10 best farmers market food stalls — with insider tips

San Antonio-area farmers markets are so much more than fresh produce and ranch-raised meat. You can get plenty of hot food, a fresh cup of coffee, sweet treats, baked breads, meats and several unique food items that you may not have known existed.

In other words, there are a lot of options, so I visited four of the area’s best farmers markets — New Braunfels Farmers Market, Alamo Heights Farmers Market,

Pearl Farmers Market and the Huebner Oaks Farmers Market — the past two weeks, checking out more than 100 different foodrelated booths to compile a list of the 10 best stalls with insider tips to ensure you get the most from your farmers market visit.

Alamo Heights Farmers Market

9-1 Produce Farm: I have nicknamed farmer Fernando Vasquez “Mr. Reliable.” You can always count on Vasquez to have some of the best produce in season every Sunday. The vegetables are so fresh, you can still smell the dirt from his Devine farm, and there’s no resisting those radiant red strawberries.

If you aren’t sure about an item or have never tried it, he’ll cut off a piece and let you sample it. Also, if you get there near closing time, he may add a little extra to your purchase so he doesn’t have to truck it home. No online presence

Lucky Dog Bakery & Boutique:

Dogs are encouraged at the area markets, and Lucky Dog is the place your pooch will sniff out. It carries pig ears, salmon skin roll-ups, dried chicken feet, caveman-size beef bones, peanut butter snacks, cookies and treats with fancy flavors like chicken lentil and banana honey.

All dogs get a complimentary snack when they visit the stall. Lucky Dog also has a booth every Saturday at Huebner Oaks