HARLINGEN — After seven years, the city’s building a home for the Harlingen Farmers Market.
The city is using a $175,000 grant from the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation to build a shelter for the farmers market at its new site at the City Hall parking lot.
In a meeting Wednesday, city commissioners agreed to allow the farmers market to set up shop at the parking lot in the 100 block of East Tyler Avenue.
As part of the project, the city will provide the farmers market with access to electricity to help chefs cook up their recipes while performers play live music.
“It’s a great addition to the city of Harlingen,” City Manager Dan Serna said yesterday. “The farmers market produces a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits for our citizens in an area of the downtown that’s has good foot traffic. It brings visitors to our downtown area and I know they’re growing.”
The farmers market plans to move to its new location in October, Manager Kate McSwain said.
“It’ll increase our visibility,” she said. “Everyone will see it on Tyler.”
McSwain said the shelter will help the farmers market boost its number of vendors.
“We want to expand,” she said.
McSwain said the shelter will cover about 24 parking spaces, allowing more vendors to sell their goods.
“It offers young farmers and new entrepreneurs an ability to earn an income,” she said.
McSwain said more vendors will mean a greater selection of produce.
