Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Cowtown Farmers Market to Downtown

The Star-Telegram is reporting that the Cowtown Farmers Market is going downtown this Thursday from 10-2. The market will be set up at Federal Plaza which is located at 1000 Throckmorton.



This is a one-time deal so for those of you who have been hoping for a downtown market, now is the time to show your support.  I'm a fan of this because going out to the traffic circle always makes me want to go to Salsa Fuego and going to Salsa Fuego so much makes my pants not fit as well. 

We're approaching the time when the Farmers Market has some of its best stuff so check it out.

12 comments:

Dillypoo said...

What a great idea! Too bad it's not on the weekend so more people...like me....can go.

Anonymous said...

What a great idea! I work downtown so I will definitely try to walk over there during lunch. I wish they would do this more often!

Sully O'Casey said...

Excellent. They have some good stuff every Saturday.

Anonymous said...

Cowtown Farmers Market is open every Saturday, year-round, from 8 am until noon, 3821 Southwest Blvd., conveniently near Salsa Fuego! Please come support local agriculture ... we can't be in two places at the same time!

Cowtown Farmers Market said...

Money talks! If we sell enough, we will come back! Thanks for your support.

FortWorthHoleInTheWall said...

It's too conveniently located near Salsa Fuego - that's the problem.

Thanks for the comments - hopefully tomorrow provides a good turnout to entice the market to return downtown.

Anonymous said...

I work downtown and I just walked over to the Cowtown Farmer's Market during lunch. I bought a loaf of bread from Artisan Baked Goods and some tomatoes from another vendor. I really wish they would come to downtown more often. It was a nice relaxing way to spend a lunch hour. It would actually be more convenient for me if they would come downtown once a week and I could do my shopping then instead of driving out to the traffic circle on Saturdays.

FortWorthHoleInTheWall said...

Anonymous, thanks for the information. I wonder if somebody from the Cowtown Farmers Market could report back on whether today was a success or not in their eyes?

I walked over there during lunch and there was a very large crowd of people. I'm not sure how many people were buying items but there were people at the tables. The addition of the food trucks seemed to help the crowds.

It was a very lively group, so hopefully the farmers were getting some business.

Cowtown Farmers Market said...

It was a success for the vendors, as they all did very well. We personally visited with and handed postcards about the market to 400 people who had never even heard of our market. That made it worthwhile. Our main goal in having this market was to "market the market." However, planning this one downtown market took months and required the cooperation of the federal government, who was our host and sponsor, and SEVERAL city agencies: Code Compliance, Parks & Recreation, Planning Department and almost the Fire Department (I say "almost" because they were discussing egress and other issues after we were set up). In other words, the city does not make it easy to do this -- every department wants a piece of the "pie" so to speak -- in revenue and in regulating what we do, when we do it and how we do it. It is extremely burdensome on an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization. It took me hours on the phone and in person, dozens of emails and a couple of rounds of mailing things the old fashioned way -- for four hours of market.
A little background: Cowtown market was located downtown for several years, and it almost bankrupted us as an organization and the individual farmers. The farmers will NEVER agree to set up permanently again downtown. We did not have the support from customers, despite a beautiful, indoor, air-conditioned facility with on-site restaurants and the like. There is not enough resident population density downtown to support a Saturday market. We know, we have tried it. Look, no one location is going to be convenient for everyone in Fort Worth -- we know that. That is why we run summer markets in Pantego, Richland Hills and at the Resource Connection in south Fort Worth. However, in the 35 years that Cowtown has existed, the traffic circle by far has been the best and brought us the most traffic. As farmers and artisans, we believe that the best things in life do require a little bit of effort. Some of our farmers drive the 100+ miles once or twice a week just to set up at market. If we were on every corner, we'd be 7-11, not a producer-only farmers market where everything is grown or made within 150 miles. We appreciate your support of local agriculture. Please consider how buying local produce saves so much fuel by not being shipped in from hundreds or thousands of miles -- not to mention you are directly helping your neighbors by keeping your dollars in the city, region and state. Remember, we're dog friendly and bike friendly, too! Shopping a farmers market isn't just about buying some produce, it's a community event. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Hey FWHITW guy - can we all get behind the Farmers Market and make this a workable event, without having to jump thru so many hoops? Look at the new food truck park - that would not have happened a couple of years ago, but downtown is where it's happening. In the meantime, we will all continue to support the existing location. Thanks for your help in moving Ft Worth forward.

Unknown said...

Cowtwon Farmers Market,
You know your business better then anyone, so you know best where you want to conduct business. However, in the last 2-4 years, Downtown and West 7th area has really been booming with little to no signs of slowing down.
Maybe something in the W7th area particularly late afternoon- evening (4-8is) on a weeknight could prove successful. Just a thought.
BTW, I personaly love your current location, just 5 min from my house. Keep up the good work, I appreciate our farmers and the quality of your products.
-Eli
p.s. there is nothing wrong with being close to Salsa Fuego. Best place in town.

Unknown said...

Cowtwon Farmers Market,
You know your business better then anyone, so you know best where you want to conduct business. However, in the last 2-4 years, Downtown and West 7th area has really been booming with little to no signs of slowing down.
Maybe something in the W7th area particularly late afternoon- evening (4-8is) on a weeknight could prove successful. Just a thought.
BTW, I personaly love your current location, just 5 min from my house. Keep up the good work, I appreciate our farmers and the quality of your products.
-Eli
p.s. there is nothing wrong with being close to Salsa Fuego. Best place in town.