Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - "Make it, bake it, grow it" market fun awaits this Saturday! The Puerto Vallarta Old Town Farmers Market-Tianguis Cultural features 90+ vendors with everything from farm-to-table produce, natural body products, paper mache figures, handmade jewelry, wine bags, pet food, live music, on-site services and so much more!

While here, be sure to scoop up Artisan Bakery's fine breads. Get to know the owner, Ana Hernandez Naranjo. She is a "sourdough bread-u-cator," sharing the process of "real bread" for thousands of tourists and locals.

What is Real Bread?

Real bread is Old World style European breads that are hand-shaped and baked in a brick oven. They are 100% naturally fermented and made from only flour, water and salt. Real breads are preservative and additive-free, made without oil, butter, eggs, sugar, powered yeast or commercially produced yeast.

Sourdough: The "Friendly" Bacteria

Sourdough is a "friendly" bacteria, and contains a culture called lactobacillus bacteria. It produces lactic acid, and gives off that signature sour flavor we all know and love! Although Artisan Bakery's sourdough "starter" originated in the San Francisco Bay area, it has since developed its own culture from wild yeast spores here in Puerto Vallarta. In fact, this tropical destination is the best environment in which to grow wild yeast. And this is what has made Artisan Bakery a favorite since opening its Vallarta-based shop in 1998!

Artisan Bakery's Bread-Making Process

Artisan Bakery's sourdough starter has brought exceptional flavor and texture to its breads. Unlike that of commercial breads, naturally produced leavened breads take time and care through each step. They are carefully mixed, proofed & hand-shaped. The ability to control the fermentation for over 12 hours, the mixing, proofing and shaping is a process of artistry. In fact, each "rustic" loaf takes 30-40 hours to make from start to finish.

Artisan Bakery breads are made in a Guilard-style oven. The separate fire box and low-vault ceiling create an intense heat, causing gases in the bread to "pop." This reaction gives the bread its distinctive holes. The brick hearth then gives the bread a fine crust and spongy texture.

Health Benefits of Sourdough Bread

There are several health benefits to naturally leavened bread. Nutrients are released during the bread-making process. The body then absorbs minerals as the grains' acids are neutralized. With sourdough bread, complex carbohydrates are broken down into digestible simple sugars, and proteins are broken down into amino acids. The fermentation of quality bread helps to digest complex carbohydrates and restore the digestive tract.

Select Your Favorite

Treat yourself to Artisan Bakery's variety of breads. Favorites include: sourdough (baguette, round or loaf), whole wheat, New York rye, filone, ciabatta, focaccia, rustic grain and multi grain. Other products include sourdough cinnamon rolls, sweet breads, scones and stuffed loaves including spinach & artichoke, 3 Italian cheese, apricot & raisin, jalapeño & cheese, and garlic & cheese.

Connect with Artisan Bakery at +52 (322) 223-8233, artisanbakerypv(at)outlook.com, or their Col. Versalles location at Calle Aldanaca No. 178 Local 9. You can also find Artisan Bakery products in the following locations:

• The Coffee Cup (Marina)
• Frutas Vaca (near Mercado Emiliano Zapata)
• Mikey's Deli (Los Mercados)

Love Yoga?

While at the market, join us for yoga classes (9:30-10:30 am) taught by instructors from Yoga Collective. We meet in the kiosk every Saturday morning through April 30th. Participation is by donation.

Meet the Market

The OTFM-TC is a North American style market that celebrates the tradition and culture of Mexico's outdoor Tianguis markets. It is also a registered non-profit/association civil organization that focuses on nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit of Puerto Vallartans. All OTFM-TC products are either locally grown or handmade within 75 kilometers of the city.

You're Invited!

The OTFM-TC will be open 9:30-2 every Saturday, from November 7, 2015, to April 25, 2016. You'll find us in Lazaro Cárdenas Park, located in Vallarta's Emiliano Zapata neighborhood. For only 12 pesos an hour, you can park in the garage directly beneath park. Public buses and taxis also come this way with a Pino Suarez Street drop off.

Get Involved

Interested in becoming a new OTFM-TC vendor or volunteer? Stop by the information booth to pick up an application.

For market updates in English - and now in Spanish - please visit OldTownFM.com, and "like" us on Facebook.

Click HERE to learn more about the Puerto Vallarta Old Town Farmers' Market.