| |
|
|
For May 22nd and 23rd , 2008
CAFM News/Market Report #3
By Jody Hardin
CAFM Market Manager
Hello locavores!
This is a big week for CAFM, with River Fest in Argenta (NLR), and our newest CAFM opening in Hot Springs Village on Friday.
NEW! CAFM OPENS FRIDAY IN HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE
We are having the first soft opening of the new Certified Arkansas Farmers’ Market at Hot Springs Village on Friday (May 23rd) from 7am until 12 p.m at the West Gate entrance beside the Bewie Boys and Girls Club. We are expecting eight farmer’s on opening day, with several new growers from the west central part (Petit Jean down to Arkadelphia) of the state participating. We are excited because the HSV community is very abuzz and committed to making this a great market for local farmers just like Argenta. It will operate just like the CAFM Argenta(NLR) location, just different location and a different day(only one day per week). HSV will open on a Friday, but will move to Thursday and run through October. This is the second CAFM location and I’m now looking for the next community that wants to eliminate imported produce and clean up commercial products from their farmers market.
RIVERFEST
We should not be affected too much by RiverFest activities Saturday morning. Actually this may benefit CAFM Argenta as the River Market is moving its vendors to the old parking deck and one or two true farmers have asked to set up in Argenta. Please don’t let this stop you from coming down. Each weekend more and more farmers are coming and bringing more produce each time. Come see what’s new, and watch our market grow. This weekend is no exception!
HARVEST UPDATE
The weather is ideal, and the crops should be growing exponentially faster this week and the next. This means we should be on schedule with blueberries and blackberries, and early peaches by the end of this month, maybe sooner if this ideal weather hangs around.
The strawberries are slowing a bit, as I predicted last week. But, there should still be a good supply at both markets (Argenta and HSV) this weekend.
Christian and Brigette Shuffield are expected to be at the market again this weekend, and should have a big load of sprouts, biodynamic spring mix, and beets from the Armstead Mtn. Farm (the Nuffers). –maybe squash, too.
Arkansas Natural Produce is expected to be at the market this weekend with some great Arugula, spring mix, and a ton of shiitake mushrooms. (They sold out in the first hour last time).
I’m also expecting some of the first squash to be harvested this week.
There will be fresh beefalo and fresh catfish at Argenta again this week, and I’ve been told that one of the Hot Springs vendors will have a good load of blueberries. I expect blueberries to hit Argenta soon, and keep on coming for several weeks into June. I know of several organic blueberry farmers coming into production for the first time this year. Yeah!
Also, we were the first market in the state to be approved to accept EBT(just received confirmation from USDA while writing this newsletter), which will allow many families to improve their nutrition and health, as well as turn back thousands of dollars into the local farm economy. I’m very pleased with this accomplishment, as it is expected to bring a whole new group of consumers to the farmers markets around the state. However, it will require a team of volunteers to staff our booth at the markets (basically swiping cards and issuing wooden tokens that can only be spent in our two CAFM markets.) Tim Ellison of the Ark. Ag Dept. and Evelyn Bates Lee at USDA deserve a huge pat on the back for organizing and fast tracking this program. We are tying to get ten markets in the state to join the pilot program.
Fresh, in-season products expected at CAFM ARGENTA:
Mustard, Turnip and Collard Greens (few)
Arugula
Spring Mix/Lettuce
Spinach (limited)
Strawberries
Radishes
Decorative Plants
Vegetable & Fruit Plants
Herbs, and herb plants
Swiss Chard
Honey
Wheatgrass
Bean sprouts
Grass Fed Chicken Eggs
Grass Fed Beef and Grass Fed and Finished Beefalo (antibiotic & hormone free)
Pond Raised Catfish from Delta Supreme
Organic Dog Treats
2-plus pound stick of grass-fed and finished beefalo smoked summer sausage (still some available.)
New products:
Shiitake Mushrooms
Beets
Squash??
A few green tomatoes
Non-farm vendors:
Penny Rudder: Menu of the Week- Clean Plate Club
Cooking classes- registration booth
Argenta/Citigrove Neighborhood Volunteers: Providing information about eco friendly housing in Argenta, and neighborhood projects.
Foodshed Farm, Basket A Month CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Project: Providing information about the monthly local food subscription program that features all the food groups from local farmes once per month at pickup zones in central Arkansas. New members are being recruited.
Thank you all for your support of CAFM!
Jody Hardin
Exec. Dir./Market Manager
Certified Arkansas Farmers’ Market
P.S. For information about the Basket A Month, please do not use this email address. Send all BAM inquiries to csalittlerock@yahoo.com, where we have a staff to answer your questions. However, BAM pickup is set for 29 th, 30 th, 31 st. Pickup notification emails will be sent out next weekend to all members. |
|
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE GETS THE SECOND CERTIFIED ARKANSAS FARMERS' MARKET IN ARKANSAS
It's official, we are starting our second CAFM in Hot Springs Village. We are excited and nervous at the same time. Although we only know of a few farmer's who will be attending, we do know we have already lined up an impressive mix of local, seasonal produce from some important local farmers. Keep your fingers crossed for the strawberry crop to hold out just a little longer!
We expect to have approximately six central Arkansas farmers represented on opening day, which is set for May 23rd(Friday) from 7 a.m. until 12 p.m. in the parking lot of the Paul Bewie Boys and Girls Club. Although wind and rain may force our relocation to a more protected area, this seems to be a great fair weather market.location. But, with the tents that are required by each farmer, small wind gusts can damage the produce in several booths if these big tents blow away.
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT MARKET DAYS AND TIMES @ HSV:
What does this mean for HSV residents?
CAFM is a non-profit 501c6 membership corporation with a mission to create strictly local markets that serve farmers from all over the state of Arkansas. Each of our participants are inspected and governed by other farmers to ensure products are locally grown, although it is a simple inspection. We are only a food market, and we do not allow any items from outside the state to be sold at Certified Arkansas Farmers' Markets. We have one exception made for a concessionaire, who can sell hot foods under the State Health Department guidelines, and under the supervision of the market manager and market committee.
Additionally, farmers who join the CAFM can also attend the CAFM Argenta(NLR) location on Tuesday and Saturday, and be inspected only once to attend both markets.
HSV may expect to see all the great produce items, as well as grains, meats, poultry, eggs, and in some abundance throughout their different seasons. We don't know who will eventually attend this market, but we are busy telling other farmers about the new HSV market. Help us spread the word to hard working farmers who need a venue for the nutritious food they grow.
Our soft opening date is set for May 23, 2008. (Friday) 7 a.m until 12 p.m. No sales allowed after fair trade bell to close the market, and no sales allowed before the fair trade bell rings to open the market at 7a.m. Customers and vendors are expected to help with this important rule. These policies protect the consumer and the farmer.
Our grand opening date is set for June 5, 2008 (begins regularly on Thursday, and every Thursday for the rest of the summer, fall, and ending in October. 7am until 12pm one day per week.
Where?
We are going to set up in the middle of the big parking lot of the Paul Bewie Boys and Girls Club. This is outside the West Gate Entrance to HSV.
Those interested in participating in CAFM at Hot Springs Village contact: certifiedarkansas@yahoo.com or call 501.231.0094 for Jody Hardin, Executive Director and Market Manager. Visit www.arkansasfood.net on a regular basis to see what's in season at your local market.
|
|
For Saturday, May 17, 2008
CAFM News/Market Report #2
By Jody Hardin , Market Manager
Certifed Arkansas Farmers' Market, Inc.
Hello Locavores! The cool and wet weather is really slowing the harvest and the planting of many crops in Arkansas. Although no one wants to complain, the weather is making us look a little premature for opening the market so early in May. We are almost through the spring crops like strawberries, and are looking ahead, perhaps over the next two weeks, for big crops of blue berries, black berries, peaches, squash, and peas. More plants and herbs, spring mix and strawberries are expected to be the main attraction this weekend.
The Junction Bridge is open this weekend, connecting the two markets (CAFM with RiverMarket). Please check it out, and tell everyone what there is to see in Argenta. We hope to be the primary destination for folks walking across the new bridge for the first time. Help us spread the word about CAFM in Argenta.
The first sugar snap peas will come to market this weekend in a small quantity from farmer Glen Baugh, who is too busy to sell his small picking of peas, so another farmer will most likely assist with the marketing of this new crop. You’ll have to look around the market for them. Also, Chudy Farms and Apiary, who has partnered with Delta Supreme Catfish in Dumas, expects to have solved his portion size problem, by breaking down the five pound cases to smaller packs. Check with the Chudy family, as three generations are working their booth at certain times. They are doing us all a favor by handling this product, as the fish processor is not able to participate in Saturday markets. Let’s keep it here at CAFM.
The beefalo summer sausage is still available from the Beefalo Woman. She’s been working all week to replinsh her stocks of grass fed&finished beefalo steaks, and ground burger. I’m expecting her to make a big batch of beefalo jerky in the near future, maybe by next weekend. Start asking for it, and she will do it.
We are excited to add Shuffield Farms (Christian and Bridgette formerly of Farmer’s Daughter Café ) to our list of great new farmers at the market. They specialize in organic and biodynamic sprouts, spring greens, and vegetables. They are going to try both markets, so you will probably see them working out the logistic of how to do this. Please show your support at CAFM, and encourage them to join us permanently and exclusively at our Certified Arkansas market.
As a bonus, Shuffield Farms partners with Armstead Mt. Farm (Sue and Rusty Nuffer of Jerusalem), who are outstanding farmers who have chosen to stay on the farm on Saturdays, after many years of doing a weekend farmers market. You will see excellent greens and squash from Shuffield/Nuffers if they send more product to CAFM. Also, Shuffield will have wheatgrass flats for sale.
Strawberries are getting smaller and the quantity is getting less each time we pick at Hardin Farms. I would suggest if you haven’t had you local berries this year, you should try this weekend. They are getting ready to slow down to a trickle, so keep this in mind this weekend. This means the blackberries are not far behind.
I don’t usually get too excited about drawings, but we are having one this weekend at CAFM for a Farm to Table Dinner at the Capital Hotel on June 8, 2008 that is very unusual. This is a big dinner with several big time LR chefs preparing their signature dish using local fare, while celebrating the work of some local farmers. The winner gets to spend that night in a suite at the Capital Hotel. This is worth about $500 altogether, and includes the dinner and sponsored by the AR Dept of Agriculture. Be sure to check the market tent at CAFM, as one of the vendors will have the information about this once in a lifetime culinary event. If you want to go ahead and get your tickets locked in (this will sell out fast as soon as word gets out, you all are the first to hear about it), just call the Capital Hotel (501.374.7474) yourself and ask about the Farm to Table dinner on June 8. The big news is that all the proceeds after costs will be donated to the new Certified Arkansas Farmer’s Market!!! I will see you there.
Fresh, in-season products expected at CAFM ARGENTA:
Mustard, Turnip and Collard Greens (few)
Arugula
Spring Mix/Lettuce
Spinach (limited)
Strawberries
Radishes
Decorative Plants
Vegetable & Fruit Plants
Herbs, and herb plants
Swiss Chard
Honey
Wheatgrass
Bean sprouts
Grass Fed Chicken Eggs
Grass Fed Beef and Grass Fed and Finished Beefalo (antibiotic & hormone free)
Pond Raised Catfish from Delta Supreme
Organic Dog Treats
New products:
2-plus pound stick of grass-fed and finished beefalo smoked summer sausage (still some available.)
Non-farm vendors:
Penny Rudder: Menu of the Week- Clean Plate Club
Cooking classes registration booth
Argenta/Citigrove Neighborhood Volunteers: Providing information about eco friendly housing in Argenta, and neighborhood projects
Coffee and pastries will be provided by The Circle Café (scones and muffins)
Foodshed Farm, Basket A Month CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Project: Providing information about the monthly local food program that features all the food groups once per month at pickup zones in central Arkansas. New members are being recruited.
Thank you all for your support.
Jody Hardin
Certifiedarkansas@yahoo.com
Note: The Certified Arkansas Farmers' Market is a local, fair trade food market that serves farmers from all over the state. CAFM is a non-profit, open on Tuesday and Saturday in Argenta from 7 a.m. until 12 p.m. No sales can be made before or after the market opens. The fair trade bell is sounded to signal the start and end of the market.
Directions: Argenta District is located in downtown North Little Rock, not far from Alltel Arena. We are in the 400 block of Main Street, right on the trolly line beside the old US Post Office. |
|
Certified Arkansas Farmers’ Market Report #1
May 8, 2008
By Jody Hardin
Market Manager
Well, we made it through our first full week at the new Certified Arkansas Farmers’ Market in Argenta! Saturday was wildly successful for the eight farmers who took part, as we all sold more than anticipated, while the crowd was extremely grateful for our new market. The experience was truly a one in a million for me. We think nearly 1,000 visited the new CAFM on our soft opening day. I am most grateful and we want to thank you all for your awesome support in Argenta!
Having some insight into what goods will show up at CAFM-Argenta has me confident you will be proud of the quality of the farmer’s that have made CAFM-Argenta their new home. We are all so much happier here, and generally feel that this is a fair trade market. I thought it would feel good, but now I know it is truly great to be among serious farmers in a strictly local market, with customers who appreciate what we are doing. Food security for our communities is ultimately what we are trying to achieve. Everyone should have a say in this matter, and I hope people will continue to step up and help make this effort an ongoing success.
This morning, as I sit writing the first Market Report in the fifth generation farm house left to me by my agrarian ancestors, I’m once again content to focus on the land, having straightened out a big problem with marketing our homegrown products. I think we’ve also discovered a deeper need for our market policies by other new markets in the area. It has presented a really huge opportunity for CAFM Inc.(a non-profit corporation) that I would like to present as breaking news here in the CAFM Report.
Breaking news: CAFM is in discussions with representatives of Hot Springs Village. We are discussing the details of partnering with this group to open the second Certified Arkansas Farmers’ Market (on a Friday from 7 a.m. until 12 noon, May through October). Farmers who join CAFM will be allowed to sell at both the Argenta and Hot Springs Village markets with a single inspection and single membership.
The objective, for those who have not heard me ranting on this subject, is to build a network of markets that are talking and working together. In other words, we want to coordinate multiple markets across the state with paid market managers who also act as market makers in their individual market regions. This is what I’m calling the foundation of the Arkansas Food Network, so that we may organize the flows of local food through distribution channels that are focused solely on local food security.
The end goal of building the Arkansas Food Network is to get more nutritious food to children in our schools, as well as turn the billions of dollars Americans spend in imported foods back to the local farm economy. Ultimately, we are working only within our state’s borders to build our food supplies and distribution channels so that we reduce the fossil fuel miles our food travels. It’s all good, and it’s very urgent to me that we move forward steadily in this endeavor. Of course, there are other markets that are ripe to join the CAFM network, and I will keep you abreast of new developments as they occur. As supplies and volume grow, we anticipate building the first Arkansas Food Warehouse in Argenta to meet more of the food needs of the families in our state; we anticipate this will happen over the next three to five years.
CAFM-Argenta for Saturday, May 10
Fresh, in-season products;
Mustard, Turnip and Collard Greens
Arugula
Spring Mix/Lettuce
Strawberries
Radishes
Decorative Plants
Vegetable & Fruit Plants
Herbs, and herb plants
Swiss Chard
Shiitake Mushrooms (NEW!)
Honey
Grass Fed Chicken Eggs
Grass Fed Beef and Grass Fed and Finished Beefalo (antibiotic & hormone free)
Pond Raised Catfish from Delta Supreme
Organic Dog Treats
New products:
2-plus pound stick of grass-fed and finished beefalo smoked summer sausage
Non-farm vendors:
Penny Rudder: Menu of the Week
Cooking classes registration booth
Argenta/Citigrove Neighborhood Volunteers: Providing information about eco friendly housing in Argenta, and neighborhood projects
Coffee and pastries will be provided by The Circle Café
Foodshed Farm, Basket A Month CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Project: Providing information about the monthly local food program that features all the food groups once per month at pickup zones in central Arkansas. New members are being recruited.
News from markets around the state
I was at a meeting at the Arkansas Plant Board this week with market managers from around the state. Many had heard of what we are doing at CAFM and it gave me a chance to gauge our success. With eight farmers participating last Saturday in Argenta, we surpassed all but the Fayetteville farmers’ market in vendor attendance. Russellville had three or four vendors, Jonesboro had about five, Texarkana had about six farmers, and Pine Bluff had about four.
|
|
| |
|
|
