Denton Farmers Market offering fresh local produce

by Melissa Boughton of of North Texas Daily

DENTON — Shoppers crowd around the large tents and tables of produce at the Denton Farmers Market, picking up tomatoes and putting them back in search of the perfect one to take home for dinner.

The parking lot at the corner of Carroll Boulevard and Mulberry Street stays packed on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings for the market. Local "growers," or farmers, set up tables at 7 a.m. and sell fresh tomatoes, peppers, peaches, cucumbers, and more until noon or whenever they sell out.

Home grown

The market is open to any farmer as long as they are from Denton County and join the Denton County Growers Association. The farmers pay a small annual fee to be a member of the association.

"It is very inexpensive for the farmers and they are not taxed," said Main Street Association president Bob Montgomery.

The farmers come from all over Denton County to sell their fresh produce. Some have acres of land for growing and some sell produce from smaller gardens. One of the growers is James Hodge, a Denton resident.

"Everything we have came right out of our backyard," Hodge said.

Hodge said he grows a variety of peppers, eggplant, squash, and tomatoes.

Competition with local grocery stores such as Kroger and Albertson's have not affected the sellers in a negative way. The growers are still faring well, Montgomery said.

"We're all organic -- really, supermarkets can't compete with us," Denton grower Brandon Horton said of his crops.

The parking lot is full with cars and the shoppers crowd the walkways, stopping at each table to view the various produce.

Laura Touchstone, a UNT social work senior and veteran of farmers markets in Oregon (her home state), recently visited the Denton market for the first time.

"It's different from a grocery store, the food tastes a lot fresher and the flavors are richer," Touchtone said.

Denton grower April Sims has gardened for three years, growing organic fruits, peppers, herbs, and tomatoes. This is her first year to sell at the market.

"We offer things Kroger can't provide," Sims said. "We have different varieties, fresh jam, and no pesticides."

Weather permitting

While some are seeking air conditioning indoors to beat the heat, growers are outside watering the garden. Growers constantly fight with inconsistent rainfall and high summer temperatures, a challenging combination.

Bobby Stout has been growing and selling at the market for more than 30 years.

"The weather always affects us one way or the other," he said.

While the current economic downturn has proven to be damaging to retail sales, the farmers market has seen a steady increase of shoppers in the last two years, Stout said.

Grower Myra Smith of Denton has been selling there since 1975 and has noticed a new group of faces this year.

"A lot of my customers this year are young, single men and young couples," she said. "They are becoming wonderful young chefs."

Smith sits in the large, white trailer at the end of the lot selling cantaloupe, okra, jam, tomatoes, peppers, and peaches. A large crowd is gathered at her window.

"It's a green time you know," she said, shaking her red hair and putting her hands on her hips. "It's so delightful to see the younger crowd interested."

Apples and oranges

Prices at the market can be cheaper, more expensive, or the same price as those at a supermarket, depending on one's needs and what is bought. At a grocery store, produce may not be as fresh, or there may only be one variety of a tomato, whereas at the farmers market, you may pay more but get a bigger variety and fresher food.

"Instead of traveling by truck for days, it was picked yesterday," Montgomery said.

Some shoppers like the idea of supporting local farmers even if they have to pay a little extra.

"You're getting good quality stuff," said Heather Frye, UNT Behavioral Analysis and Business Administration graduate student. "You aren't getting pesticides and you're supporting the locals."

The market is also run by all of the farmers, not just one person. There has never been any one controlling brain behind the farmers market, it is a conglomerate, Montgomery said. This allows farmers to set their own prices.

"I never let grocery store prices affect ours," Stout said. "I use their prices as a guideline."

Deep roots

The Denton Farmers Market used to sell more than just produce. The market had two previous locations before settling down in the parking lot in front of the Bayless-Selby House Museum. The first market was set up when bartering was still practiced in Williams Trade Square. Farmers used to trade horses and mules, Montgomery said.

In 1990, the market moved to the K-Mart parking lot on the corner of Bonnie Brae and University. But when K-Mart closed in 2002, the farmers lost a place to sell their produce. At that time, the county had just left the old Carroll Court building, and Montgomery asked to use the parking lot for the market. The county gave permission, but declined to pay for any of the costs associated with opening the market, Montgomery said. As a councilman at the time, he persuaded the city council to dip into contingency funds to make it happen.

"Right away it was obvious it was a change for the better," Montgomery said.

Looking ahead

The market could possibly face losing its home yet again. The county still owns the lot and it might eventually get sold, Montgomery said. This time the farmers association will be prepared, he said.

The association had a meeting a couple of weeks ago to discuss other sites and other options for possible growth.

Growers will be set up every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday through Sept. 29. On a Saturday, shoppers should get there before 9 a.m. to beat the crowd, Montgomery said.

• Staff
• Verified User
• Anonymous