Inspiration at the Texas Farmers Market at Mueller
Homemade artisan ice cream, themed oatmeal batches and baked goods are not only staples in the Texas Farmers’’ Market at Mueller, but also a testament to the power of passion and dedication, bringing forth a rise in sustainable and wholesome entrepreneurs in the Austin community.
Austin is known for the vibrancy and uniqueness of its inhabitants, and in return has allowed for a prosperous society filled with culture and the acceptance of individual creativity and artistic pursuits. Austin’s immense amount of support for small businesses and entrepreneurs has led not only to its growth, but towards a society that is now, more than ever, in a pursuit towards embracing the successes and accomplishments of individual people.
In response to this ever growing support, I would like to introduce some independently owned businesses in which I came across through my time at one of Austin’s most notable farmers markets: the Texas Farmers Market at Mueller.
The Texas Farmers Market located at Mueller has been around since 2012. The rapid growth of this market has helped small business owners build a community supportive of their growth, prioritizing local consumption and sustainable choices for our society.
As I began to wander through the Mueller market, I interviewed a few individuals whose stories are remarkable in their efforts to build something that stems from genuine love, not only for the product they are producing, but also for the process.
Natural and whole ingredients form the foundation for many of the producers at the Texas Farmers Market, and Henal and Ravi Patel, owners of the small artisan Indian ice cream business Lotus Creamery, are individuals who have stayed true to this notion.
It was early November of 2022 when Henal and Ravi Patel visited San Francisco with their young baby and tried the famous ice cream at the Ghirardelli Square. To their surprise, they found the renowned ice cream distasteful as it tasted too chemically induced and unnatural.
Henal, initially a radiation therapist, had been in the kitchen for as long as she could remember, with homemade food forming the foundation of her practice. Yet when she found out she was going to have another baby, she took time off to stay at home, and naturally, began experimenting with making homemade ice cream that could be both nutritious and delicious for her children.
The absence of a job led Henal to take on ice cream creation as a side job, learning the business side of the local Texas farmers market. Her perfectionist predisposition guided her throughout the nine months perfecting what would become 22 different flavors. The family is now a permanent member of the local Mueller Farmers’ Market, proving passion can truly guide people toward success.
The Patel family were not the only ones sparked with inspiration from distaste. In 2018, Darian Washington, founder of Oatmeal and Company and former employee for Whole Foods, brought home oatmeal samples, but when shared with her teenage son he reacted unfavorably to the taste. Inspired by her son's reaction and love for homemade foods, Darian decided to make her own oatmeal concoctions and experiment with different food pairings to mix in.
The first combination she gave to her son was a hazelnut apricot. He was in full admiration of this batch of oatmeal that he began sharing samples with his friends. The cycle continued and soon sharing these oats became a normality in larger batches, leading Darian to experiment with more and more flavors: smoked peach bourbon, banana foster, blueberry cardamom …
Darian applied for the farmers market in late December to start her side hustle. However, when she was laid off from her job the following month, she decided to take the opportunity to build something for herself with full force. Months flew by as she prepared for her integration into the farmers market, and by June she was accepted to her first Wednesday market.
On June 5, 2020, her first market day, she earned $400. Darian said she could not have started her business so quickly if not for the help from fellow creatives — friends who were willing to help with designs, merchandising and marketing. What started as a side hustle for Darian — a company focused on organic, whole-ingredient oatmeal — grew into something she is truly proud of and can call her own. She now hopes to become a national brand soon, and is on her way to entering Central Market’s merchandise, promoting healthy, organic and tasty eating.
The promotion of healthier and eclectic eating is also heavily prevalent in the baking scene: La Mimi Bakery is a testament to this. Yamina Mechentel, commonly known as Mimi by her friends and family, always had a natural predisposition towards cooking and baking, and as a young child was fervently experimenting in the kitchen.
This hobby stayed with her as she grew, providing comfort and familiarity through more stressful times in her life. And although this was not her main pursuit, and for 30 years Mimi had a professional career in taxes, she still continued to put forth dedication towards this craft by taking cooking lessons in whichever country, state or city she was in, quickly grasping the cuisines of different cultures. Mimi shows us that it is never too late to pursue your passions, as many continue to chase their dreams long after establishing a career and life for themselves.
Alongside the abundance of food that the Texas Mueller's market has to offer, it is also home to a variety of handcrafted and sustainable creations. One of the most fascinating pieces I found was from the Local Honey Bee Company created by the lovely couple Jeff and Sandi Krieder. This business is not only home to the selling of organic honey, but also other bee products such as beeswax wrap — a natural and sustainable alternative to plastic wraps and bags.
This company started after Jeff's retirement, when he and his family moved back to Texas and he decided he wanted to do something impactful with Sandi. The couple always shared a desire to start beekeeping, and so when the opportunity arose with Jeff's retirement, they took a simple approach in 2019 and began beekeeping as a hobby. In 2020, they were then well-versed enough to turn their hobby into a business, and from then on commenced their adventure working with each other to serve the community.
These individuals are just a few of the entrepreneurs at the Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller, but the stories they hold are ever present in the demonstration of the power of passion and determination. They contribute not only to the growth of local community and consumption, but also the promotion of healthy, whole and sustainable products that allow our community to thrive. It serves as a reminder that we, as humans, should pursue our passions, so that one day we too can live up to our aspirations, and even inspire the endeavors of others.