Farmers' markets provide a great place to stock up on the week’s produce, spend the afternoon outdoors, and support the local farming community while you do it. In Houston, you’ll find a number of bountiful farmers' markets offering much more than the usual fruits and vegetables. Check out one of these great options this week.

Houston Farmers' Market
The Houston Farmers' Market is the city’s main farmers' market, which becomes apparent when you see how many quality vendors there are on its grounds. The market is held every Tuesday afternoon in the parking lot behind Rice Stadium and offers a very large space for browsing. While you'll encounter local farmers selling fresh, organic produce, there are also many places to buy prepared foods that are supplied by local eateries. From homemade samosas to goat cheese made with local milk, you’ll find a wide assortment of foods at this impressive market.
Rice University Campus West Stadium Lot, 5600 Greenbriar Drive, Houston, TX 77005

Canino Produce
If you’re only looking for fresh produce, Canino Produce is a wonderful alternative to the traditional grocery store. This outdoor market is housed in an airy, barn-like building filled with bountiful stalls overflowing with fresh strawberries, local squash, ripe tomatoes, and many other seasonal fruits and veggies. Best of all, the prices are so low that you can shop local and organic without spending a fortune.
2520 Airline Drive, Houston, TX 77009; (713) 862-4027

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/elizaraxi

Buy groceries, fill up the car with gas, and eat some 'cue all in one place: Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Que in Katy. Since 1989, Rudolph (Rudy) Aue has been bringing fresh and flavorful barbecue to Texas.

Expect moist and juicy meat like brisket, ribs, pork loin, chopped beef, and sausage. Two sauces are offered to drench on your meat: Rudy’s Bar-B-Que Sause and Sissy Sause. Classic sides include creamed corn, coleslaw, potato salad, and corn on the cob. Be sure to save room for dessert, as they have a variety of sweet treats, like banana pudding, pecan pie, and peach cobbler.

There’s always a long line, but it moves fast. Check the website for more news, online ordering, and more information. Take-out, catering, and group meals are available. Free Wi-Fi is offered.

Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Que
21799 Katy Freeway
Katy, TX 77450
(832) 772-7242
www.rudysbbq.com/page/home
www.yelp.com/biz/rudys-country-store-and-bar-b-q-katy

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/jeffreyww

Since opening in 2007, China Cottage has been serving a blend of Chinese regional cuisines to happy Katy customers. The restaurant does a brisk lunch business, and its lunch specials are a very good deal, combining an entree dish with rice, crab rangoon, and your choice of soup. Dinner at China Cottage is a more relaxed affair, but not because there are fewer customers; diners just have more time to linger over their meals after the workday is finished. Large portions and reasonable prices mean that it can be easy to over-order and end up with lots of leftovers, but that's not a problem when the food is this good.

The dining room is bright and open, while the service is fast, friendly, and attentive, so dining in is always a pleasure. But sometimes you just need to eat your Chinese food while sitting on your own couch watching a movie. If it's one of those days, China Cottage's take-out service is the answer.

China Cottage
637 South Mason Road
Katy, TX 77450
(281) 492-7832
www.china-cottage.com
www.yelp.com/biz/china-cottage-katy

CC-BY-SA-3.0/Flickr/ruocaled