Houston's Biggest, Oldest Farmer's Market Set For Transformation

HOUSTON, TX — It's been serving customers for decades, people looking for fresh produce like tomatoes, squash, and beans, and the development company that recently bought the land on which the Airline Drive farmer's market stands wants to make sure it's around for many decades more.

MLB Capital Partners said it would make an announcement about its plans for the market in July, but Bill Canino, the owner of Canino's Produce, who rents space in the market, said that the public can expect lots of changes, including a cheese shop, a space for cooking shows and lessons, restaurants, and a seafood market.

"It's time," Canino told KPRC. "It's been left alone to progress on its own for too many years."

Canino, who said that his sales are down about 40 percent from 20 years ago, thinks the new features at the market will help attract new customers.

"Most people work," he said. "The man and the wife works now. So they go to all these restaurants and fast food places ... and they don't stay home and cook."

When Canino's father opened the family store, in 1958, about 75 farmers brought their wares to the market and sold them there, compared to today's approximately 30 farmers.

» See the complete story at KPRC

— Image: flickr/Natalie Maynor