Homegrown produce in big demand

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Season's Best ... A shopper to the Victoria Farmers Market asks the producers from Enriquez Farms about their fresh selections. While there are hundreds of farmers markets in the state, 60 are certified through the Texas Department of Agriculture. -- Staff photo by Taylor

August 7, 2003 -- For many "city folks," the local farmers market is the closest they will ever get to homegrown produce.

The latest count by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), in 2002, shows there are 60 certified farmers markets across Texas; and many of them are located in South Central Texas.

At the local farmers market in Victoria, Harrison and Dorris Raska helped organize the first market 19 years ago, and it is still operating every Wednesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The Raskas live south of Victoria and raise a large variety of produce, including tomatoes, squash, green beans and cucumbers. They have been farming "about 35 years," according to Harrison, who claims to be the "marketing manager" of the family.

When the market first started, Dorris said there were more members involved, but throughout the years, the numbers continue to fall. Like most other ag-related professions, the younger generation seems to shy away from gardening.

"If we don't get some kids in the market, soon, there's not going to be a market," explained Dorris.

She said that they have offered free membership to 4-H and FFA students to participate and sell their produce, but there have been few who took them up on the offer.

When the season began in May, there were around eight producers offering fresh produce at the Victoria market, said Dorris. As the season is winding down, the numbers have disappeared, too.

According to the Raskas, the market's major season runs from May until the end of July, and re-opens in the fall with the later crops of produce, after the heat of the summer is over.

One point brought up by Dorris is the certified farmers markets accept the WIC cards that are issued by the state, so many of the families who qualify for these cards are able to purchase fresh produce.

While some of the smaller "mom and pop" roadside vegetable markets are not certified by the state, those like the one in Victoria have met vigorous state and local rules and regulations to insure the safety of their products.

The Victoria market rents the space for the market from the county, and inspections are done by the health department as well as the TDA.

Two products faced with regulatory changes are fresh honey and eggs. While markets were able to sell fresh eggs without refrigeration, regulations now insist that the eggs be kept cold and at a certain degree of temperature, thus removing them from most markets, Dorris explained. And, honey must be "pure," packaged and labeled by the beekeepers.

Although the economy in Texas has not been as good this year, Dorris said the market has done a lot of business this season. On a good day, she said it is not unusual for the market to bring in $3,000 to $4,000 a day.

While all the cost, such as the purchase of seeds, and the work leading up to the sale of the produce is very labor intensive ... planting, watering and harvesting ... the profits can be great.

The major problem the producers see, now, is the lack of younger growers getting into the business. With many of the sellers at, or rapidly approaching, retirement, they are wondering what the future of farmers markets will bring.

Even if consumers will be able to purchase produce at local grocery markets, it isn't the same as buying from a local producer. There's nothing like the taste of a one- or two-day-off-the-vine tomato, and that's what the Raskas are hoping will bring more growers into the market.