Only 15 days left to get your tickets for our Tomball Farmers Market Harvest of Hearts Fundraiser. We look forward to sitting down around the table with you February 21st. Our annual Fundraiser dinner is a celebration of potential – the potential of our land, our youth, and our shared vision. As you indulge in a sumptuous farm-to-table dinner, crafted with care by local culinary artist Curtis Morris, you'll be nourishing more than just your body. You'll be feeding dreams. Thank you to Aloha Beauty Lounge for being our title sponsor for our fundraiser on February 21st. Make sure to go and visit alohabeautylounge for all of your beauty needs. Make sure to go and purchase your tickets now for all of the fun. Each Dinner Ticket includes: **Locally sourced farm to table dinner curated by local Tomball chef, Curtis Morris **Curated Whiskey Experience **Free Champagne Tower **Casino Tables **Cigar Bar **Live Painting exhibition by Art by Hannah Maria **Silent Auction **Cash Bar Your presence at this event will help us create community gardens with Texas A&M AgriLife, Precinct 4 and Precinct 3 that will serve as havens for veterans, bring joy to assisted living homes, and inspire countless children through our Student Garden Scholarships. Together, we can plant the seeds of a brighter, greener future for all. By joining us, you're not just attending a dinner; you're becoming a vital part of our community's story. Let's write the next chapter together – one of abundance, connection, and promise. Tickets are available! https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLBHCXE5P80PY/checkout/WRAFDCLB3L6FX4GEBYTVRRWR?src=embed Wow this year is just moving right along!! I can't believe we are in February already!
We have lots of things to share with you for February! Weathering the Storm Mother Nature has thrown our local farmers a curveball, but they're resilient! Some smaller produce vendors will be taking a brief hiatus until spring, allowing their newly planted crops to flourish. We anticipate their return by early April. Quality Control at TFM Our commitment to excellence never wavers. The Vendor Committee continuously evaluates potential new vendors, ensuring a dynamic and diverse market experience. We maintain high standards, requiring most vendors to participate at least twice monthly throughout the year. Truly Local, Truly Fresh Did you know? All TFM farmers must grow or raise their products within a 180-mile radius of Tomball, TX. This isn't just a rule – it's our promise of freshness to you. We even conduct biennial farm visits to verify compliance and quality. February's Vendor Lineup Exciting times ahead! We're welcoming back some familiar faces and introducing new talent: Returning February 15: PureFi Coffee and Jane Wild Studios New potential vendors: February 8th: JT's Eatery (bringing 12+ years of Miami BBQ expertise!) February 15th: Coffee and Chill Join us in giving these vendors a warm TFM welcome! We always talk about our vendors and what's happening at Tomball Farmers Market and local events happening around us but we rarely talk about what we do and how we got our start. As we head into our 17th year as a true farmers market I thought I would give everyone a behind the curtain look at what all we do, how we are involved in the community and how we advocate for law changes on the state and federal levels for small farmers, ranchers and local entrepreneurs getting their start. Tomball Farmers Market is featured in this month's Shout Out HTX magazine with our Market Manager, Amanda Kelly. She talks about all things TFM and showcases Old Town Tomball. https://shoutouthtx.com/meet-amanda-kelly/ For those who I haven’t had the pleasure to meet, my name is Amanda Kelly, and I am the Market Manager for Tomball Farmers Market. Those who know me, know I am not who you want in your garden as I excel at killing even air plants. So how in the world did I get here? Luckily, I am pretty good at growing people and bringing out the best in them. For 20 plus years I specialized in corporate level restaurant training, public restaurant restructuring and public relations. Our teams were sent in to fix failing and under performing restaurants to help them be successful again. Basically our teams were Restaurant Rehab before it became a reality show. We would spend 8 to 16 months fixing each struggling corporate restaurant all over the country. My responsibilities mostly consisted of retraining and hiring staff and working with the local Health Departments to get the business back in compliance. I also worked closely with local Chambers of Commerce and local businesses around town to repair the restaurants image as their public relations and marketing specialist. And it was a great way to see the country and I loved my job. That all changed in 2010, my husband suffered a traumatic brain event with a 1% chance of survival. And luckily, he beat those odds and had to learn to talk, walk and hold a pencil again. He finally got to come home with us but could no longer work due to all the frontal lobe damage done, he couldn’t be left home alone, so I had to stay home with him and the kids as insurance wouldn't cover home health care. He was an enigma to the doctors as there was no visible sign of why the TBI event happened. So, I started researching and kept finding university studies around the world pointing to the food we eat having potentially contributed to it. I started really paying attention to research around eating local, water and soil health. This lead us to becoming part of Tomball Farmers Market as patrons, working for vendors and volunteering. Eventually leading to my current job. I got to see firsthand how eating local helped my husband’s quality of life in dramatic ways. This is why I am extremely passionate about our little farmers market, our farmers and helping the community have access to local healthy foods. We are ranked as one of the top all Local Farmers Markets in the State of Texas. Pretty impressive for our small towns farmers market. We have worked hard to earn 4 certifications as an all-local farmers market from the USDA, Texas Department of Agriculture, GO Texan and Harris County Public Health. This means we are required to maintain 51% local farm to non-farmer vendor ratios year-round and all our vendors must handcraft or locally prepare their products within 180 miles of Tomball to qualify with us. To help meet those requirements we have category limits so there aren’t too many of the same products at the market and offer wide range of diverse and ever-changing products for customers. This business model has fostered quicker small business growth. Our goal is to have small businesses outgrow us within 2 and half years and have the education and resources they need to be successful in brick and mortars in Tomball. There are over 20 businesses within that have outgrown us in and around Tomball, Houston and Amazon. This growth helps us to then bring in new vendors and help them achieve success too without having long wait lists. Our mission is to advocate for our local farmers and be able to provide them with the space and resources to help create generational wealth while also helping local small businesses grow. We work to help educate the community on the importance of eating locally sustainably sourced foods and local water and soil health. Let’s get back to our farmers and why are local farmers important. Big Agriculture Farms strip our land of our healthy topsoil and water pollution by over farming and using harmful pesticides, fertilizers and injecting harmful animal hormones and injecting the foods the animals eat with harmful growth hormones and other harmful farming practices. While Local Farmers use sustainable practices ensuring the health of our water, soil and animals and therefore the foods we put on our tables. One of the biggest challenges we are facing today though in farming is our farmers are aging out and there are fewer and fewer of the younger generation who want to go into agriculture. We need to inspire and nurture the next generation of farmers. It’s small local farmers, not big AG who will heal our soil and help the environment. Because of this we advocate at the state and federal levels to get laws changed to help our farmers and our small businesses flourish. Tomball Farmers Market is working to help in this in two ways. We have created a Student Gardening Scholarship for middle school and high school students to encourage the younger generation to get passionate about farming and ranching. Last year we were able to provide several students with all the tools necessary to start their own gardens as well as ongoing education and resources to help them along the way. We are also working with Harris County Precinct 4 and Texas A&M’s AgriLife Extension community garden projects like Battleground to Breaking Ground. A federal program helping connect and educate Veterans with local farmers mentors and providing community garden spaces where Veterans and local community members can grow their own vegetables, plants, herbs and creating much needed therapy outlets and jobs in our community. Our goal is to help them to be able to have sustainable income and help them meet their needs. We have our annual Harvest of Hearts Fundraiser on February 21st, coming up which we would love to see you all at that will help us raise money for both of these projects. Without local farmers and ranchers, we face not only major food insecurities and economic hardships but soil increased flooding issues and poor soil and water quality due to run off. It’s incredibly important to not only educate the community and enable and impower the next generation of farmers to get passionate but advocating for change on the local, state and federal levels to protect our communities and improve our health and the communities we live in. Tomball Farmers Market Goals:
Vendors NOT Attending 1/11/25
Rain Song Farms Backyard Bounty Moss Family Farm Dapper Goat Dairy Little Diamnds Saturday, December 28, 2024 Countdown to New Year's Eve at the Tomball Farmers Market! Good evening TFM Fans, This Saturday is your last chance to shop the Tomball Farmers Market before the New Year! Come early and discover the perfect ingredients for your New Year's Eve feast. Several of your favorite vendors like Flour House Bakery and Oso Goodies are on vacation this week so now is the perfect opportunity to try something new! Imagine a table overflowing with fresh, locally grown produce, juicy cuts of locally raised meat, and the most delectable baked goods and treats. Our market is brimming with unique finds from local farmers and vendors, all committed to bringing you the highest quality, locally sourced food. Celebrate the season and support your community by shopping local. We look forward to seeing you at the market! Indulge Your Senses: Harvest of Hearts Fundraiser Dinner |
We will be open at 8 AM THIS SATURDAY ONLY! In order to help you get your produce before the PARADE Starts at 10 AM. Many of our vendors will have quick snacks, handheld baked and breakfast items, District Roasters will be our ONLY coffee vendor and 4 drink vendors Popcart IcePops, ZoZo's Fresh, Cold Press Juice and Dreamland Treats. There is always bottled water at the information booth for a donation. Drop off your unwrapped toy to the Information Booth Now Through December 7th for Cancer Kiss My Kooley. We are partnering with them to bring a little joy to children who are unable to be home this Christmas as they fight to overcome Cancer! |
Could you take a moment and give us a review on our Facebook Page please? It would mean the world to us! Thank you in advance.
https://www.facebook.com/tomballfarmersmarket/reviews
https://www.facebook.com/tomballfarmersmarket/reviews
Vendors NOT Attending 11/23/24
Lolitas Specialty Foods
DV8 Coffee Roasters (Leave of Absence)
We can't wait to serve you this weekend and enjoy the parade together!
~Tomball Farmers Market
Amanda Kelly & John Almquist
Lolitas Specialty Foods
DV8 Coffee Roasters (Leave of Absence)
We can't wait to serve you this weekend and enjoy the parade together!
~Tomball Farmers Market
Amanda Kelly & John Almquist
What a fantastic week we've had! We're really excited for the holiday season, and this year has just flown by.
Looking back, it was a tough year for our farmers between rising costs for operating their farms and the unreliable and more extreme changes in our weather patterns. They've really struggled this year, with has raised the cost of animal feed, fertilizer, and pesticides (natural and synthetic) and, like all of us, the cost of doing business and day-to-day expenses has gone up. 90% of local farmers and ranchers operate their farms using sustainable practices that nurture the soil, which in turn provides healthy, vitamin-rich produce and makes healthier livestock and poultry.
Dane Dunagin, Tomball City Council Member and local farmer, said, "It's been tough on everyone. 3 years ago, I was buying cow feed at $9.00 a 50 LB bag to $11.5 per bag. My horse and mule feed for a 50 LB bag went from $17.00 to $21.00 a bag. Corn prices went from $8.00 a bag to almost $12.00."
To put this in perspective, I had to do some research. According to multiple university studies, I was shocked at how much cows alone eat every day, especially during the winter months when ranchers rely heavily on feed to keep the animals healthy and to protect pregnant mama's. (Okay, full disclosure: I'm a city girl, so I was shocked to learn that the average cow weighs 1,200 to 1,400 LBS. It made me feel a lot better about my own weight.) HAHAHAHA Okay, back to it. In this article by Ric Taber of Cornell University, it talks about the cost of feeding 18 of his cattle, including pregnant mama's, is an astonishing 65 tons, which costs them "$5,850 to $11,700 per winter feeding season!" Patrick, owner of Katerra Exotic, says he has 300 cattle so multiply those costs. WOW!!!
Dane Dunagin also said, "Two to three years ago, fertilizer went up from $400.00 to $1,000 per ton. In 2019, fertilizer went as high as $1,200 a ton. Thankfully, it's back down to $550 a ton." To put that in perspective, a ton equals about 2,000 LBS, and 1 acre needs about 260 LBS of fertilizer.
It's becoming more and more important that we, as a community, advocate for changes in our laws to help protect our smaller local, rural, and urban farms around the country. They are the catalyst that will save our soil and our health. Big AG farms wreak havoc on our soil health due to erosion, over-farming, and the use of harmful fertilizers and pesticides that leech not only into the soil but into our food we put on our tables every day.
Looking back, it was a tough year for our farmers between rising costs for operating their farms and the unreliable and more extreme changes in our weather patterns. They've really struggled this year, with has raised the cost of animal feed, fertilizer, and pesticides (natural and synthetic) and, like all of us, the cost of doing business and day-to-day expenses has gone up. 90% of local farmers and ranchers operate their farms using sustainable practices that nurture the soil, which in turn provides healthy, vitamin-rich produce and makes healthier livestock and poultry.
Dane Dunagin, Tomball City Council Member and local farmer, said, "It's been tough on everyone. 3 years ago, I was buying cow feed at $9.00 a 50 LB bag to $11.5 per bag. My horse and mule feed for a 50 LB bag went from $17.00 to $21.00 a bag. Corn prices went from $8.00 a bag to almost $12.00."
To put this in perspective, I had to do some research. According to multiple university studies, I was shocked at how much cows alone eat every day, especially during the winter months when ranchers rely heavily on feed to keep the animals healthy and to protect pregnant mama's. (Okay, full disclosure: I'm a city girl, so I was shocked to learn that the average cow weighs 1,200 to 1,400 LBS. It made me feel a lot better about my own weight.) HAHAHAHA Okay, back to it. In this article by Ric Taber of Cornell University, it talks about the cost of feeding 18 of his cattle, including pregnant mama's, is an astonishing 65 tons, which costs them "$5,850 to $11,700 per winter feeding season!" Patrick, owner of Katerra Exotic, says he has 300 cattle so multiply those costs. WOW!!!
Dane Dunagin also said, "Two to three years ago, fertilizer went up from $400.00 to $1,000 per ton. In 2019, fertilizer went as high as $1,200 a ton. Thankfully, it's back down to $550 a ton." To put that in perspective, a ton equals about 2,000 LBS, and 1 acre needs about 260 LBS of fertilizer.
It's becoming more and more important that we, as a community, advocate for changes in our laws to help protect our smaller local, rural, and urban farms around the country. They are the catalyst that will save our soil and our health. Big AG farms wreak havoc on our soil health due to erosion, over-farming, and the use of harmful fertilizers and pesticides that leech not only into the soil but into our food we put on our tables every day.
UPCOMING TFM EVENTS and City of Tomball Events:
- November 16th: Tomball Depot Day Fall Festival 11:00 AM to 6 PM
- November 22nd: Downtown Tomball Pink Friday 10 AM to 5 PM
- November 22nd: Tomball Late Nights 5 PM to 9 PM
- November 23rd: 59th Tomball Holiday Parade 10:00 AM to 12 PM
- November 23rd: Miss Tomball Pageant 7 PM to 9 PM
- December 7th: TFM Polar Express Market 9 AM to 1 PM
- December 7th: City of Tomball Deck the Depot and Tree Lighting Event 4 PM to 8 PM
- December 13, 14 and 15: Tomball Christmas German Festival (Tomball Farmers Market IS CLOSED)
- December 21st: Tomball Farmers Market Christmas Market 9 AM to 1 PM
- December 28th: Last Farmers Market of the Year! Happy New Year!

Important Tomball Farmers Market Polar Express Event Update:
Date and Tome change! Event moved to December 7,2024 from 9 am to 1 pm!
Customers will have more opportunities to shop local and enjoy a full day with your family in Old Tomball.
The City of Tomball is having their Deck the Depot Event from 4 pm to 8pm as well.
Date and Tome change! Event moved to December 7,2024 from 9 am to 1 pm!
Customers will have more opportunities to shop local and enjoy a full day with your family in Old Tomball.
The City of Tomball is having their Deck the Depot Event from 4 pm to 8pm as well.
The Texas Center for Local Food (TCLF) is collaborating with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, Council for Healthy Food Systems, and Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance to host an online info session about the Texas Climate Smart Initiative.
Texas Climate Smart Initiative Info Session – November 19, 2024 – 6:30 – 8:00 PM
CSTRegister: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMsc-GhrzMqHdZl-a1REdvKi_uScqgUPK8y
The Texas Climate Smart Initiative (TCSI) is a new 5-year program run primarily by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board along with Texas A&M AgriLife and Texas universities. The program has a total of $38.8 million to help producers implement climate-smart practices including cover cropping, silvopasture, irrigation, tree establishment, and much more.
If you are:
Texas Climate Smart Initiative Info Session – November 19, 2024 – 6:30 – 8:00 PM
CSTRegister: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMsc-GhrzMqHdZl-a1REdvKi_uScqgUPK8y
The Texas Climate Smart Initiative (TCSI) is a new 5-year program run primarily by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board along with Texas A&M AgriLife and Texas universities. The program has a total of $38.8 million to help producers implement climate-smart practices including cover cropping, silvopasture, irrigation, tree establishment, and much more.
If you are:
- Actively farming or ranching at least 1 acre in Texas,
- Interested in starting or expanding climate-smart practices on your land, and
- In need of funding to implement regenerative land management,
Vendors NOT Attending 11/16/24
Lolita's Specialty Goods
Moss Family Farms
Beautiful Bliss
The Sauce Factory (no longer vending)
Della Casa Pasta (No longer vending, opened beautiful store.)
Lolita's Specialty Goods
Moss Family Farms
Beautiful Bliss
The Sauce Factory (no longer vending)
Della Casa Pasta (No longer vending, opened beautiful store.)
We can't wait to serve you and share our wonderful community with you this weekend!
~Tomball Farmers Market
Amanda Kelly and John Almquist
~Tomball Farmers Market
Amanda Kelly and John Almquist
Categories
Our Mission is to provide our community with the highest quality local farm fresh foods, locally prepared foods & local handcrafted products every week. Tomball Farmers Market strives to be an advocate for local farmers & local small businesses. Tomball Farmers Market is a Texas registered nonprofit organization.
Questions Regarding the Farmers Market? Email us at: [email protected].
Please direct any TFM Organization concerns or recommendations to our TFM Board via our Board President at [email protected].
Questions Regarding the Farmers Market? Email us at: [email protected].
Please direct any TFM Organization concerns or recommendations to our TFM Board via our Board President at [email protected].