When The Monument Caf moved to its current location at 500 S. Austin Ave., restaurant owners Rusty Winkstern and Clark Lyda planned to open a market offering fresh, locally grown, organic vegetables, fruits and other food products made locally to the public. Their vision came true when the duo opened The Monument Market in May 2011.

The market and caf are run as separate business ventures, but the two operations work together to support each other, Monument gardener Michelle Perry said.

The market buys produce and other items from vendors, and the kitchen buys goods from the market.

Some of the market's larger produce vendors include Johnson's Backyard Garden in East Austin, Fruitful Hill Farm LLC from Smithville and Hillside Farm, which is also in Austin. Winkstern and his wife, Lael, operate a fruit orchard and farm from their Georgetown home, where she produces jalapeo jam, pestos and other products.

The market also purchases produce from local growers in the Georgetown community, including Joanna Tidwell and Heather Casper.

In late April or early May, Winkstern and Lyda plan to open a Mexican restaurant at 100 S. Austin Ave. The second restaurant will feature its own garden, and Perry said she is learning to grow vegetables she has never grown before, including chayote, for the new menu.

240-4715, www.themonumentmarket.com