The Common Market Texas Keeps Farmers Farming Following Climate Devastation

In the wake of Hurricane Berryl, CMTX provided critical financial loans to rebuild farms and build resiliency.

This year’s devastating storms have severely damaged the farmers and ranchers we work with across Texas. In Harris County and beyond, relentless winds and heavy rains erased months of effort, leaving many farms struggling to recover. Hurricane Beryl hit especially hard, flooding fields and damaging infrastructure that our local food system depends on. In July, Beryl brought wind speeds over 86 mph and dropped 10 to 15 inches of rain across parts of the state. Wharton and Matagorda counties were among the hardest hit, with agricultural losses totaling nearly $90 million, according to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Many farmers we know and trust lost crops, equipment, and essential infrastructure. While they waited for insurance claims and federal aid, which could take months to arrive, we took action to expedite their recovery, to keep farmers farming.

A Commitment to Helping Farmers Rebuild

At The Common Market Texas, supporting resilient regional food systems means showing up in times like these. We recently provided an interest-free loan from our Farmer Loan Fund to help one of our long-time partners, Moonflower Farms, recover and rebuild their operation.

Federico Marques, founder of Moonflower Farms, has been a valued member of our network, providing hydroponic greens to help meet the demand for fresh, local food. When Hurricane Beryl tore through Houston, Moonflower Farms’ greenhouse—made of plastic coverings, reflective panels, and aluminum supports—sustained significant damage.

“We were heavily impacted by Hurricane Beryl and needed to make many repairs just to get back to business,” Federico shared with us. “Our greenhouse structure was ripped apart, and it’s been a tough road putting everything back together.” We quickly stepped in to offer Moonflower Farms a $49,000 interest-free loan, ensuring they had the resources to restart production. With federal and insurance aid still in limbo, this immediate support was essential to getting them back on track.

Bridging the Gap for Local Farmers

We launched the Farmer Loan Fund in 2021 to address the capital gap for small farms, especially for those who have historically been excluded from financial opportunities. Since then, we’ve provided $1.3 million in low-burden capital to farmers across our network, helping them secure reliable income, innovate, and grow.

“Thanks to The Common Market, we had funds in hand in less than two weeks,” Federico told us. “We’re still waiting on FEMA and insurance payments, which could take months, but with your loan, we were able to start rebuilding right away.”

This is the kind of impact we aim for—helping local farmers like Federico rebuild their operations so they can continue doing what they do best: growing fresh, sustainable food for our community.

Resilience in the Face of Disruption

Our role at The Common Market Texas goes beyond food distribution. We believe that a local food system thrives when it supports everyone—from the farmers who grow the food to the hospitals, schools, and families who rely on it.

“Our investment in this community is about more than just moving food,” says Jeremy Logan, our executive director. “When we buy local, we empower Texas farmers and ranchers by supporting their livelihoods, and we strengthen our food system, making it more resilient to challenges like climate events, pandemics, and economic disruptions.”

Our short supply chain model shows what’s possible: a food system that can recover faster, serve people better, and protect against future shocks.

Moving Forward, Together

The recovery process includes the combined efforts of nonprofits, local businesses, and community members, and we are confident Texas farmers will come back stronger. Moonflower Farms is already back in production, and Federico is looking ahead with hope.