Peaches have been in season for a month -- what have you been doing with yours?

I took fresh peaches from Engle Farm and boiled them down along with blackberries, mango, pineapple, and a few shots of fresh-squeezed lemon juice. This was my first attempt at homemade jam, and my goodness, I did not need to know how easy that was. I let it sit in the fridge for a few days before using it as a grilling sauce with pork tenderloin, which played nicely with a crisp white and a fruity red from Hamilton Pool Vineyards. I also surprised our Coyote Kids counselors by pouring it over vanilla Blue Bell, much to their delight.

If you’re as intimidated by jam-making as I was until last week, you’ve got plenty of options for fresh-made, delicious jams coming from our market. Brenham Kitchens brings a nice variety of spicy-sweet combos that are great with fish tacos, cream cheese and crackers, as salsa stir-ins, or as grilling sauces. My market partner, Johnna, was super-pleased with Brenham’s Raspberry-Habanero Jam, which she paired with Poblano-Garlic Goat Cheese from Goatilicious and dug into with crackers.

Not to be overlooked is Happy Hollow Native, who bring several jams on the sweeter side, along with home-grown honeys, salves, teas, and various other tinctures and culinary wonders.

Happy Hollow’s jams were featured in the June issue of FarmGirl Monthly’s blog, which showcases traditional farmers, and this month focuses on – you guessed it – jams. You can read more about them here by clicking and scrolling down.

We're all Texans, which means we've heard our share of heat hyperboles. We know what's coming. It's hot, and it's gonna stay that way for a while. When you visit the market, we recommend bringing a bottle of water for your stroll. But if you're craving something even more refreshing, break that summer heat on your own terms with delicious flavor combos by Bubbs Seltzer, sparkle with a little kick from SoCo Ginger Beer, let Stoke Juice do a full-on dance number on your tongue, or (for those of you who can't live without caffeine) iced coffee from EDG.

Also known as the "Hero of Texas Swing," Alex is a musician & singer-songwriter based in Austin, Texas. When he's not rocking the market with us, he's busy playing with his Hot Texas Swing Band and pushing the genre forward by combining Rockabilly and Latin beats with his original tunes. Don't miss it!

Our customers are as much of the Dripping Springs Farmers Market Family as the vendors. We couldn't do it without you! As a Friend of the Market, you will:

In accordance with the most recent governor's order, the Dripping Springs Farmers Market has lifted the mask requirement for visitors. However, safety measures such as social distancing, hand sanitizing, and optional face coverings are still encouraged, especially in crowded areas of the market. Farmers Market staff will continue to have masks available for any visitor who wants one, upon request, at the information booth.

As independent business owners, each vendor may institute their own face covering requirements while serving their customers. If a vendor chooses to require face coverings, please consider whether curbside or remote pickup would be a more suitable option for individuals who do not wish to wear a face covering.

For concerns regarding this policy, please contact Farmers Market Manager Charlie Reed at creed@cityofdrippingsprings.com.