Farm Fresh Finds: A Fun Day at the Dallas Farmers Market

This past weekend, we spent the day exploring the Dallas Farmers Market. I had been wanting to go there for years, and I am actually surprised it took me this long, I love Farmers markets, and this one is just a short 30 minute drive from my house. We had such a fun day at the Dallas Farmers Market, I will definitely be back more frequently!

The market is situated amidst the towering skyscrapers and bustling city life of downtown Dallas. Since its establishment in 1941, it has significantly expanded and now offers a wide range of seasonal produce, free-range meats, fresh eggs, as well as various locally crafted artisanal goods, handmade arts, and crafts. Visitors can expect only the freshest products that support local farmers and businesses, all sourced from within Texas or within a 400-mile radius of Dallas. The market comprises three main sections: The Shed, an open-air pavilion open every Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm; the Market building, which operates seven days a week; and the shops at Harvest Lofts.

Our day began at The Market, and I was thrilled to find out that it was indoors, which was a relief given the hot weather! The Market is housed in a 26,000 square foot building and operates daily from 10 am to 7 pm. It features local vendors, specialty foods, artisan products, fresh produce and meats, along with food stalls and restaurants.

Arriving at the market feeling hungry and ready for brunch, we strolled around taking in all of the various tempting choices available. Eventually, we decided on dining at Rex's Seafood, attracted by the availability of two seats at the bar and the attentive, friendly staff. Our meal included crawfish hush puppies, a huge seafood omelet, and fish tacos, all of which we thoroughly enjoyed!

Following our lunch, we were eager to visit The Shed for some exploration and were delighted by the diverse selection of local vendors presenting beautifully crafted artisanal goods, locally sourced food items, fresh produce, and more. We found numerous items we were eager to try and purchased several as well. Below are a few of the local vendors we discovered.

Our first visit was to Victoria Chefina Chocolates, where we tried her handcrafted liqueur chocolates and caramels. They were incredibly tasty, prompting us to purchase both the rum chocolates and the whiskey caramels. This small, family-owned artisan chocolate manufacturer is a Rockwall, Texas based company where the Chocolatier, Victoria makes handmade fine European style gourmet chocolates with liqueur.

Next we stopped by Rika's Spicy BBQ and sampled their spicy Portuguese BBQ Marinated chicken. It was so delicious we had to get a bottle to take home. We bought the medium flavor, but they have mild, medium, and hot. They also offer a dry mix. If you visit their website or Instagram page you will find some inspiration and recipe ideas

I loved sampling several of the nut butters and honey from The Nutty Side, this local Texas vendor offers several different peanut butters and nut butters plus a variety of local Texas honey. I decided to purchase the mixed nut butter and the hot chili honey! I cannot wait to try some recipes with the hot honey and I look forward to hopefully finding them again at the market in the future.

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The CRAV Company make handcrafted sustainable candles and they smell amazing!! We purchased a new scent, the Nova Candle and the room spray. I had not heard of this company until I stopped by their booth at the market, but they are now my favorite candle company! And if you want to learn how to make your own candle with a custom scent, they offer candle-making classes at their Dallas location every Saturday at 1 pm and Thursday at 7 pm and their Plano location, one Friday a month.

There is a wide variety of fresh produce available at the market, including vine-ripened tomatoes which smelled so good. The peaches look ripe and juicy, and the peppers are equally appealing.

Remember to bring your own bags and perhaps a cooler to make the most of your

day exploring, tasting, and shopping.

While shopping it was so nice to stop by the Happy Tap Truck for a refreshment. This Dallas-based mobile bar is operated by husband and wife team, Kristi and Sandro. Their trunk rental is perfect for private events, they serve wine, prosecco, hard cider and draft cocktails on tap from their cute little happy tap truck. We so enjoyed meeting them, Kristi was fun and my girlfriend enjoyed trying several samples. Our favorite quote from them was perfect for the day, "We keep drinking so we can discover new things." We agreed : )

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After exploring The Shed, we walked over to the shops at Harvest Lofts where we visited several stores. I loved Nikki Smith Designs, her jewelry is quite popular in Dallas and is in over 1,000 boutiques worldwide. I love the butterfly ring that I purchased. We also stopped in the Texas Goods Co, which offers a wide variety of fun gifts, home décor, trendy jewelry and clothing, plus lots of unique Texas Souvenirs. Ka Classics Apparel is a beautiful boutique offering breathable blends and timeless classics.

Our time at the Dallas Farmers Market was so much fun. We enjoyed a leisurely four-hour stroll through the market and shops, I think one could easily spend a whole day there. I am excited to come back and explore more local artisans and their unique products.

If you have visited the Dallas Farmers Market, I would love any suggestions or recommendations you may have for my next visit!