I’m a big fan of farmers markets. In San Francisco, we have the wonderful Ferry Building Farmers Market which sets a high standard. It’s nice to see fresh markets turning up in more and more American cities and I was excited to discover that Houston, Texas is no exception. Hosted by Urban Harvest, the Houston Farmers Market at City Hall includes over 40 vendors of fresh produce, flowers, specialty foods and prepared lunch items. Set in front of City Hall along the Reflection Pool and surrounded by the towering buildings of Houston’s Skyline District, it’s a great location for nearby workers to enjoy a lunch break. (Note: The City Hall Farmers Market closes for the summer, but will be reopening on September 18th, 2013.)
Lunchtime at the Houston Farmers Market
City Hall Farmers Market, Houston
Fresh and Colorful
Fresh Vegetables at Farmers Market
More Freshness
Fresh Carrots
Biking for Veggies
My Treat
This empanada by Lucia’s is made with a cauliflower and white truffle oil filling. It was a delicious treat as I walked around the market.
Specialty Foods
Texas Hill Country Olive Company
Don’t Forget the Cupcakes
Bakery Truck
Hungry for more? Check out more gastronomic articles at Inside Journeys.
You’re definitely finding the good side of Houston. I like the picture of the guy with a bike and lots of panniers. Looking forward to fresh locally grown produce in ….perhaps two months.
Hope you continue to unearth great spots in Houston.
More to come ….
I’m heading to Houston in a couple of weeks. Now I am more excited and hungry!
I found there’s more going on in Houston than you might expect. I’ll be sharing more soon.
We love going to farmer’s markets when we are visiting Europe, however, I never would have considered looking for one in big American cities. The empanada looks delicious!
I’m really happy to be finding more and more of them in cities and towns of all sizes. Hope the trend continues.
We always search out the Farmer’s Markets when traveling and when at home I go just to remind myself of the wonderful ones we’ve visited elsewhere. Funny, that I never think about our local market though when traveling. . .nice photos!
Thanks, Jackie. Funny how we do that — scope out certain places when we travel, but don’t think about them much at home. 🙂
Nice food and travel story.
Thanks 🙂
I LOVE a good Farmer’s Market!!
~Becca
You’re not alone. Seems to be quite a trend in cities large and small!
I’ve been through Houston many times, but rarely had time to actually visit the city. This sounds like fun…. and the empanada looks amazingly delicious. Cauliflower and white truffle oil? Got to try that at home one of these days. Is the market every week?
The one downtown at City Hall is only on Wednesdays between 11:00 and 1:30, but there are more in the Houston area on other days. Check out the Urban Harvest website here: http://www.urbanharvest.org
Farmer’s markets are always a great way to spend a morning. I like getting there early, so I don’t miss anything! Lovely set of photos.
There’s such a nice atmosphere at the markets — most people seem to be in relaxed and happy moods while they browse and eat.
I love fresh food markets, mainly for food you can try, like the empanada you mentioned and pictured here.
That’s my favorite part, too. In fact, I wasn’t all that hungry until I saw the empanadas — but I couldn’t resist.
Okay, you’re on. It’s the farmer’s market challenge. Next up at A Traveler’s Library will be an Irish farmer’s market.
Oh, I can’t wait to read about an Irish farmer’s market!
I do enjoy Farmers Market where ever I am! Cupcakes have sure taken over, haven’t they? I have to admit I’d much rather buy one cupcake than an entire cake. I wouldn’t feel so guilty 🙂
Yeah, the cupcake trend is pretty incredible. My favorites have lots of creamy frosting and a little creamy filling on the inside. 🙂
What a great find! I love Farmer’s Markets here in the US and abroad. You never know what you’ll find. The empanada looks delicious. I guess cupcake food trucks are popping up everywhere.
I wonder when and how cupcakes got to be so popular. And I wonder how soon before something else becomes the hot bakery item.
I love markets! How do the vendors react when you take pictures of the produce?
These vendors were pretty busy — I don’t think they even noticed me. The woman at Lucia’s booth and the Olive Oil guys were very happy to have photos taken.
Looks like you found some good stuff to do! I’d love to go to the Frosted Betty truck! What a great name!
That is a great name, isn’t it? Sorry to say, I didn’t have one of her cupcakes. Wish I had…
Shopping from farmers markets is something we do every week, on Sunday morning. Fresh fruits and vegetables, good food, everything at reasonable prices – it’s a healthy habit 🙂
A healthy habit, indeed. I like the atmosphere in the markets, too. Everyone seems to be in good spirits.
Oh, I think I could get rid of a few dollars at that olive oil stall. I’m a sucker for a pretty olive oil bottle. your little tasty treat also looks very tempting. Long live markets! 🙂
Julia
I’ll second that! There is something about olive oil bottles — and that wonderful olive oil inside.
Somehow I wouldn’t have expected a farmers market in Houston – thinking it’s too hot or people just aren’t outdoors. Nice to see the Texas cities can surprise 🙂
I know — I didn’t associate Houston with farmers markets either. I don’t know how long they’ve had this market in Houston. The City Hall Farmers Market is only there on Wednesdays for a couple of hours, but there are others in the area, too.
It gives me a different view of Houston than I remember when I was there years ago. Makes me want to go back and see more of it than I did previously. The empenada also looks really good and I wish I could find some good ones here near me.
Love reading about farmer’s markets — must be that time of year!! Love the Swiss chard photo. Tamales are my favorite farmer’s market food. 🙂
Funny you should mention tamales. There were tamales at this market, too. All I have is a pic of the menu board here: https://travelingwithsweeney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_0262.jpg
I love farmers markets, too, and it’s a nice way to get a taste of the local life when you travel. The chard looks divine.
Glad you enjoyed the rodeo. It was nice meeting you.
Rita
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It looks so organize and clean in those white pop-ups, I love that when the venue is streamlined and care is taken in the presentation to make it really yummy!
The farmer’s market here in Reno is joke. There is some good fresh produce brought in from outlying areas. But, it’s turned into a big people-going-wrong fest. I stopped going years ago. This one you two were at looks a 100 times better! And I love empanadas, Cathy! 🙂
Cauliflower and white truffle oil filling? That empanada sounds delicious, Cathy! I’m surprised you remembered to take a photo before you dug into it.
Love farmers’ markets.