As the first fruits of the season begin to be harvested, local farmers are busy preparing for the opening of the Concho Valley Farmers Market at 7 a.m. Saturday, May 10.
Although it first opened in 1987, since 1996, the Farmers Market has been located on South Oakes Street, across from Fort Concho National Historical Landmark, putting area growers in touch with buyers, who can browse and make selections of fresh produce, baked goods, houseplants and more.
The Concho Valley Farmers Market opens 7 a.m. on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 609 S. Oakes St., open until noon or when they sell-out, whichever comes first.
While the Market opens annually in early to mid-May, a bigger grand-opening celebration takes place in June after local produce reaches peak production, remaining open until the fall close.
Farmers Market History
Some of the earliest mentions of Farmers Markets in West Texas came in the early 1980s, back when local pastor and builder David Currie was with the Texas Department of Agriculture, working for Commissioner Jim Hightower in an effort to help farmers bring their produce directly to the people.
In 1984, the Del Rio City Council approved a request by Currie to allow area farmers to use the parking lot at Roosevelt Park as the site for a farmers market, which opened in July of that year and enjoyed instant success.
By November of ’84, Currie was working on opening a farmers market in Brownwood, and by March of ’85, the Brown County Commissioners allowed a market to be established at the courthouse twice each week during the growing season. The month before, Currie had been down in Uvalde, working to get their farmers market up-and-running.
In July of 1986, the Texas Department of Agriculture reported the campaign toward establishing farmers markets had paid off significantly in less-than 4 years, with 46 markets established.
The Concho Valley Farmers Market
The first organizational meeting for the local Farmers Market took place Tuesday March 17, 1987, announced by county extension-agent John Begnaud, who invited area gardeners and vegetable growers to discuss the feasibility of forming an association.
During that meeting, a steering committee consisting of Dale Wilde, Randy Roper and Henry Schwartz was formed to figure out rules, oversee the site-selection process and hire a market manager.
The Concho Valley Farmers Market Association officially formed on April 13 of that year, with Marjorie Kellermeier of Paint Rock elected president.
The new association’s inaugural sale was set for 9 a.m. Saturday, June 27, with 20 growers and vendors set up in a bank parking lot downtown ready to receive the public, who greeting them with enthusiasm.
After beginning the season with three people, the group ended that year with 64 members and $2,400 in their bank account to help keep things going.
By that time, the Farmers Market network in Texas was in its sixth year, helping about 3,000 farmers by facilitating roughly $25 million in sales, according to Ag. Commissioner Hightower.
By late June of 1988, the event was being held twice each week — on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
By 1994, the Market had more than $100,000 in sales and had grown in popularity to the point that conversations about building a dedicated pavilion to serve as a permanent home began.
That move became part of the Regional-Urban Design Assistance Team (R-UDAT), which led to a $3.3 million improvement campaign along the Concho River Corridor, eventually including the Celebration Bridge and Concho Christmas Celebration, in addition to two pavilions, the Old Town area, and several other major projects.
During an interview that year, John Begnaud called it “one of the best run markets in the state,” and said he was proud to have lent a hand in its creation.
For more information about the Concho Valley Farmers Market, call 325-653-9577.
