It would be difficult to find a more authentic, old-timey North Texas farmers market than Cowtown in southwest Fort Worth, or a better place to experience the essence of local.

When last I visited, a frigid wind was blowing down tents, and vendors were taking refuge from the bitter cold in their trucks.

But these folks are tough. Neither a frosty winter chill nor spring downpour nor scorching summer heat, like the kind we had Saturday, keep them from lining up year-round on the Texas Outdoors parking lot.

Saturday meant a dizzying array of local fruits and vegetables, and they're a lesson in local. You could tell the bell peppers and peaches (yellow and white) were the real deal, for instance, because they were imperfect and small, not supermarket beautiful.

Likewise, B&G Gardens' humongous tomatoes — one weighed in at 1 pound, 6 ounces — were easily identified as farm-grown because of their irregular shapes. That, plus their intense, sweet flavor. How does the Poolville farm manage to grow these? Co-owner Greg Johnson is a master gardener. (In spring, the farm is famous for its asparagus.)

These beauties from B&G Gardens at the Cowtown Farmers Market weighed in at over a pound each. Co-owner Greg Johnson is a master gardener. (Kim Pierce)

But there was more Saturday, including many one-of-a-kind gems that delight farmers market junkies. Folks had several varieties of pears, including Asian pears. Apples — yes, apples — from Bowie that were bright and crisp. Concord and Catawba grapes. All in addition to plenty of high-summer bounty such as squashes (including eight-ball and pattypan), potatoes, okra and melons. One farmer brought a flatbed of cantaloupe and watermelon from Sunset in Montague County.

This is a self-administered producers market. Everything must be grown within a 150-mile radius, and it must be sold by the person or team/family that grew it.

The meats, cheeses and artisan foods were just as impressive as the produce, and held their own wonderful surprises. Battlefield Bufala sells true water-buffalo mozzarella from animals raised in Tarrant County, as well as meat from the same stock. Latte Da Dairy from Flower Mound brings fresh chèvre. Small-batch preserves from producers like Working Farms mean seasonal Hatch chile-peach and Hatch chile-blueberry flavors. Baked goods range from Gotta Have Cookies to Icon Bread's sourdough loaves from Southlake.

Those are just a few of the reasons to visit Cowtown Farmers Market, destined to bring joy to the heart of a true farmers market devotee. Just be sure to bring a cooler.

Cowtown Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. 3821 Southwest Blvd., Fort Worth, under the tents in the parking lot of Texas Outdoors, on the Weatherford traffic circle (the confluence of U.S. Highway 377, State Highway 183 and Camp Bowie Boulevard). 817-763-0193. Facebook: Cowtown Farmers Market.

Here's the bounty I brought home from the Cowtown Farmers Market last Saturday: eggplant, apples, pears, peaches, tomatoes, garlic, pastured chicken and eggs, chicken tortilla soup (the frozen rectangle, upper right) and just below it, sourdough bread made fresh that morning. (Kim Pierce)

Farmers markets

Clearfork Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. 4801 Edwards Ranch Road, Fort Worth (The Trailhead at Clearfork). farmersmarket1848.com.

Coppell Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays. 768 W. Main St., off Bethel Road. 972-304-7043. coppellfarmersmarket.org.

Cowtown Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. 3821 Southwest Blvd., Fort Worth, under the tents in the parking lot of Texas Outdoors, on the Weatherford traffic circle (the confluence of U.S. 377, State Highway 183 and Camp Bowie). 817-763-0193. Facebook: Cowtown Farmers Market.

Dallas Farmers Market: The Shed, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Closed Monday-Thursday. The Market food hall, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily (until 8 p.m. Fridays). 1010 S. Pearl Expressway. 214-664-9110. dallasfarmersmarket.org.

Denton Community Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. 317 W. Mulberry St. dentoncommunitymarket.com.

Edens Organic Garden Center and CSA Farm: Market days, 9 a.m. to noon first, third and fifth Saturdays through December. 4710 Pioneer Road, Balch Springs. edensorganicfarm.com.

Farmers Branch Market: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturdays. The Grove at Mustang Crossing, 12700 Denton Drive, Farmers Branch. farmersbranchmarket.com.

Farmers Market of Grapevine: 325 S. Main St. Year-round store: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. 520 S. Main. farmersmarketofgrapevine.com.

Frisco Fresh Market: Outdoor market 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. Main Street at Frisco Street, adjacent to the east side parking lot of Toyota Stadium, Frisco. friscofreshmarket.com.

Frisco Rotary Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. 8821 4th St., Frisco. friscorotaryfarmersmarket.com.

Four Seasons Market-Carrollton: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. 2722 N. Josey Lane. fourseasonsmarkets.com.

Four Seasons Market-Casa Linda: Noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Casa Linda Plaza, 9440 Garland Road, Dallas. fourseasonsmarkets.com.

Four Seasons Market-Colleyville: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. 100 Main St., Colleyville. fourseasonsmarkets.com.

Four Seasons Market-Flower Mound: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. 1500 Cross Timbers Road. fourseasonsmarkets.com.

Four Seasons Market-Highland Village: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. 2230 Justin Road. fourseasonsmarkets.com.

Four Seasons Market-Las Colinas: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. 7701 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving. fourseasonsmarkets.com.

Four Seasons Market-Richardson: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Dal-Rich Towne Square, 101 S. Coit Road. fourseasonsmarkets.com.

Georgia's Farmers Market: Open daily. 916 15th St., Plano. 972-516-4765. Facebook: Georgia's Farmers Market.

Grand Prairie Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Market Square, 121 W. Main St. gptx.org.

Historic McKinney Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays. Chestnut Square Historic Village, 315 S. Chestnut St., McKinney. 972-562-8790. chestnutsquare.org.

Lakewood Village Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. Mockingbird at Abrams, Dallas. goodlocalmarkets.org.

Lancaster Market: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., second Saturdays. Historic Town Square, 112 E. Cedar St. Lancaster-tx.com (search for "Lancaster Market").

Local Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the third Saturday of the month through June, then September through November. Highland Park Village, Preston Road at Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. Hpvillage.com/LOCAL.

Lola's Local Market: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Home of Lola the pig. 1771 Kever Main (off State Highway 5), Melissa. Facebook: Lola's Local Market.

Luscombe Farm Market: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every second and fourth Sunday. 8649 Luscombe Farm Drive, Anna. 214-212-0814. luscombefarm.com.

Mesquite Marketplace: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every second and fourth Saturday. 150 W. Main St. themarketplacedfw.com.

Ridgmar Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays. 900 State Highway 183 N. (across from Ridgmar Mall), Fort Worth. 817-246-7525.

Rockwall Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays. 101 Rusk St., historic downtown Rockwall square. rockwallfarmersmarket.org.

Rowlett Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. 4000 Main St. villageofrowlettdowntown.com.

St. Michael's Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. North parking lot, St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 8011 Douglas Ave., Dallas. saintmichaelsmarket.com.

West Plano Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Corner of Plano Parkway and Chapel Hill. The Shops at Willow Bend, 6121 W. Park Blvd. Facebook: Red Tent Markets.

White Rock Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Lake Pointe Church, 9150 Garland Road, Dallas. goodlocalmarkets.org.