Market. I've heard a lot of great things about Austin!

We got our warm weather earlier in the month ... thunder showers and cool temps for the past week. Hope things cool off soon. :-)

Anonymous said...

Woo! Your Famer's Market looks so awesome. I have one by me, but it's reallly little. That raw treat looks/sounds fab!

You are so sweet to fix lunxh for your son! I often go to my mama's on my lunch break-cheaper and better food--and great company ;)

Erin said...

Lovely local foods! Your farmers market looks awesome.

Judy said...

I have yet to make it to my local Farmer's Market this year - with no car and only one day off on th weekends, it never seems to work out! I love your pics though, and that fruit salad looks divine.

Sam said...

After a major humid streak, it's finally getting a little cooler here in Maryland! It's still warm (about 85), but it's bearable. I am surviving by making lots of fruit salad, like yours!

arcadian~beauty said...

Wow, everything looks so fresh- esp. that fruit salad! :) That treat sounds yummy too.

Anonymous said...

What a gorgeous farmer's market. Austin is such a veg-friendly place.

Loved the pics of Smokey. The rabbit I had while growing up used to chew through the cable cord on the tv all the time and my dad would get so angry with me for letting him run around.

Anonymous said...

That market sounds great! I love going to the market, it's so much more fun than having to shop in a store.

ChocolateCoveredVegan said...

I tried kohlrabi! And it was delicious :o)

Thank you so much for the recommendation.

Anonymous said...

I love the Sunset Valley Farmer's Market. It is just a few blocks from where we live. If I have to work on a Saturday morning, then my husband and son will go and I get to see all the wonderful things they bought when I get home. Have you been to Boggy Creek Farms?

Krys

Jackie said...

Wish we had a Farmer's Market but sadly we only have flea markets and few have fresh produce.

You must have had a wonderful time choosing what to buy and eat. Thanks for the photos.

urban vegan said...

That market just looks amazing--so hip and vibrant. There's something life-affirming about being around so much living food--and people who make it grow.

Anonymous said...

I wish we had Whole Foods in Canada! A while ago there was a mini-farmer's market on campus. Unfortunately it was mostly meat products but one farmer was selling sprout salads like that one. I bought a couple and put them in everything--soup, salads, sandwiches, or just eaten plain for snack.
I hope you've had a reprieve from the weather! Maybe you could send a little sunshine and heat to Ottawa for the long weekend? I'm getting rain-weary. :-)

Wheeler's Frozen Dessert said...

Yes it's so hot here too! Your pictures look lovely though, so colorful!

Lindsay (Happy Herbivore) said...

everything looks so awesome! me wants to go to that market! mine is so small...

Anonymous said...

that's so awesome that you have a great farmers market. there's one in town, but i never can make it without ditching work...

by the way, i moved my blog to http://stoniebrook.blogspot.com!

Kati said...

Wow, what an amazing market! Sadly, I haven't been to ours yet this year, but I will get there eventually. All that beautiful produce is making me hungry! Smokey is a lucky rabbit, too - carrot tops are tasty.