Spa City Local Farm Market Co-op:  The market is open

The Spa City Co-op online market is open for ordering now until Tuesday at 9 pm.

Please remember to mark your calendars for pickup Friday the 17th between 3:30 and 5:30 at 341A Whittington Avenue. Before 5 is better for our volunteer staff.

See you Friday!
Denise Marion
April 17 Market Manager
501-655-3130
Spacity@locallygrown.net

Citrus County Locally Grown:  Mid April, already!

Our growers thank you for supporting local growers and businesses. Your orders make a real difference

Capt Tim is back from vacation with all his fresh – never frozen- seafood.

3 Rock Farm
We have Microgreens (Arugula, Bok Choy, Mild Brassica, Spicy Brassica, Sunflower and Radish!) plus Eggs, baby Collards, and Organic Blueberries!

Coffey Break Farm has eggs, goat milk and goat cheese. Please note: there is a 3 log minimum per person when ordering cheese; not to worry you’ll have too much…these freeze wonderfully. Flavors for this week are garlic basil, honey cranberry pecan, chocolate cherry, and Plain.

A reminder…COW MILK IS STILL AVAILABLE! Since we need to get our order to the farm on Tuesday, we will stop taking orders for milk, MONDAY NIGHT. Please place your orders early!

Thank you for supporting your On-Line Farmers Market. Your purchases have made a difference to many families

Your CCLG Team

THE MARKET IS OPEN
The link below will take you there.

www.citruscounty.locallygrown.net/.*

Lake Placid Online Farmer's Market:  April Market Open

Hello Everyone,

The April Market is open! As discussed in a previous email, we moved it to this week due to Easter holidays and spring break. Check out the market items below and please place your order before the cut off on Monday April 13th at 12 pm.

As always, please email me at christiesausa@icloud.com with any questions.

Best,
Christie

Statesboro Market2Go:  The market is open!!

Fisheads lettuce is back, Jacobs’ strawberries, fresh eggs, meat, dairy, radishes, onions, fresh garlic, and so, so much more! Be sure to order this week!!

Augusta Locally Grown:  THE ON-LINE MARKET IS OPEN AT AUGUSTA LOCALLY GROWN!N

SAT, APR 11 — SHEAR FUN AT KHAKALAKI FARM … This family-friendly event will include the full range of fiber fun, from sheep shearing to spinning and knitting demos. Kids activities, farm tour and a farm lunch will be included. $20 for adults; $5 for kids. Email kim@augustalocallygrown.org today for last-minute tickets.

SUN, APR 12 – THREE FARM TOUR AND PROGRESSIVE MEAL … An educational tour and a three-course farm meal … with a different course at each location. Starters at Spirit Creek Farms in Augusta; Stews at Noah’s Farm & Forest in Keysville; Sweets at JandL Farm & Stable in Hephzibah. Tickets are on sale now through our on-line market. $20/person. Only 4 tickets left. Email kim@augustalocallygrown.org today.

TUES, APR 14 – PRESS CONFERENCE FOR THE FRUIT & VEGGIE Rx PROGRAM WITH G.R.O.W. HARRISBURG … Learn what all the excitement is all about! If you’re a member of the media, or know someone who is, please contact kim@augustalocallygrown.org for the press release. Starts at 12:30pm at Harrisburg Family Health Care.

TUE, APR 14 – SEEDLING DISTRIBUTION DAY … We’ve got one more day of seedling distribution for participants of our “!00 in Harrisburg” raised bed project. Come get your free baby plants if you’re involved; or donate some if you’ve got extra! Here’s what we’ll have this Tuesday: tomatoes, squash, basil, cantaloupe, cucumbers, onion starts, lettuce, peppers, okra, eggplant and herbs.

TUE, APR 14 – VEGGIE TRUCK FARMERS MARKET … Every Tuesday, across from the Kroc Center. We double EBT!!!

THUR, APR 16 – FERMENTED VEGGIE WORKSHOP … Back by popular demand, Danielle Shelton of Thoroughbrewed will host another spring veggie fermentation class. Get your probiotics on!! Thursday, April 16, 5:30-7p, at the Local Foods Classroom, 1808 Broad Street, Augusta. Order tickets on line, or email kim@augustalocallygrown.org for info. This class is nearly full!!!

THUR, APR 16 – BENDERDINKER COMES TO THE EVANS TOWNE FARMERS MARKET IN EVANS … JOINED BY THE SOUL CITY SIRENS!!! … Yep. That’s right. Only the Benderdinker combines paddlin’ on the water, putzin’ in the garden and roller derby! Come see the derby demo on stage at the market, support your local farmers, buy a raffle ticket to win a paddle board, sign up to paddle, and just be part of the undeniable whimsy that is the Benderdinker! The Evans Towne Farmers Market is behind the Columbia County library, 4:30pm-7pm each week. This week also features the Augusta District Dietetic Association doing the cooking demo. And yes! We also double EBT/SNAP!

SAT, APR 18 – COMMUNITY COMPOST START-UP WITH G.R.O.W. HARRISBURG AT THE ICEBOX MINISTRIES CAMPUS … What happens when you combine alpaca poo, mushroom waste and sun-dried hydrilla from the canal? We’re about to find out! Come help us prepare a community compost area on our soon-to-be urban farm education center! Text Kim at 706-288-7895 to sign up to help. 9am-12noon. Bring your work gloves.

SAT, APR 25 – BENDERDINKER! Registration is OPEN! Visit www.benderdinker.com. The BenderDinker is our only big fundraiser each year for Augusta Locally Grown, and the presenting sponsor of the Evans Towne Farmers Market. Big thanks to the dozens of ALG volunteers who have signed up to make it all happen!

SAT-SUN, MAY 2-3 – LOW DOWN THROW DOWN … Honored and flat out stoked that ALG has been selected as the nonprofit beneficiary of the Soul City Sirens Roller Derby tournament this May Day weekend. Come throw a few back, get in touch with your inner queen and support the local foods movement. Proceeds will go to our FVRx program for women and their children. Tourney runs 8am-8pm, both days, at the Columbia County Exhibition Center in Grovetown. Visit soulcitysirens.com. And yes, we’re looking for a few kickin’ volunteers to run our booth too!

SAT-SUN, MAY 2-3 – ICEBOX MINISTRIES MAY DAY PLAY DAY … There are amazing things happening in local foods on Fenwick Street in Harrisburg. At the center of it are the good folks of Icebox Ministries and other partners of G.R.O.W. Harrisburg. Come join us in a two-day renovation of an old florist shop at Icebox Ministries’ new urban campus. We’ll use it as a teaching kitchen for the Fruit & Veggie Rx program this summer. Okay, so this might sound like more of a “work day” than a “play day” … but believe me … it’s all fun. Work starts at 9am each day and goes til we’re exhausted. Painting, flooring, general cleaning up. Email kim@augustalocallygrown.org to volunteer.

FRI & SAT, MAY 22-23 – SHADOW BBQ RETURNS! – This local competition bbq team will again compete in “BANJO-B-QUE,” a nationally-sanctioned event in Evans! Better yet, they feature local meats from local farmers while also promoting Augusta Locally Grown. ALG board president Amy Sutter and her hubby Patrick head it all up! Save this date, buy your tickets and GO SHADOW BBQ!!!

SUN, MAY 31 – FAMILY FARM DAY … Come meet your farmers at Clyde’s Fresh Produce in Grovetown. Show up anytime between 2pm-6pm to see the goings on at this bio-diverse local farm. Seasonal samples and young farm animals make it all the more fun. Save the date.

MON, JUNE I – RAINWATER WORKSHOP FOR URBAN VEGGIE GARDENS … Join us for another “pop up” food-growing workshop. This one will be held at Bottle Tree Farm in Augusta. Instructors Candace & Nate Zukas will share the nitty gritty details of their own rain barrel system, which waters their beautiful urban farmette. 5:30pm-7pm. $5/person. This one will sell out fast!

TUE, JUNE 2 – FRUIT & VEGGIE RX … Augusta Locally Grown is truly honored to be a partner in the Fruit & Veggie Rx pilot project, a first-ever for the Southeast! The pilot will be hosted and coordinated by the Harrisburg Family Healthcare clinic, funded and designed by Wholesome Wave Georgia, educationally enhanced by Icebox Ministries, academically enhanced by Emory University, held together by Good Neighbor Ministries/St. Luke UMC, and made real by medical student volunteers from MCG. Augusta Locally Grown is the project’s cheerleader. June 2 is the project’s kick-off date! Your donations would be very much appreciated.

SUN, JUN 14 — BLUEBERRY PICK YOUR OWN DAY … Grateful to include the farmers at Herb & Berries Farm of Montmorenci, SC, (near Aiken) in our mix. We’ll join forces with them in June to host a pick-your-own morning. Attendance is free; self-picked blueberries cost a 2.50/lb. Come early; beat the heat. More details soon!

TBA IN JULY — BUCKET GARDENING with Stephanie, at Bucket Lady Farm in Augusta!

SUN, OCT 4 — FARM TO PARK DINNER FEATURING CHEF CHARLEEN — Save the date for what will surely be the biggest farm to table event that Augusta’s ever seen! Chef Charleen of Culinary Connections will feature local foods at this Pendleton King Park fundraiser… and ALG will help! Farmers: contact Chef Charleen to feature your special something in this one-of-a-kind event.

Cheers!
Kim

Heirloom Living Market Lilburn:  Market is open .. Come on in!

The Market is now open for ordering…Happy Shopping!

Market Closes at 8:00pm Monday!
Pickup Day and Time: Thursday 4:30 – 6:30pm
Pickup Location: All Saints Lutheran Church
722 Rockbridge Road SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
Click Here for Map

Hop on over to the Market and place your order…

Thank you for your support!

See you at Market on Thursday!

“Like” us on facebook!

BUY LOCAL ~ Know your Farmer!

Heirloom Living Market Hamilton Mill:  Come on in...the Market is Open!

The Market is now open…Happy Shopping!

We take orders Friday 9:00am until Monday 8:00pm

Pickup Day and Time: Thursday 2:30 – 4:30pm
Pickup Location:
Hamilton Mill Community Clubhouse
1669 Hamilton Mill Parkway
Dacula, GA 30019
Click Here for Map

Thank you for your support!

See you at Market on Thursday!

“Like” us on facebook!

BUY LOCAL ~ Know your Farmer!

Heirloom Living Market Lawrenceville :  Come on in...the Market is Open!

The Market is now Open…Happy Shopping!

Thank you for your cooperation in adapting to the new Market hours!

Joyful thoughts and bountiful blessings,

~Maryanne


“Like” us on facebook!

Take me to the Market.

Champaign, OH:  The Price Is Right!

We like to keep our little local market of love customers informed, enlightened, in the know…

Your assistant manager, Mark, passed this on. We field these comments, thoughts, questions, all the time…

Interesting read…and, we want you to be informed…because we love you!!

Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam

Vegetables-and-Fruit

By Tom Cherveny, West Central Tribune, Willmar, Minn.

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Ask people why they shop at farmers markets and they will answer one, two and three: They like the freshness and quality of the produce, supporting the local economy, and the social interaction they find.

“If you ask, price doesn’t enter. It isn’t in the top three,’’ said Ryan Pesch, a market coordinator with the University of Minnesota Extension.

And yet, Pesch and University of Minnesota undergraduate student Maria Keeler found that price represents one of the best reasons to shop the local farmers market.

On average, they found that the prices for traditional produce such as tomatoes and onions were lower when purchased at farmers markets in west central Minnesota as compared to prices at big box supermarkets, traditional grocery stores, and specialized local food stores.

They found that a mixed basket of produce including nine different vegetables, from cabbage to zucchini, cost an average of $12.85 at farmers markets and $14.33 at grocery stores. They published their price study in February.

While farmers markets offered the lower price on average, they also had the greatest variation in prices. Prices could vary from vendor to vendor and market to market, Pesch said. The variations could often be explained by differences in how producers raised their vegetables and the varieties. All tomatoes are not created equal.

Along with a better price on average, Pesch, himself a local foods producer and vendor, argues that shoppers at farmers markets enjoy higher-quality produce as well, certainly in terms of freshness. The lion’s share of produce sold at traditional grocery stores is trucked long distances, he said.

He and Keeler undertook the pricing study to find the answers that a lot of vendors at farmers markets have been seeking. While farmers market consumers may not always be price-sensitive, the vendors are, Pesch said. They are constantly looking over their shoulders at what prices the grocery stores and others are asking.

The Thursday afternoon Becker Market in Willmar was among the farmers markets selected for the analysis. Market director Nancy Johnson said she was not surprised by the findings. Johnson said she has always felt that consumers enjoy "extra good value’’ not only because of price, but because of the freshness and nutritional value of the local goods.

She noted that Willmar is fortunate in that it also has Wednesday and Saturday farmers markets that join large numbers of producers and consumers. "We’re trying to grow the local economy,’’ she said.

The desire to support the local foods economy and to enjoy fresh, healthy foods are the big motivations for consumers at farmers markets whether they live in the metropolitan area or greater Minnesota, according to Pesch. Previously, he studied consumer attitudes at farmers markets in Renville County and found that they matched exactly with their urban counterparts.

But until now, he said there has often been a "mixed message’’ when it came to pricing at farmers markets. Some view them as "overpriced meat boutiques,‘’ and others as "end-of-season bargains.’’ In truth, shoppers can both pay a premium or find a bargain at farmers market, but on average, they get very good value on their dollar, the analysis showed.

About the study:

The price study is based on shopping trips conducted during July and August of last year to farmers markets in Willmar, Alexandria, Benson, Fergus Falls, Lowry, Morris and Sauk Centre. They also shopped major discount and traditional chain stores in the same towns, except for Lowry. They also shopped the Kadejan Market in Glenwood and the Pomme-de-Terre Co-op in Morris.

Prices were analyzed through the season on cabbage, cucumbers, green peppers, onions, string beans, summer squash, sweet corn, tomatoes and zucchini.

Champaign, OH:  Garden of Love!

As I mentioned in my market opening, last night, the gardens are coming alive, once again!!

I wanted to send a note from Joe and Charlene of Swisher Hill Herbs!!

At last! Spring is here! Trees and spring shrubs are budding, Forsythia is staring to bloom, spring bulbs are in their glory, display gardens are starting to show signs of green with returning herbs and perennials, early vegies are in the ground and- and- and – Herb plants are back on the virtual market this week. Check them out cilantro, dill, lavender, lemon grass, Oregano, parsley, rosemary, Thyme and old Fashioned Rose Geranium. Nothing beats the flavor of your own fresh cut herbs in your favorite culinary creations. See you in the gardens!
Take Thyme, Joe and Charlene

Thanks, Joe and Charlene…spring is in the air, the gardens of love are smiling, again!!