Every Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, those craving fresh fruits and vegetables, homemade preserves and pickles, as well as some baked goods, can visit the local farmers market and get their choice of homegrown goodies.
Just as they do all over the state of Texas, farmers and gardeners from this area bring their produce and other products to town on the weekend to sell at the market, which is open from 2 to 6 p.m. on Fridays and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. The farmers market is located under the awning at the Trade Days site, on the corner of South Dunnigan Avenue and East Hullum Street.
This past Saturday, Aug. 12, saw a steady stream of customers picking out peppers, preserves, pickles and pies. Also included in the spread were squash, okra, relish, bread and tomatoes.
Tammie Keese had pickles, relish and jam for sale. She said she often brings baked goods, including bread, biscuits and waffles.
“Most of my garden goes into canning,” she said, explaining that she grows or picks most of what she cans, especially the vegetables. “The peaches (for the jam) came from Fredericksburg, and the apricots, a friend gave me. The wild plums, we picked on the side of the road, and I get the berries from a co-op.”
Keese lived in Breckenridge for many years and now lives in Albany but said she spends much of her time here.
Another table was loaded down with vegetables from the garden of Glenda and Tommy Rogers of Breckenridge. They also had some bread and relish available. At the next stand, Donna and Zane Welch of Breckenridge were selling pies, cookies, jellies and eggs.
Stopping by to drop something off was Tammy Fambro. She and her husband, David, have greenhouses in the Wayland area and bring a truckload of produce on Friday afternoons.
Although many summer gardens are almost at the end of their growth cycle right now, the farmers market will remain open. Some summer produce is still coming in, and many of the vendors spend the weekdays preserving their extra produce and will continue to have canned and baked goods for sale. Additionally, farmers and gardeners with greenhouses or fall gardens will have items available.
For information about setting up a booth at the farmers market, contact the City of Breckenridge at 254-559-8287.
Story by Carla McKeown
carla.mckeown@breckenridgetexan.com
Cutline: From left, Loretta Elder and Karen and King Hoermann shop at the Breckenridge Farmers Market on Saturday. On the other side of the table, Glenda Rogers and her husband, Tommy (not pictured), offer home-grown produce and handmade preserves and bread at their Farmers Market stall. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
