Edible Dallas and Fort Worth Magazine

Happy Summer! We’re loving warmer temps and seasonal recipes. Enjoy reading our latest issue!

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Issue Highlights

Publisher’s Letter Summer 2023

Sister Grove Farm: Building a Sense of Place

2023 North Texas Farmers Market Guide

Recipe Highlights

Summer Lovin’ Cocktail

Edible Dallas Fort Worth is with Ironroot Republic Distillery and 8 others in Texas.

4 hours ago

We’re excited to announce that our summer issue is here!! Did you know that in the #northtx town of Denison, there is a flourishing community of #eatdrinkshop locals? In addition to Ironroot Republic Distillery, Heritage Butchery & Barbecue, Stafford House Provisions and Discover Denison featured here, #edibledfw partners with locals Lettuce Indulge, Hidden Hangar Vineyard and Winery, Downtown Denison Farmers Market, and Grayson College viticulture program!You’ve got to check out the new #tastingroom at Ironroot Republic Distillery! And there’s always something new, delicious, and local on the menu at Heritage Butchery & Barbecue 🤠Wherever you live in the DFW area, it’s worth the drive! #eatdrinkshoplocal #dfwfoodies #denisontx #supportlocal #realfoodrealpeople ... See MoreSee Less

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Edible Dallas Fort Worth

7 hours ago

Our legislators in Austin were not good supporters of small local food producers this session. In fact, among the many possible bills only ONE initiative was passed that is positive for small processing of local meats, SB691. For those of us who prioritize local, it was a lack-luster ending to a hopeful session.We hope more people get involved next year by emailing/calling your representatives, and letting them know your priorities. Please follow and support the efforts of Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance and Homemade Texas. Your voice matters!#TexasLegislature #cottagefood #supportlocalproducersThe following is a modified version of a letter sent to Homemade Texas members earlier this week.Dear Friends:What started as a promising legislative session in which 13 bills of interest to Homemade Texas were filed, ended with a disappointing whimper. Not a single one of our priority bills passed, but it wasn’t for lack of effort by Homemade Texas or our supporters. Home Food Security, aka “Chicken Bills”The House sent THREE backyard chicken bills to the Senate, and every single one died in Senator Bettencourt’s Local Government Committee without a hearing. Clearly the strategy for next session must be to write the bill in a way that has nothing to do with local governments. Cottage FoodsMultiple bills were filed to amend the cottage food law, but it became apparent early on that the only one that would move forward would be SB 829 by Senator Lois Kolkhorst, who is the Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services. SB 829 was a broad omnibus reform bill that did several things:- Doubled the current annual sales cap from $50,000 to $100,000- Made home addresses on the food labels optional with DSHS registration- Clarified that cottage food producers are not required to purchase permits to sell at events- Added refrigerated baked goods like cheesecake and pumpkin pies to the list of cottage foods- Added wholesale sales for cottage foods (excluding refrigerated baked goods) through a DSHS-registered wholesalerSenator Kolkhorst passed SB 829 out of the Senate in short order on March 29, well-positioned to pass the House before the end-of-session deadlines start falling in mid-May.It’s normal for the House to wait until the end of April to start hearing Senate bills; the House’s priority is House bills. We were told there would be a hearing the first week of May.... and then it didn’t happen. And then we were told it would be the second week... and it didn’t happen.It became clear that the House and Senate were embroiled in the end-of-session civil war that seems to get worse every session. The Senate sends bills over to the House that the House doesn’t want to pass, so when those bills don’t move fast enough on the House side, the Senate starts retaliating against unrelated House bills. And then the House retaliates harder against other Senate bills that had nothing to do with why the fight started in the first place.On May 15, the last possible date it could be heard with any chance of passing, the SB 829 was heard in House Public Health. The hearing was mostly predictable; the City of Houston Health Department testified against; the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance Executive Director, Judith McGeary, and Homemade Texas member and cottage food producer Jada Lucero of Jada’s Sweets testified in favor. The bill was voted out of committee with a unanimous vote and sent to the General Calendars Committee, which is always a nail-biting stage in the legislative process.Thanks to our members and supporters answering the call to send emails to the Calendars committee, the bill did make it on to the General Calendar with a decent placement. It looked like the bill would probably pass. But by now you all know what happened on Tuesday, May 23. Tempers had reached a boiling point, and the House employed every delay tactic at its disposal to kill most of the Senate bills still waiting to be passed that night – including standing at ease for an hour at one point in the evening. SB 829 died with just 8 bills ahead of it on the calendar. It was a massacre. Over 70 other bills behind SB 829 also died when they had not been voted on by midnight that night (that’s the constitutional deadline for the House to hear Senate bills on second reading).SB 829 contained many improvements that would have benefited many of our members and thousands of small businesses. I know its failure was bitterly disappointing to many who were counting on its passage.What’s next?Thank you all for your lobbying efforts in the form of calls, emails, comments, and visits to the Capitol. It was not in vain – Legislators remember these things across sessions. And thank you for your membership in Homemade Texas. Our inaugural legislative session didn’t end in the policy success we’d hoped for, but we gained important name recognition and made a huge impression when we generated more online comments (655) for the House committee hearing than anyone could remember seeing on one bill.Every session is a new mix of people, personalities, and priorities. The Legislature has shown again and again that they support cottage food producers – the death of this bill had nothing to do with its merits. We’ll take some time to lick our wounds and then in less time than you think, it will be time to start all over again for 2025. Please consider becoming a member of Homemade Texas to support our ongoing work to promote policies that empower people to be self-sufficient at home. Memberships are inexpensive, and every member receives a "Guide to the Cottage Food Law" and 2023 Member sticker in the mail. We have no funding other than membership and donations - this is a true grassroots organization. homemadetexas.org/join ... See MoreSee Less

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Edible Dallas Fort Worth updated their profile picture.

2 days ago

Summer 2023 cover of Molly Cummings, hand-harvesting red juniper berries for her WildGin botanical spirits. Photo by Erich Schlegel.#juniperberry #botanicalgin #edibledfw Edible Communities #coverphoto #EatDrinkLocal ... See MoreSee Less

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Edible Dallas Fort Worth

2 weeks ago

No better getaway for Memorial Day weekend!! Greer FarmWe have a lake view cabin and the multi person barn loft apartment available for the three day Memorial Day weekend. Reservations 903-452-9600 more information www.greerfarm.com ... See MoreSee Less

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Edible Dallas Fort Worth is with Eden's Organic Garden Center/CSA Farm and 5 others.

2 weeks ago

Before the day closes, today is the birthday of our publisher and FEARLESS (you have no idea!) leader, Nanci Taylor. Never one to take the spotlight, Nanci instead tirelessly supports and spotlights local farmers, ranchers, food producers, markets, chefs, restaurants, wineries, distilleries, breweries, and all-things local and sustainable. Since launching Edible Dallas & Fort Worth in 2009, Nanci continues to be the driving force of our well-loved local publication. We want to recognize and applaud her passion and dedication, and hope you will join us in wishing her a Happy Birthday!!! Here are some rare pics of the Birthday Girl, with a few of her many friends and fans <3 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NANCI!! ... See MoreSee Less

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