There's a new farmer's market in town

Fresh vegetables are ready for purchase at Katy Fresh Produce Market at 5026 E. Third St., in Old Ka

Are you looking for more fresh produce at grocery stores? How about produce locally grown?
Starting today, you will be able to buy fresh produce and organic products from the Katy Fresh Produce Market.
Owners Susan and Marty Becker want to bring true, fresh produce to Katy, after being avid farmers market shoppers themselves.
My husband grew up in the country where his father has a farm out there," said Susan Becker. We like fresh vegetables. We had gone to many places calling themselves farmers markets but their produce was coming in from California and Florida."
The Beckers know a lot of farmers through their commercial vegetable business. Their goal was to bring fresh produce to area grocery stores.
We found it harder for the stores to do that. They were looking at profit and we were looking at quality," said Susan.
The market, located at 5026 East Third St. in Old Katy, had a soft opening May 19 with a few customers milling around.
There were fresh tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, okras, seedless watermelons, dry beans, lentils and more.
"I am excited about our peaches," said Susan. "They are fresh from Fairfield."
The market will have limited space inside, so the Beckers will start an outside market on the weekends.
Besides offering locally grown produce, the market will offer dry beans, honey, herbs, farm fresh eggs, sunflowers all from local vendors.
Veronica Lee, a friend of the couple, is helping with marketing and advertising.
The point is to have something really fresh, from the farm, that hasn't been sitting in a shelf or warehouse for weeks at a time," said Lee. Local is really important. People like to help local farmers and the local economy."
Susan said they are looking for a tea vendor right now, and already have a coffee vendor on board.
When people come they will want to come back. As the season goes, we'll have different things. Once we are up and running, our products will be more plentiful."
People want to eat healthier, and we are trying to help mom and pop farmers. Helping bring fresh produce is something we believe in."
The Beckers have also talked to several restaurants in the area that are excited about the market.
They want to come out and pick their own produce," said Susan. The chef at the Mercury Bar said he will make his daily specials around what we have at the market that day."
A farmer told me the grocery stores are required to refrigerate their products for a certain amount of time, and that sometimes changes the flavor of the produce. There is enough population in Katy to start something like this."
For information, or to contact the Beckers on being a vendor, call 281-371-3292.
samira.rizvi@chron.com
WANT TO GO?
What: Katy Fresh Produce Market
Where: 5026 East Third St. in Old Katy
Timings: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays, closed Tuesdays
Info: 281-371-3292; www.katyproduce.com, Facebook - Katy Fresh Produce Market