Barton Creek Farmers Market

First time I’ve seen this. I did a quick walk through and wad impressed with how much was there. I’ll be looking to go to the next one when around the area and actually but items.

Great place to check out if you’re near Barton Creek on a Saturday morning. There’s a nice live band providing a great ambience to your market shopping. There’s always a food truck for your prepared meal needs.
The vendors here carry everything from fresh and locally made popsicles, organic and TRULY natural dog food and treats. There’s butchers who carry grass-​fed beef and even bison meats, fruit and produce growers. There’s even a chocolatier with some amazing flavors.
A couple of tips:
— Bring cash, there’s an ATM but who wants to pay fees?
— Bring a shopping bag, preferably something with an insulated lining in case you purchase a perishable. Even if you’re going straight home, it gets hot in Texas and there are a few vendors there with temp. sensitive products.
The prices are great and so is the offering that they bring.

It’s cute that Austin considers this a «Farmer’s Market»…the number of prepacked foods, service providers, and flea market type vendors far outweighs the actual produce or fresh food vendors. The vendors that are there are grossly overpriced. Yeah yeah yeah… I understand the whole «buy local… support local… blah blah blah» comes at a premium, but these vendors are simply overpriced. The only reasons for coming here are to buy baguettes from Baguettes e Chocolat (so I don’t have to drive waaaaaay out to their shop) or to pick up some of that fantastic bucha from Buddha’s Brew.
It’s good for a reason to get out of the house, but little else.

For a cold windy day, Barton Creek Farmer’s Market vendors braved the weather to come out and sell their goods. I needed to fill up on Buddha’s Brew Kombucha so I stopped on by here on the way to the Greenbelt. There were plenty of grass fed meats and seafood to buy. The organic produce I particularly favor is Johnson’s Backyard Garden was there in full force. I always like going around and sampling the different breads, cheeses, olive oil, and home remedies. There’s always something new to try and experience. I like the Mueller Park Farmer’s Market a little better than this one though.

how have i never rated this place??? I love this farmers market and go as often as possible. They have cheese, fresh meats (of all kinds), Kimchi. carrot relish. produce. Buddha Brew Kambucha. and so much more. They have live music, Taco Deli and fresh Tamales for eating on site. My favorite Farm is Windfield Farms. great produce, Sprouts, Hot sauce and even homemade detergent!!! Lovely people too ;)
they don’t except food stamps or involved in any programs and so you will have to go downtown for that. Definitely worth a sat morning!!!

I simply love this Farmers Market and so does my entire family. The music, the food, the people. Its a great time ever time we go.
We typically frequent the same vendors, Mrs Rasmey, Tamale addiction, Smith and Smith or Richardson Farms, or Vital Farms (for eggs). JBG, always a wonderful stop. We almost always stop at the Indian food booth down at the end by the dairy place (I forgot the name) across from the honey. Anyhow. Its great! We love the chickpea spinach!
And we enjoy seeing the new things, and trying new things.
We go when we have a chance to head south on a Saturday morning.

This is no longer a «farmer’s market». It has become a flea market. If you want tie dye shirts and fake glasses (seriously?!) then they have a good selection. If you want fresh veggies, better go elsewhere. Four farmers here today with vegetables. Lots of booths, but very few that belong at a farmer’s market.

I’ve only been to two farmer’s markets in Austin: this one and the Mueller one. This one wins by a landslide in terms of convenience, variety, and size (although the Mueller one is really making leaps and bounds).
I’ve talked to many of the vendors here and they are all very knowledgeable, super friendly, and never pushy. My favorite find is the smoked salmon stand, from whom I’ve gotten smoked salmon belly cubes and gravlax, and both products have been truly outstanding.
This farmer’s market is big enough to allow you to do a little price shopping (rhubarb prices were all over the place when I was there). And it’s absolutely lovely that the parking is two feet away, so that I don’t have to carry the way-​too-​heavy-​load of stuff I wasn’t supposed to buy too far.
Plus, where else can you get a lobster roll while you browse? ¹⁰⁄₁₀ will go again.

Love it :) so much fresh produces, it was so nice to see all the varieties of vendors. We sure will be going back.

Simply amazing… support your local farmers!

This review is for the Barton Creek Farmer’s Market at Highland (it’s second location). I live in Highland and have always wanted to go one of the Austin Farmer’s markets, but the markets around my hood are on inconvenient days or don’t offer much variety. Fortunately, that is no longer the truth! I went to the Highland market today (Sunday) and they had everything I needed! Eggs, fruits, vegetables, meat, hummus, bread, baked goods! All of it was there and it wasn’t crowded! I’ll be back every week.
More importantly, I think it sends a great message to the people in the neighborhood. It’s possible to get fresh, local, and organic produce, meats, and diary in the neighborhood!

I saw another Asian family here. Let’s be honest guys, why would Asians be coming here? Why am I here? We’re known to be kind of cheap, and it’s a little expensive. However, I’m valuing my own personal health more, so I’m for the organic, and it really DOES taste better. Austin is turning me into someone else. I never thought I’d go to a farmer’s market for that organic stuff, but lo and behold, after four years, here I am.
It was a fun experience. Not the most ideal for the summer due to the heat, but I bought some peaches and a variety of peppers that I’m excited to cook with. The vendors are enthusiastic and knowledgeable about what they’re selling. Lots of parking. Big space.
I definitely want to come back. There was a lot of, «Oh, what’s that? I’ve never seen that before. I want to buy it and eat it.»
For any first timers thinking of coming here, Barton Creek Mall has a bunch of signs to steer in finding the market. They’ve got TacoDeli and tamales on site as well. Happy shopping (and eating)!

I love this farmers market location for the easy parking, spacious common areas, and larger booths.
The selection is perfect, and the prices are great!
no dusty venue!

The more I walked around here, the more I liked it. I actually thought the notion of having a Saturday morning farmer’s market in a mall parking lot was silly, but they’ve made it work here. It’s easy to get in and out, it’s easy to park, and you’re doing your bit for the local organic sustainable revolution.
I counted sixty-​one different booths here (okay, sixty-​two if you include the live musicians selling their CDs while performing), and more than half were featuring local produce, breads, meats, eggs, nuts, dairy, honey and hummus. The rest were prepared foods (TacoDeli is apparently at every farmer’s market), with several artisan craft, clothing and jewelry booths. I think I was most fascinated by a custom soda purveyor, who featured innovative fruit-​flavored concoctions at $ 18 a six-​pack.
It’s easy to forget you’re in a mall parking lot: It’s smartly arranged, you essentially walk around in an oval track with booths around you, and on one end you can sit and eat and listen to whoever is performing. There’s also a handy ATM available for your convenience.
In an odd way, this farmer’s market actually makes a perfect Saturday «day-​date» — if you were planning to hit the mall anyway, just come early enough to stroll through this unexpected organic and sustainable respite, stuff your purchases in a cooler in your car, and then head back into that real world of commerce and industry, the mighty world of Barton Creek Mall.

Wow, I am reviewing something related to another Farmers Market… shocking (NOT). Farmers Markets are why I look forward to Saturday mornings, and this is by far my favorite one in Austin.
They moved her in the spring from Sunset Valley (which was very confusing… since there is still a market in Sunset Valley)… I think there was some political stuff going on.
Nevertheless, they have an amazing offering of local produce, prepared foods, live music and more artists per capita than the SFC markets… which is part of why I love them. Veges for the week, breakfast (shared with the pups), live music AND I can buy jewelry if I want to. All of this is packed into the NE corner of the mall with the city skyline as a back drop…
There is some overlap of produce and prepared food vendors at the Saturday markets… but here is a sampling of some vendors you will only find here on a Saturday:
— Terra Wear (my FAVORITE local Jewelry artist)
— Caeda Farms (usually in the SE corner of the market… they have tomatoes in the winter, figs and berries in the summer, flowers, jams, and very wonderful yet reasonably priced seasonal organic produce)
— Texas Lavender — soaps, lotions and other lavender products
— Full Quiver Farm (great cheeses)
— Poems on the Spot While You Shop (she will write you a poem on a typewriter, while you shop)… how originally Austin!
You can also sample at some of the vendors with prepared foods to start off a Saturday «victory lap» of samples.
Go early in the summer, the cool produce goes fast and it also heats up fast. So if it is too hot… leave the pups at home that week, they will thank you!

I was very apprehensive about the Sunset Valley Farmers Market moving to the parking lot of Barton Creek Mall. But, I have to say I like it even more!
The new location is in the NE corner of the Dillard’s parking lot but it is up on a hill with great views overlooking the city and there is plenty of parking in a real parking lot (no getting blocked in by people parking wherever).
Most of my favorite Farms are here as well as so many new ones plus great artists and music (the musicians moved with them). Hillside Farms and Austin Boxer Rescue made the move as well as many farmers and vendors who decided to set up booths at both locations. Taco Deli has a booth!
My new favorite vendor find here was Sassi Lassi — super yummy healthy probiotic filled Mango Lassi!!!

I LOVE the SVFM! Unlike others, I pretty much dig the chaos. I love the limitations on the vendors… local grown/​local made. I even don’t mind the bounce house. As a mom, I get that having entertainment around for your kids allows it to be an enjoyable experience for the whole family.
I love to people watch and there is always a very interesting mix here, complete with dogs. and truth be told, I think I enjoy dog watching even more than people watching.
A couple of reviewers found it a bit expensive. I didn’t have any problems with the prices on the produce and I don’t buy too many of the «prepared» products. We try to make a loop before we start buying so we can check out all the various prices on things. It usually pays to do this as we will typically find a slightly better deal. I always come home inspired to cook more and eat better.
A highlight for me is always the Buddha’s Brew tent. I admit, I have a bit of a habit when it comes to this golden elixir. And it don’t come cheap. This is one of the main reasons I drag my sorry butt out of the house most Saturday’s is to get down to the farmer’s market before they sell out of my fave flave… original. Costing anywhere from $ 3.50 to $ 4.99 retail, this cure-​all is available for $ 2.50 a pop when you buy six or more. You can even get all crazy and mix it up between the various flavors.

I have to update because I just have to tell everyone about a really fabulous vendor I discovered here at Sunset Valley. They sell hummus, tabouli, flat round loaves of bread that they call pita (but does not look like the pocket bread that we are used to calling pita) and spinach pies.
This hummus is the best freakin’ hummus I have ever had. Seriously. I mean, I have tried hummus at Costco, different vendors at farmers markets, you name it. Those are ok, but this is the best — by a mile.
I brought some home and my husband, who is usually «meh» about hummus, scarfed it down and announced: «This is the best Hummus I have ever had!»
Last time I was there, I told the nice lady how much we loved it and she explained why it was so great — she said: «We live to make hummus» and she was serious. Her family uses organic garbanzos, soaks them, prepares them with fresh squeezed organic lemon juice and garlic and spices. She said they go through a food processor every couple of weeks. It is amazing.
I just tried one of their spinach pies this morning. Holy moly! It was still a little warm because I’ll bet they were made this morning. It must have had a half a pound of spinach in it, flavored with lemon with a little cheese I would not have surprised to hear was homemade. At least half a pound of spinach was encased in a thin crust, twisted in a round, with a sprinkling of sesame seeds. As I was eating my spinach pie in the car on the way home, I almost did a U turn so I could go back and buy a dozen more.
This place is amazing. Food made with love. Seriously. You HAVE to go try their hummus and spinach pie.

It’s nearly January, so here are the things to go find at the market. In other words, lay off the imported strawberries from Peru and the peaches from Costa Rica that you find at the grocery store. If you eat seasonally you can eat cheaply and support local growers.
*regular and Napa cabbage ($ 3-​$ 4)
*Pad Choy ($ 2-​$ 3)
*Broccoli rabe ($ 3)
*kale ($ 2-​$ 3)
*lettuces of all kinds ($ 1.50-$ 2)
*cukes, tomatoes ($ 3-​$ 4)
*broccoli ($ 3)
*cauliflower ($ 3-​$ 4)
Also, Katz’s coffee is greatness (4 packs for $ 16 or so), agave syrup is our new honey, and we also love the chicken farmers, egg farmers (about $ 4.25.doz), and the grass fed lamb. We’d shop there on days other than Saturday if we could.
If you have not been, you will have a great time. If you have been, remember the seasons and what there is to enjoy in each of them.
* If you don’t know how to cook something, try a cooking website or ask the farmers for ideas.

A very nice selection of all sorts of foods — fruits, veggies, meats, cheeses, breads, and much, much more.
The market is laid out nicely, it was crowded but easy to move around. A band played in a little central, awning-​covered area, with people sitting down with coffee or fruit drinks and eating the some of the amazing array of things to nosh upon.
While shopping, we ate a strawberry scone and a samosa, but were constantly tempted. Every step brought a new decision -(do we really need one of those giant cinnamon rolls)? I had a pretty decent cup of coffee and my wife enjoyed a large glass of pomegranate limeade.
The Fredericksburg peaches we bought were perfectly ripe, sweet as all get out.
The bottom line is that yes, you should get up early every now and then on a Saturday and check out this market. Its fun, the food is very good, and you can eat yourself sick with all the treats.