Charming Schott Park in Humble will soon be the permanent home, one day a month, of a farmers market unlike any other.
On the first Saturday of every month, the picturesque Humble city park located just east of the civic center on Will Clayton Parkway will host what Andrea and Jonathan Haskin called “groundbreaking.”
“We are bringing Humble something truly unique, the Living Well Farmers Market,” said Jonathan.
The Haskins already manage three popular farmers markets, in Fall Creek, Eagle Springs and The Groves.
“Our vendors, of course, will offer Humble the fresh foods available at our three other markets. Grass-fed beef, pastured chicken and eggs, wild caught seafood, local raw honey, organic bread, fresh pasta sauces, small batch ice cream, tamales, local mushrooms grown in Huffman and Montgomery, salsas, and, of course, Oprah Winfrey’s favorite jams and jellies. And that is just a portion of our vendors,” said Andrea.
What Andrea and Jonathan are excited about, however, is the “extra something” they are introducing to their Humble farmers market.
“When Jennifer Wooden reached out to us, we asked her about a feature we had been thinking about — fresh food centered around wellness, a Living Well Farmers Market,” said Jonathan.
Wooden, director of the Humble Civic Center and the Charles Bender Performing Arts Center, loved the idea.
“The first of every month, you can shop with us for fresh food and quality products, but everything we offer at Schott Park will be focused on wellness,” said Andrea.
The Humble Living Well Farmers Market is kid-friendly, family-friendly, even pet-friendly. The Haskins foresee yoga in the park, for example, fun and enlightening activities for kids of all ages, plus straightforward nutritional information. Their vendors even offer healthy, raw dog food and dog treats.
“Schott Park is perfect for our living well market because they already have a well-known 2-mile walking path, a half-court basketball area and wonderful playground equipment,” said Andrea. “We want to add to those amenities by bringing in some of the wonderful nutrition and health organizations here in Lake Houston that can make learning about eating healthy a fun thing to do.”
Local chefs, wood fire pizza vendors, food trucks. Humble’s Farmers Market will eventually have it all.
“We would love to incorporate Humble ISD’s culinary department and Humble’s incredible greenhouse and community garden into our Living Well philosophy, too,” said Jonathan.
Andrea and Jonathan Haskin live in Fall Creek.
“When we moved there, we wanted access to a strong, quality farmers market,” said Jonathan. “It didn’t exist, so we created our own.”
Today, they operate four much-admired farmers markets:
Fall Creek Farmers Market
Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine
The Park at Fall Creek
7930 Fall Creek Bend Drive
Eagle Springs Farmers Market
Tuesdays, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., rain or shine
Valley Springs Clubhouse
13555 Valley Lodge Parkway
The Groves Marketplace
Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.,
rain or shine
Health Amenity Center
And their newest creation,
Humble Living Well Farmers Market
1st Saturday of the month
9 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine
Schott Park
Vendors accept cash, check, credit, and debit, and some accept Apple Pay.
“We are a registered farmers market with Harris County Public Health Department,” Haskin said. “All products at our market are within 200 miles of Humble — Houston, Wharton, Navasota and the Austin area — and we do site visits on all vendors to ensure they are the producers.”
Locally grown food is fresher and tastes better because it is just hours from where it was grown and harvested, said Andrea and Jonathan. When shopping at one of their four markets, customers pay the farmer who grew the produce or the vendor who created the product and, because there is no middleman, shoppers get more value.
Farmers’ markets also are great places to learn about the food they are eating.
“The grower or producer is at their vendor tent explaining how that product got there,” said Jonathan. “Our farmers markets are great for kids, too, because they can learn all about how food gets to the table. Youngsters could pick out their own produce, then help prepare their own meal.”
“The people who shop with us at Schott Park support local business, boost the local economy, and get to meet the people who grow their food,” said Andrea.
And, yes, the Rockin’ JR Ranch jams and jellies that Oprah Winfrey listed on her 2020 Favorite Things List will be available at the Humble Living Well Farmers Market, too. Rockin JR Ranch is a specialty food producer focusing on New Orleans favorites, jellies, and sweet treats that carry the Texas Department of Agriculture designation of GoTexan.
Andrea and Jonathan Harkin encourage farmers and producers of specialty products within 200 miles of Humble to join Rockin’ JR Ranch and the other unique, locally sourced vendors who participate in their four farmers markets.
Customers can learn about products and produce through vendor spotlights and updates on Facebook and Instagram. Friend them on their Facebook page, facebook.com/buylocalfarmersmarket.
