Road Trip to the HOT Farmer's Market

I know that there is a lot of talk, lately, about the Waco Downtown Farmer's Market.  But you should also know about the Farmer's Market at the HOT Fairgrounds.  I have been purchasing wonderful fresh vegetables from that location for many years now.  There is an assortment of local farms, which change, weekly.  McCarver's Farm from Kosse, Lightsey's Farm from Mexia, a back yard gardener, and a local plant propagator were there, today.
 The hours of operation are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 7AM until 2PM. This is a seasonal market that opens around Mother's Day and closes around Labor Day.  I have purchased peaches, plums, blueberries, okra, tomatoes, onions, black eyed peas, purple hull peas, crowder peas, cream peas, squash, eggplant, watermelon, cantaloupe,and cucumbers at various times of the year.  In fact, I never understood the appeal of blueberries until the farmer from Teague was set up and let me sample the produce. The locally grown blueberries actually have an intense flavor.
I have known Rosalina McCarver, of McCarver Farms, for many years.  The vegetables she sells are always farm fresh and ready to cook.  She sells some of the most beautiful eggplants that I have ever seen.  Today, she also had, banana peppers, cucumbers, jalapenos, and fingerling red onions.
Lightsey Farm has shelled peas which are well worth the additional cost.  If you have ever had to shell peas by hand, then you certainly understand.  Today, they had purple hull peas and black eyed peas, but sometimes they have crowder and cream peas, also. They have fresh peaches and plums. Later in the year, they will also sell pomegranates and persimmons
On occasion, there is an herb vendor there, but they were not set up today and neither was the blueberry farmer.  It is definitely worth stopping there. You need to be flexible on the vegetables, as that changes, weekly.  Be sure to bring plenty of cash.  Some vendors accept checks but none of them accept debit or credit cards.
I hope that you take the time to visit this market and enjoy the local seasonal produce. This Farmer's Market is located at the main entrance of the HOT Fairgrounds on Bosque Blvd.

Enjoy!

Deloris