A new farmers market opens Sunday, October 18, in the teacher parking lot at Zilker Elementary School, bringing about 18 local vendors selling produce, eggs, dairy, meat, honey, coffee, sourdough, jams, pastries and pre-prepared meals to the South Austin neighborhood. The Zilker Farmers Market runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1900 Bluebonnet Lane, with free admission, free parking and leashed dogs and strollers welcome.
The market is the brainchild of John Smolen, who serves as its president and founder, according to Community Impact Newspaper. Smolen, whose daughter attends Zilker Elementary, says he got the idea for the market after living in London and New York. He traced the spark to a mundane moment at home: “The breaking point for me which really caused me to think about [the market] more seriously was we had ordered delivery from H-E-B groceries and I was making my kids a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and the peanut butter had like 14 ingredients in it,” Smolen said, per the same outlet.
Vendors lined up for opening day include Goatilicious, Hurry Home Farm, Runamuckas Flower Farm, Austin Jam Company, The Greek Bar, Desnudo Coffee and Bali Family Farm, the report notes. Live music from local performers is planned for the market’s first few outings. After the October 18 launch, the market will settle into a recurring schedule on the second Sunday of every month beginning November 8, operating rain or shine.
A Board Built Around the School Community
The market is guided by a volunteer board that includes JD Leonard, Emma Catlett, Kim Lippy, Marissa Vetter, Martee Hathorn and Garret Nick, according to the article. It operates as a community-based nonprofit corporation, and Zilker Farmers Market says it is seeking official 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS…