Downtown Farmers’ Market

Red & Debbie Farrell of Maid in the Shade make artisan goat cheeses – or Red milks the goats and Debbie makes the cheese. Tasted many and purchased the hot pepper & garlic chevre – great consistency with a smooth base and sweet, spicey flavor. Debbie told me this one was her favorite because it pairs well with all wines. For 4ozs, $4.50 is a bit steep.

I don’t mind paying to help local growers/producers but not sure the price is viable if the objective is to grow & scale. Though, as I’ve learned all to well the last few years, not everyone’s objective is to scale.

Blake Hill’s an Austinite who worked for the Farmer’s Market but has taken over Austin distribution for Remember When Dairy. Ok, I might have first noticed this booth because Blake is so damn cute and charismatic, but whatever, sure glad I did. They sell all natural, non homogenized, no antibiotics, no rBST, no rBGH, no genetically modified grains or soy product fed dairy products. I purchased flawless skim milk and sweet butter. I’ll be back for their ice cream. The owner, Mark Ganske, finds himself too busy increasing production to meet demand from his Yantis, Tx farm to travel to weekly markets any longer.

Urban Roots is a YouthLaunch program (an important Entrepreneurs Foundation partner by the way) founded by Russell Smith. They develop

empowering service programs for young people, through which participants gain new knowledge and skills, form positive and influential bonds with peers and adult role models, improve their self-esteem and efficacy, and develop a strong sense of social responsibility.

Urban Roots is a youth development program that uses sustainable agriculture as a means to transform the lives of young people and increase the access of healthy food in Austin.

Urban Roots hires 15 “farm interns” in January to work on our small urban farm during our spring and summer programs. We donate 40% of our produce to hunger relief organizations and sell 60% at farmers’ markets and farm stands in Austin.

Perfect way to shop on a Saturday morning.