Stock your July Fourth celebration with local fruits, veggies and more at one of several farmers markets that will be open on the holiday, which this year falls on a Saturday.
The Historic McKinney Farmers Market will host its 25th annual Ice-Cream Crank-Off and Festival from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 4, with homemade ice cream, entertainment, face painting and pony rides ― all in addition to its usual vendors.
The Dallas Farmers Market will bring in extra flats of East Texas blueberries, and other markets that will be open on the July 4 include St. Michael’s, White Rock and Coppell.
Each market has a COVID-19 protocol, including widely spaced booths, social distancing, extra sanitation and hand-washing stations ― and, at the least, encouragement to wear a face mask.
In addition to blueberries, Texas peaches and tomatoes are in high season right now along with loads of other fresh local foods perfect for a Fourth of July cookout. These include new potatoes, watermelon (probably from South Texas) and farm eggs, as well as artisan and jarred goods, sweets, grass-fed meats and more.
Grass-fed ground beef is a great way to start your cookout burgers, and buying local helps ranchers, as about 200 pounds of ground beef is generated from every animal. So once the steaks and roasts are gone, there’s always plenty of ground beef to go around.
Check out the website or Facebook page of your favorite local market to see whether it’s open July 4, too.
Camp Brisket lottery
Every January, Foodways Texas hosts its Camp Brisket at Texas A&M University ― so wildly popular that slots are awarded by lottery. The two-day intensive focuses on all things brisket: grades and types of beef, types of smokers, wrapping vs. not wrapping meat and more.
For the upcoming 2021 session, to be held Jan. 8-9, the lottery will be on July 29. But Camp Brisket is open only to Foodways Texas members. So if you want to be in the running for a spot, join Foodways by July 10 at foodwaystexas.org. Then register for the lottery drawing. Registration for Camp Brisket is $495, which excludes transportation and lodging.
Farmers markets
Clearfork Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. 4801 Edwards Ranch Road, Fort Worth (the Trailhead at Clearfork). farmersmarket1848.com.
Coppell Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. 768 W. Main St., off Bethel Road. 972-304-7043. coppellfarmersmarket.org.
Cowtown Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. 3821 Southwest Blvd., Fort Worth, under the tents in the parking lot of Texas Outdoors, on the Weatherford traffic circle (the confluence of U.S. 377, State Highway 183 and Camp Bowie). 817-763-0193. Facebook: Cowtown Farmers Market.
Dallas Farmers Market: The Shed, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Closed Monday-Thursday. The Market food hall, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily (until 8 p.m. Fridays). 1010 S. Pearl Expressway. 214-664-9110. dallasfarmersmarket.org.
Denton Community Market: 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. 317 W. Mulberry St. dentoncommunitymarket.com.
Edens Organic Garden Center and CSA Farm: Market days 9 a.m. to noon on the first, third and fifth Saturdays through December. 4710 Pioneer Road, Balch Springs. Edensorganicfarm.com.
Farmers Market of Grapevine: Year-round store: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. 520 S. Main. farmersmarketofgrapevine.com.
Four Seasons Market-Carrollton: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. 2722 N. Josey Lane. fourseasonsmarkets.com.
Four Seasons Market-Colleyville: 3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays. 100 Main St., Colleyville. fourseasonsmarkets.com
Four Seasons Market-Flower Mound: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. 1500 Cross Timbers Road. fourseasonsmarkets.com.
Four Seasons Market–MacArthur Park: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. 7701 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving. fourseasonsmarkets.com.
Four Seasons Market-Richardson: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Dal-Rich Towne Square, 101 S. Coit Road. Fourseasonsmarkets.com.
Frisco Fresh Market: Outdoor market 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Main Street at Frisco Street, adjacent to the east side parking lot of Toyota Stadium, Frisco. friscofreshmarket.com
Frisco Rotary Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Note new location: Frisco Square, 6048 Frisco Blvd. friscorotaryfarmersmarket.com
Georgia’s Farmers Market: Open daily. 916 15th St., Plano. 972-516-4765. Facebook: Georgia’s Farmers Market.
Grand Prairie Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Market Square, 121 W. Main St. gptx.org.
Historic McKinney Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays. Chestnut Square Historic Village, 315 S. Chestnut St., McKinney. 972-562-8790. Facebook: Historic McKinney Farmers Market.
Lakewood Village Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. Mockingbird at Abrams, Dallas. goodlocalmarkets.org.
Lola’s Local Market: Noon to 6 p.m. Fridays, noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Home of Lola the Pig. 1771 Kever Main (off State Highway 5), Melissa. Facebook: Lola’s Local Market.
Luscombe Farm Market: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every second and fourth Sunday. 8649 Luscombe Farm Drive, Anna. 214-212-0814. luscombefarm.com.
Mesquite Marketplace: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every second and fourth Saturday. Heritage Square, 150 W. Main St. themarketplacedfw.com.
Railcar Farmers Market of Van Alstyne: 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Main Street at Cooper, Van Alstyne. Facebook: Railcar Farmers Market of Van Alstyne.
Ridgmar Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays. 900 State Highway 183 N. (across from Ridgmar Mall), Fort Worth. 817-246-7525.
Rockwall Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays. 101 Rusk St., historic downtown Rockwall square. rockwallfarmersmarket.org.
St. Michael’s Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. North parking lot, St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 8011 Douglas Ave., Dallas. saintmichaelsmarket.com.
West Plano Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Corner of Plano Parkway and Chapel Hill. The Shops at Willow Bend, 6121 W. Park Blvd. Facebook: Red Tent Markets.
White Rock Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Lake Pointe Church, 9150 Garland Road, Dallas. goodlocalmarkets.org.
Correction, July 27 at 9:30 a.m.: The Farmers Branch Market at The Grove at Mustang Crossing has been canceled.