This is the seat of Zavala County and the primary center for packing, processing and shipping vegetables from a Del Monte Foods plant and independent farmer co-ops. Most famous for its spinach crop, the Winter Garden area also produces onions, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, watermelons and cantaloupes. The annual Spinach Festival is held the second weekend of November.

Available hunting game include white-tailed deer, wild hog, turkey, white-winged dove, javelina and rattlesnake. Fishing on the Nueces, Leona and Frio rivers; plentiful creeks; and Espantosa Lake include alligator gar, bass, catfish and perch. Many hunting and fishing lodges are located just minutes from town.