Dallas Farmers Market announces opening of The Shed

Dallas Farmers Market announces opening of The Shed

Revitalization brings new farmers, artisans and restaurants

Courtesy Dallas Farmers Market, North Dallas LIVING WELL Magazine

Photography Jennie James Photography

The Dallas Farmers Market, one of the largest and oldest public markets in the United States, opened The Shed on Labor Day weekend, bringing new life to the facility, which has been a destination for farmers, chefs, foodies and families for more than six decades. The Dallas Farmers Market is open and operating daily.

The Shed, formally known as Shed 1, will feature new food vendors alongside perennial crowd favorites with a focus on local farmers and transparency through clearly labeled, high-quality produce. Carts will be made available for shopping and a stage will be built at the east end for weekend highlights including live music, chef demonstrations and cooking classes.

The Dallas Farmers Market also shared plans for Shed 2, which is currently closed for remodeling. The new Shed 2 will include four anchor restaurants with interior and patio dining, a unique mix of local artisan and food vendors and Mudhen, a 5,500-square-foot free-standing restaurant and beer garden from restaurateur Shannon Wynne. Shed 2 will reopen as The Market in spring 2015.

“The Dallas Farmers Market is a central part of downtown Dallas’ history, and it is taking on new life as we work to restore its vibrant role as one of our city’s major food destinations,” says Travis Morgan, director of operations at the Dallas Farmers Market. “The plans announced mark meaningful and swift change for our farmers, our vendors and all who enjoy shopping at the Market, and we’re thrilled to have these milestones ahead of us.”

A much-needed parking structure for the market will also begin construction this fall. These developments will enhance the neighborhood by providing a compelling shopping and dining destination for visitors while improving the quality of life for the growing population of downtown residents.

In a unique private-nonprofit partnership, the Dallas Farmers Market has joined forces with GROW North Texas, who manages farmer relationships, improving product mix and quality. The group is actively procuring farmers, local vendors and food artisans for the Dallas Farmers Market and the broad hunger programs it supports. Interested vendors should visit www.grownorthtexas.org.

About Dallas Farmers Market

The Dallas Farmers Market began in the late 1800s with farmers selling from wagons and evolved into a brisk wholesale business at the intersection of Pearl and Cadiz streets around 1900. In 1939, the site of the Dallas Farmers Market was formalized and the first shed established. It was officially sanctioned as a municipally owned and operated market in December 1941. DF Market Holdings, LLC bought the market from the city in May 2013 and leads the revitalization of the year-round attraction. One of the nation’s leading food destinations, on its two most popular days each week––Thursdays and Sundays––approximately 78 metric tons of produce moves through the market to fruit stands and restaurants from Oklahoma to Arkansas. In addition to the daytime market, which is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the DFM operates a nighttime wholesale market from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. that is open to chefs and the public from May to November.

For more information visit: www.dallasfarmersmarket.org

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