Finally, Waco has a place for residents to buy fresh, farm-grown products from a variety of local vendors close to campus. After its grand opening last Saturday, the Waco Downtown Farmers Market had a great response from locals and college students.
Many booths ran out of their products because of the wonderfully large turnout. From the opening weekend, this new farmers market proved itself to be a promising, successful open market.
Having a place to buy fresh produce going from the farm to the market is a wonderful opportunity of which Waco residents and Baylor students need to take advantage. Yes, supermarkets provide an ample amount of fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy products, but buying from local vendors is an experience worth having.
Farmers markets have been popping up throughout the country over the last several years. In fact, there is an entire movement dedicated to increasing public awareness about growing and selling local, fresh produce – Slow Food Revolution USA.
Slow Food Revolution USA is a nonprofit organization working toward changing the “fast food” lifestyle of the United States and on an international level. With the addition of farmers markets around the country, the “fast food” mindset and lifestyle of Americans will be changed.
Although Waco does have other farmers markets, the Heart of Texas and Troy Farmers Market, adding a farmers market to downtown Waco will help Waco follow this trend of producing, selling and consuming fresh products not only from locals in Waco but around the state as well. Some out-of-city vendors include Round Rock Honey in Austin, Richardson Farms from Rockdale and Smith & Smith Farms from Rogers.
These vendors provide a multitude of specialty products, such as honey, eggs and pasteurized meats. This opens the door for consumers in Waco to taste and see the different products available throughout the state and to buy the things these vendors specialize in. Regular supermarkets don’t come close to providing a diverse, specialized array of products.
Not only does the farmers market allow for out-of-city vendors to sell their products, but local businesses, such as Caprino Royale, Heart of Texas Urban Gardens and Fungal Forest offer their own products that locals have already enjoyed. Even Baylor Campus Kitchen joined the other vendors by hosting a booth that accepts donations of food to give to local area hunger programs such as the Salvation Army Kitchen.
This new farmers market allows a multitude of opportunities for vendors to sell their fresh products and for locals to be introduced to a whole new world of grocery shopping. The market takes an admirable step in an effort to change the mindset from buying “fast food” to slowing down and enjoying the fresh products.
