About 2,000 fans of the Cowtown Farmers Market turned out Saturday morning to celebrate its move to a new location in Veterans Park in White Settlement.
The move by Fort Worth’s oldest farmers market from its longtime Southwest Boulevard location to 8901 Clifford St. in White Settlement followed a change in management.
“The new location will provide more room for local growers like Tabor Farms and gives us the opportunity to attract more vendors,” said Becca Knutson, market manager.
Tabor Farms set up shop at the market for the very first time on Saturday and enjoyed a sellout debut.
The celebration at the new location was called the Cowtown Farmers Market Festival and coincided with National Farmers Week, which showcases the value of farmers markets in providing, healthy locally-sourced food.
The event featured an array of locally grown fruits and vegetables from more than 20 area vendors, plus chicken, pork, beef, and eggs from local ranchers as well as artisan products such as jams, jellies, seasonings, and even small-batch craft dog food. It also offered gardening information, activities for kids, and a cooking demonstration by urban farmers Steve and Ursula Nunez from Mind Your Garden.
Going forward, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) shoppers can take advantage of Double Up Food Bucks, which enable them to double their buying power – up to $20 a day – for fresh produce. Shoppers need to show their Lone Star Card at the market information booth and pick up their Double Up tokens.
The Double Up Food Bucks program is offered in partnership with Blue Zones Project, Fort Worth’s well-being improvement initiative, and North Texas Healthy Communities, which oversees Blue Zones Project as the nonprofit outreach arm of Texas Health Resources.
“Cowtown Farmers Market is a wonderful partner in our efforts to make healthy choices easier, more affordable, and more accessible,” said Matt Dufrene, vice president, Texas Health Resources.
Cowtown Farmers Market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon year-round on Saturdays and on Wednesdays during the summer (through the end of August). A list of vendors and other information can be found at CowtownMarket.com.
Knutson encouraged shoppers to visit the new location.
“If you’ve never visited our market, we look forward to meeting you and think you will enjoy what we have to offer, “ she said.