There are many farms in Texas that grow healthy and wholesome products. Anyone who wants to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, see how the farm is run and, most importantly, try products without pesticides, synthetic mineral fertilizers, growth regulators, artificial food additives and GMOs should visit them. For a selection of 10 organic farms near Houston that are worth checking out, visit houstoname.
1. Andalucia Nuts
The main store of this eco-business is located in Houston and offers first-class roasted nuts, dried fruits, nut butter, seeds, candies and chocolate. Since 1988, the company has been processing nuts using a dry roasting technique that was created specifically for the privileged populations of Europe and the Middle East. Thanks to this technique, they retain their natural flavor and health benefits.
Leadership in food quality and safety is a top priority for Andalucia Nuts. Each team member is responsible for ensuring that fresh products meet all the requirements.
2. Animal Farm
The Animal Farm in the community of Kat Spring (an hour’s drive from Houston) is a center for permaculture (a system of farming that works harmonizing with natural processes with minimal environmental damage).
The farm provides a nutrient-rich selection of vegetables, fruits and herbs for farmers’ markets and specialty restaurants. Dive into a world of flavors with a diverse range of products, including arugula, broccoli, coriander, chard, herbs, florets, spinach, onions and more.
Twice a year, the farm owners organize public tours here — in spring and fall. Discover the beauty of sustainable agriculture and watch the magic of nature in action. In addition, the farmers offer yoga-focused retreats, inviting you to rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit.
The Animal Farm was opened in 1998 by an ordinary family when they were clearing the land they had purchased for drainage and paving the road from the entrance gate to the site of their future home. In the process of clearing, a small clearing was left, which later became a vegetable garden. The harvest exceeded expectations, so the family shared it with relatives, friends and neighbors. Soon, local chefs started ordering the vegetables. The same year, the newly minted farmers created another garden where they planted herbs and root vegetables.
3. B Mann Farms LLC
Houston-based B Mann Farms LLC grows certified organic rice in Edney, Texas and certified organic beef in Washington County, Texas. The rice is certified according to the National Organic Program standard and the cattle for the organic beef are fed grass and organic hay. There is also organic Wagyu beef from the Tajima-Gyu strain, which comes from Japan.
4. Bendele Farms
The quality of the vegetables from Bendele Farms in Richmond (50 minutes from Houston) is evidenced by the large number of positive reviews on the farm’s Facebook page. You can find its greens, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, corn, carrots, onions and more at some Texas markets, such as the Texas Thrift Store or Beacon Hill Neighborhood Farmer’s Market.
5. Cardiff Ranch
Cardiff Ranch is a family owned and operated farm and ranch in Hallettsville, a 2-hour drive from Houston. Since 1997, the farm has been producing organic beef, with cattle fed only grass. Organic rice, ground beef, cows and calves are also available for purchase.
6. Comanche Oaks
Comanche Oaks, one of the first certified organic producers in Texas, is located in the city of Nome, a little over an hour’s drive from Houston. The farm’s history dates back to 1987, when a farmer named Caldwell began to set up his vegetable garden. After many years of hard work, Caldwell became one of the leading state-certified organic producers in Texas.
Herbs and vegetables are mainly grown here. Among the favorites of buyers are bee pollen, fresh chamomile, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, and moringa oil (a vegetable oil derived from the seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree).
7. Crisp Farms
Crisp Farms was opened by Chris Nagelhout and by his father Bob Nagelhout in Smithville, a 2-hour drive from Houston. Here you will find nutrient-rich organic greens that are affordable. The farm also raises tilapia fish in a humane manner.
The farm is set up according to the principles of aquaponics, a high-tech way of farming that combines aquaculture (aquatic animal husbandry) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil). Aquaponics is an artificial ecosystem in which three types of living organisms are key: aquatic animals (usually fish), plants and bacteria.
Crisp Farms is the result of family traditions, a deep-rooted love of delicious and healthy food and a conscious effort to support the local community. It’s a way to combine people’s health with respect for the environment and the promise of a brighter, more sustainable future. Crisp Farms is more than just a business. It is an attempt to change people’s attitudes towards food and their perceptions of modern food production. The farm opens up a diverse palette of flavors offered by nature.
8. H2Organics
H2Organics is an organic aquaponic vegetable farm in the census tract of the Zee Woodlands (an hour’s drive from Houston). Here you will find organic microgreens such as coriander, kohlrabi, purple basil, mustard, radish, arugula, daikon (sweet Japanese radish) and more. You can buy these goodies at some Texas farmers’ markets or order them online.
9. Doguet’s Rice Mill
Doguet’s Rice Mill, located in Beaumont (1 hour and 40 minutes from Houston), grows organic white and brown rice, organic long grain white and brown rice, long grain rice, medium grain rice, organic brown basmati (a type of aromatic rice with small, long grains) and other types of rice.
Doguet’s Rice Mill is a family business that dates back to the 1920s when a farmer named Doguet grew rice in Louisiana, but it wasn’t until 1981 that his great-grandson, Darby Doguet, combined the rice dryer and mill in Beaumont. Doguet’s Rice Mill is the first certified organic rice mill in Texas.
10. Harvest Grain Mills
This is another rice farm. Harvest Grain Mills was founded by cousins David Kirkham and Donald Wilcox in 1947 in Anauaka, an hour’s drive from Houston, to supply organic Carolina Gold Rice and Charleston Gold Rice to the state’s residents. They also offer chocolate chip cookies made from rice flour.
The idea for this business came about when the brothers noticed that ordinary table rice had lost its true flavor. They started looking for more flavorful varieties to offer to consumers in their region. The search led them to grow Carolina Gold Rice and Charleston Gold Rice, but to bring the product to the table, they needed to process it first. That’s how Harvest Grain Mills was born.
By the way, since this is a small farming town, you can often come across kids learning to drive a tractor and combine.