The Farmers Market at Imperial in Sugar Land has been extended to be a year-round affair. It was initially scheduled to conclude in early December, but its popularity with the local community has prompted its sponsors to stand behind the market on an annual basis.

The market brings together the largest collection of farmers, prepared food vendors and artisans in the Fort Bend area, attracting residents with fresh, organic food, ethnic cuisine, cooking demonstrations, live music and more. Farmers include Animal Farm, Gundermann Acres (formerly Gundermann Farms), Secret Garden and Country Boy. Enchanted Nurseries and Landscapes (one of the sponsors) sells plants, shrubs and seasonal decor. There’s even a local blacksmith who crafts items like belt buckles, bookmarks and keychains onsite…a cool thing to look in on as you make the rounds.  See the list of market vendors.

The Farmers Market at Imperial is held every Saturday morning from 9am-1pm on the historic Imperial Sugar grounds located at the intersection of Highway 90 at Brooks Street. Check the calendar if you plan to visit. Some days there are yoga demonstrations, Imperial Sugar facility tours, etc.

Note: Though it is closed today (Dec. 31, 2011) the market will re-open on January 7, 2012. See you around!

Urban Harvest will be holding a fruit tree sale on Saturday, May 7, 2011. Location: Urban Harvest Farmers Market, located at Richmond Street & Eastside Street from 8:00 a.m. – noon. If you’re looking for something interesting and need information on how to get great results, you’ll be surrounded by experts!

We ventured out to Highland Village Farmers Market this Saturday and caught the grand opening celebration as well as Dylan Murray’s free cooking demonstration: local shrimp ceviche and beet salad. It was a wonderful start to the chef series, and a tasty way to get familiar with some of the great products available now at the market.

Dylan’s presentation was excellent and it was a pleasure to chat with him just after the demonstration, something that quite a few market-goers took the opportunity to do.

Navigating the vendor’s booths afterward, it was clear that a lot of people showed up to support the market earlier in the morning. Many of the vendors were running low on their products, if not completely sold out (I’m looking at you, Blue Heron Farm). We can’t wait to see what Chef Ryan Pera, of The Grove has in store for us next Saturday.

A word of advice… go early and get first dibs on what is shaping up to be a bountiful spring in Houston (especially if you want organic strawberries).