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Lunch » Tags » Food » Reviews » McKinney Farmer's Market

McKinney Farmer's Market

2 Ratings: 4.5

A weekly farmer's market in McKinney, Texas

The McKinney Farmer's Market is also known as the Chestnut Square Farmer's Market. Chestnut Square Historic Village, located southeast of McKinney's historic downtown square, is a collection of historic buildings which comprise … see full wiki

Tags: Food, Gourmand, Green Living, Eco Friendly, Farmers Markets

1 review about McKinney Farmer's Market

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McKinney Texas has cultivated a great Farmer's Market!

Jul 26, 2009

by AmandaB

Rating:

McKinney's Farmer's Market has blossomed into a wonderful weekly event, drawing vendors and customers from many surrounding communities.

Just a few years ago, the McKinney Farmer's Market wasn't widely known around town. I didn't even know it existed until I read about the loss of the market's former venue to a new parking lot or some such urban development, at which time the market simply skipped a year. The fate of the market was unsure until it found its current home at Chestnut Square.

I discovered the market last year, just something to do on a Saturday morning that would contribute to local business. At that time, there were relatively few vendors: Rehoboth Ranch (a local organic farmer), a few tables of fruits and vegetables of both local and mysterious origin, a booth of coffee, bottled water and coffee cake, etc.

A true farmer's market, in my opinion, should offer only local goods. I don't want to buy non-native fruit (with grocery stickers affixed) at the farmer's market. Plums from California, or Avocados from Mexico, do not belong in a North Texas farmer's market. And the people selling these items seemed to disappear quickly.

The true local vendors stood out and are still there today, including (but not limited to):

Rehoboth Ranch offers organically raised meats and eggs. All the animals are pastured/grass fed their entire lives on a family run farm 35 miles east of McKinney. We started buying eggs from the Rehoboth Ranch booth, progressed to a turkey last Thanksgiving, and now buy a monthly delivery of meat and eggs.
Dominion Farms out of Denison, TX for meats.
The Canine Cookie Company (aka dog biscuit lady). She sells home-made squirrel-shaped dog biscuits, and now, "pupcakes". She brings her dog, probably the luckiest dog in the world.
The pepper vendor. Locally grown jalapenos,. bell peppers, etc. Spicy stuff!
Several other local produce tables with melons, onions, tomatoes, squash, etc. and honey vendors, etc.

Newer vendors have become part of the market:

Cafe Malaga, a popular tapas restaurant just off the square in McKinney, offers light fare in the form of pitas with hummus, bacon-wrapped dates and the like. Say hello to Annie Stokes, proprietess.
Live herb and flower vendors
Today, I was thrilled to see Texas Olive Ranch represented, selling their delicious olive oils and stuffed olives. I first found their Texas Olive Oil at Tom Spicer's place in East Dallas (adjacent to Jimmy's, and part of a whole different review). It's good stuff. The olive oil is a delicious condiment in itself, with a peppery finish, something you can send to your non-Texas relatives with pride, rather than a Texas shotglass or giant jelly beans.
More "real" vendors with smaller quantities of local items: jams, soaps, potted herbs, flowers.

Chestnut Square is a collection of historic buildings. Often, there are events taking place in conjunction with the market. Perhaps a dulcimer concert or a demonstration of Dutch oven cooking. The shade trees form a beautiful canopy, so even when it is hot, there is nice shade. Dallas' summer mornings are usually quite bearable.

Kids seem to love the McKinney Farmer's Market.

McKinney's Farmer's Market is dog-friendly. There are always well-behaved, leashed dogs with their owners.

Parking is ample, free and convenient. There are several public lots nearby, all free.

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Bethany_K July 26, 2009

Great review! I wish I was in Texas to visit it. I couldn't agree more that a farmer's market is best when it supports local business and provides local produce/products. This one sounds fantastic. There are a couple other farmers market fans on Lunch that you might be interested in checking out including @HealthyRache and @HostessTori (who wrote a cool review on the 10 Best Fruits and Veggies to buy organic).

My favorite purchase at my local farmers market used to be mozzarella, tomatoes and fresh herbs (a la caprese). You might be interested in my basil review.:)

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