Peppers, squash and onions line the tables between N. 1 and N. 2nd streets across from Frontier Texas. Every Thursday through Saturday, the Abilene Farmer’s Market opens from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. as local farmers and gardeners sell fresh produce to the community.

Chrane Ranch steaks at the Abilene Farmer’s Market

Juan Nunez, transfer admissions counselor and volunteer tennis coach, comes to the market every other weekend for fresh meat from the Chrane Ranch. He said he loves their steaks, brisket and buttermilk pie.

“My wife, she’s more eating right, I just love their steaks,” Nunez said. “I like the unhealthy stuff, meat and pies.”

Glenda Broyles lives on Chrane Ranch, which has been family-owned since 1905, with her husband, an Abilene police officer who graduated from ACU about eight years ago. At the farmers market, the family sells naturally-raised pork and beef,  baked goods, and all-natural goat’s milk soap and candles.

John Steele sells peppers at the Abilene Farmer’s Market

The market has been providing produce to Abilene from mid-May to the end of November for about 45 years, said John Steele, market manager for the last 10 years. About 1,500 to 2,000 customers come to the market in a single day. Sellers must pay an annual membership of $35 a year plus $6 to set up for a day at the market.

“If you don’t grow it, you don’t sell it here,” Steele said.
Besides fresh, all-natural produce, shoppers can sometimes find weird vegetables not sold at grocery stores. Steele said “weird” products include black radishes, sweet banana peppers and sunburst yellow squashes.

David Bordovsky has been selling tomatoes and other vegetables for 11 years. Growing tomatoes in his greenhouse allows him a slightly longer growing period from late May to early August. This late in the year he sells vegetables.