HOT Urban Gardening Coalition

Look for the label.

The food items on your dinner table traveled an average of 1500 miles before reaching your dinner plate.  That means many dollars in fuel were spent to support large business in other parts of the country.  Eat local.  Buy Local.  Be Local.  Support Texan farmers.  Support local economies.  Buy in season.

While this list is certainly not comprehensive, we have tried to provide listings for local producers who grow in the “tweener” zone between DFW and Austin – in the Heart of Texas.  And feel free to contribute more sources of locally produced goods to this list.

General Resources:

• Go Texan. Sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture, the Go Texan program promotes the products, culture and communities of Texas. Provides information on Texas farmers and producers and vineyards – as well as recipes on cooking seasonally with Texas produce.    Look for the easily recognizable mark— a glowing brand in the shape of Texas — taps into Lone Star loyalty.
• Local Harvest. Listings for farms, CSAs, farmers markets, food coop, local producers and upcoming events.
• Waco Downtown Farmers Market. 9-1 on Saturdays, featuring tons of local producers, artisans, and chefs.
  

Local Vegetable and Fruit Growers:

• Cooper Farms (Fairfield, TX).  Specializing in peaches, tomatoes (vine-grown 10 months out of the year), and pecans – as well as their own line of jarred salsas and jams.  Have truck/farm stands in Conroe, Waco, Huntsville, Madisonville, Centerville, Corsicana, and Fairfield.

• Eden Creek Farms (Blooming Grove, TX – 53 miles NE of Waco). All produce grown by organic, bio-dynamic, bio-intesive, sustainable methods. Operate vegetable CSA and beef CSA. Future expansion of the farm includes the establishment of several greenhouses, a vineyard and winery.
• Epps Family Farm (Calvert, TX – 60 miles SE of Waco). A small family farm, growing and raising all of our produce and meats naturally. All of our animals are treated very well and fed an all natural diet. We do have plenty of BLACKBERRIES, WATERMELON, CANTALOUPE and SWEET POTATOES in season. . Our pigs are Heritage breeds of LARGE BLACK and RED WATTLES and crosses.

• Greener Vision Farms (Kempner, TX – 72 miles SW of Waco).  Share the vision: farm, fresh local produce, organically and sustainably grown on a small family farm.  And Free Range chicken eggs.

• Honey Creek Produce (Hico, TX – 70 miles W of Waco).  Fresh vegetables and rotationally grazed meat, from our garden to your kitchen. No pesticides, chemical fertilizers, hormones or preservatives.

• Lightsey Farms (Mexia, TX – 45 miles W of Waco).  Grower of fresh fruit – such as pears, peaches, figs, persimmons – & vegetables grown directly from our farm. The Family has been in the business for more than 65 years.

• McCrary Farms (Kosse, TX – 48 miles SE of Waco). Our garden consists of: tomatoes, yellow crooked neck squash, butternut squash, zucchini, eggplant, corn, sweet banana peppers, jalapeno peppers, purple hull peas, black eyed peas, zipper peas, cream peas, okra, potatoes, green beans, watermelon, and canteloupe.
• Morris Farms (Teague, TX – 55 miles E of Waco).  Raising purple hull peas, cream peas, blackeye peas, tomatoes, green beans, butter beans , pinto beans. squash, eggplant, okra, onions, and more.
• Re-Creation Ranch (Peoria, TX – 40 miles N of Waco).  Local organic farm. starter plants, fresh salad greens, grass fed beef, BBQ and campfire wood.
• Vanderpool Gourmet Gardens (China Springs, TX – 13 miles NW of Waco).  CSA and Farm that specializes in Gourmet Garlic and Vegetables. We use sustainable and natural methods to grow our produce and enrich our land and local community. We are testing over 50 varieties of Garlic pioneering a new generation of garlic growing in the South. We also raise honey bees and some fruits.
  

• World Hunger Relief (Waco, TX).  Providing fresh chemical-free vegetables throughout the 7-month season – for CSA customer.  Farm stand every Saturday from 10am – 3pm.  Raw goats milk, pastured chicken eggs, pecans, goat meat, beef, turkey and more!  Educational farm tours available.

Local Meat Producers:

• Camelot Manor (Bruceville, TX – 20 miles S of Waco).  A family farm raising high quality grass-fed St. Croix Sheep, Boer Goats, Large Black Hogs, Red Wattle Hogs, and Angus Beef.  Hoping to start a CSA in 2010-2011.

• Crown Hill Farm (Bynum, TX – 34 miles N of Waco).  Raising grass-fed black angus beef, custom processed to customer specifications. Seasonally, custom-raised and custom-processed chicken and pork.  And fresh, orange-yolked eggs.  Farm tours available.
• DNA Longhorn Ranch (Lott, TX – 28 miles S of Waco).  Raising 98% lean, hormone-free, antibiotic-free, Longhorn beef.  Free roaming in serene pastures – always treated with loving care.  Leaner than white chicken meat and much tastier.

• Esquivel Family Farm (Penelope, TX – 25 miles NE of Waco).  Home of antibiotic free/hormone free pasture raised pigs, chickens, sheep and goats.  Farm-fresh meat and eggs.
• Farfrumit Farm (Purmela, TX – 53 miles W of Waco).  We raise chicken the natural way–on pasture and feed them whole grains and legumes. We are trying to start a chicken co-op where we can deliver fresh chicken and eggs to members either once or twice a month the entire growing season.
  
• Fresh Pastures Farm (Taylor, TX – 76 miles S of Waco).  Source of Beyond Organic pastured turkey, chicken, rabbit and eggs.  healthy, hormone-free and nutritionally superior to meat from industrial confinement factory farms.

• Homestead Heritage (Waco, TX). Operates a bakery and deli for delicious food, general store for seed and tool buying needs, pottery studio, blacksmithery, wood-carving and woodworking workshop, and offers other information on general homesteading.  Available for tours, host workshops throughout the year, and open daily for eating or shopping excursions.

• JZJ Natural Beef (Troy, TX – 27 miles S of Waco).  JZJ Natural Beef is produced with cattle that are raised on grass, legumes such as alfalfa, clover or vetch, hay and grain rations.

• Live Oak Natural Beef (Jonesboro, TX – 52 miles W of Waco).  Raise Naturally Grown, Grass-Fed Beef NO Hormones, NO Growth Stimulants, NO Additives, NO Animal By Products
• Lovejoy Farms (Clifton, TX – 35 miles NW of Waco).  Raises and markets clean 100% grass fed beef. No antibiotics, growth hormones, or chemical wormers are used —ever.
• P.O.P. Acres Ranch & Farm (Purdon, TX – 45 miles NE of Waco).  Grass-Fed Beef raised on organic pastures. Peaceful, gentle handling methods.  Pecans available seasonally.
• Ready 2 Rope Ranch (Hico, TX – 65 miles NW of Waco). Ready 2 Rope Ranche raises grass fed steers, cows and bulls. The cattle in our program have not been given growth hormones or antibiotics of any kind.

Local Egg Distributors:

• Haney Farm and Eggs (Whitney, TX – 36 miles NW of Waco).  Providing organically raised pastured eggs.

• Raindance Ranch (China Springs, TX – 11 miles NW of Waco).  RAINDANCE Ranch is proud to announce the availability of our free range, pasture fed chicken eggs for sale. We have Australorpes, Production Reds, Silver Lace Wyandottes and Speckled Sussex. The eggs are a range of beautiful brown colors, and the taste is beyond compare.

Local Honey Producers:

• Walker Honey Farm (Rogers, TX – 54 miles S of Waco).  Numerous varieties of honey, as well as spreads, butter, soaps, and beeswax candles.
• World Hunger Relief, Inc. (Waco, TX).

Local Milk Distributors:

• Mill-King Market (McGregor, TX – 19miles SW of Waco).  We are the Millers, and we are located in central Texas outside of Waco. We are a family run farm that has been in operation for three generations. We have a combination of handpicked Holsteins, Brown Swiss, and Jerseys that make up our certified grade A raw milk. This produces a milk that is rich with cream, but also smooth for drinking.
• Nors Dairy (Abbott, TX – 25 miles N of Waco).  Grass-fed Grade A Retail Raw Cow’s Milk.
• Sandcreek Farms (Cameron, TX – 60 miles S of Waco).  primary product is grassfed, grain-free Raw Milk.  SCF is also home to dairy cattle, grass fed beef, egg layers, broilers, turkeys and hogs and cultivates quite a few crops for forage as well as a small orchard and a rather large garden.
• World Hunger Relief, Inc.

Local Cheese Producers:

• Caprino Royale (Waco, TX).  Farmstead artisianal goat cheese from purebred nubian goats.  Caprino Royale is a micro-dairy and small sustainable farm producing pasture based products.  The farm is owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Eric Tippit and Karen Dierolf.
• Homestead Heritage (Waco, TX).

• Veldhuizen Cheese (Dublin, TX – 90 miles NW of Waco).  Contented cows grazing  green pastures give rich golden milk which is made into our artisan cheese.  A small family farm that believes in careful care of the natural resources, commitment to quality in caring for our animals, and making the finest quality cheese.

Regional Farmers Markets and Market Stores:

• Heart of Texas Farmers Market (Waco).  Located at the HOT Coliseum.  Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 7am – 2pm.  Opens May 8.  WIC coupons accepted.
• Hummingbird Produce and Country Market (Corsicana, TX – 56 miles NE of Waco).  A small farmers market store offering locally grown Fresh Texas produce as well as handmade Tamales, and Homemade Style Jellies, Jams, Butters, Preserves, Syrups, Pickled Vegetables.
• Killeen Park Street Farmers Market (Killeen, TX – 61 miles SW of Waco).  If you grow it you can sell. No reselling allowed. The best in local home grown fruits & vegetables in Bell County. WIC Coupons accepted.

Local Wineries:

• Tehuacana Creek Vineyard (Waco, TX).  Family-owned boutique winery located outside Waco, Texas – offering a number of unique Texas wines for sale at the winery and a brand new Wine Club.  Visit the vineyard for free tours and tastings.
• Valley Mills Vineyard (Waco, TX). The Valley Mills Vineyards Winery and Tasting Room opened in November, 2010. This boutique winery grows several unusual varieties of grapes. Open Thursday through Sunday.