Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller

By Mary Katherine Nix

White tents line the lake, row by row, as people stroll in between with dogs and strollers, stopping to check out each vendor. The smell of homemade dumplings and baked goods fill the air as people wait in line for their next treat, sampling each tent, all the while enjoying the sunshine and live band. It’s Sunday at the Farmers’ Market.

The Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller is home to more than 100 vendors. Farmers and ranchers grow or raise their products, and offer produce like fresh eggs, meats, and vegetables. There are a variety of other vendors that sell everything from homemade marshmallows to succulents.

According to the Texas Farmers’ Market website, the market is organized under F2M Texas, a non-profit corporation centered around hosting and educating Central Texas producers and consumers to grow a sustainable food system.

“The market goes from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m. every Sunday,” vendor Heidi Wachter said. “We also do two farmers markets on Saturdays, Lakeline and Downtown, but this one is here every Sunday rain or shine, no matter what.”

Co-founder of Lost Pines Yaupon Tea, Wachter sells the only caffeine native to the U.S., by the glass or in tea bags at her booth.

“It’s native to Texas, and grows along the Gulf Coast,” Wachter said. “We harvest ours in Bastrop in the Lost Pines area, where it grows as the main under-storage of the pine trees. The plant is actually overgrown and it’s all because of human use of the land. So it’s actually beneficial to the eco-system to remove the yaupon out there. It helps an endangered toad to do that as well.”

Vendors aren’t the only attractions at the Farmers’ Market. Different activities are available every weekend including Tiny Tails to You, a traveling petting zoo with small animals for children.

The market also runs a free community composting program, where anyone can drop off frozen compost scraps during farmers’ market hours. The program is a joint initiative between Texas Farmers’ Market and Joe Organics to achieve a goal of a zero waste market and community.

“It goes to the farm and gets mixed in with dirt and different leaf clippings and we turn it into compost,” Mendy Holliday, community composter said.

The market currently has three bins for collecting compost, but they are working on getting more.

“It’s good to come early because they fill up,” Holliday said.

The Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller is held every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. under the Browning Hangar at 4550 Mueller Blvd.