We are now on our Summer Market schedule: Fridays 3:00 - 7:00 P.M.
Make a Big Difference by Making a Little Phone Call
Do you want the right to know if the food you are purchasing contains GMOs? If so, time is of the essence in making a big difference by making a little phone call. OEFFA (Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association) emailed its members recently, asking us to spread the word about an important vote taking placing this week. OEFFA is asking everyone to phone their representative in Congress to let him/her know how we want them to vote on the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (H.R. 1599). This bill pertains to the very hot topic of labeling foods that contain GMOs. I made my call, which took only a couple minutes. Couldn't have been simpler.
If you have never made a call to your representative in Congress and feel intimidated about doing so, I encourage you to click here to go to OEFFA's email and see just how quick and simple the call will be. It is vitally important that we make our voices heard. If you think doing so will not make a difference, not doing so will almost certainly keep us in the dark about what is in many grocery store food items. This bill is up for a vote this week so it's important that you make your call this Wednesday, or Thursday morning at the latest.
Another way to know what is in your food is to purchase it from our farmers' market. All produce sold at our market is grown without synthetic chemicals (and of course no GMOs). Eggs and chicken sold at our market are GMO free and soy free. The chickens are free range; however, chickens need feed in addition to what they forage. Pete and Linda, our farmers at Honey Tree Acres, grind the chicken feed right on the farm so they (and we) can be assured of what they are feeding the chickens. You've likely heard the saying, "You are what you eat." Years ago I realized that it is more accurate to say, You are what you eat ate. Think about it: If the chickens eat inferior feed and you eat their eggs, you also will be consuming inferior food. Do you want inferior or superior food? From whom you purchase your food makes a huge difference in the food's quality - or lack thereof. The producers' growing practices make all the difference.
Do you want the right to know if the food you are purchasing contains GMOs? If so, time is of the essence in making a big difference by making a little phone call. OEFFA (Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association) emailed its members recently, asking us to spread the word about an important vote taking placing this week. OEFFA is asking everyone to phone their representative in Congress to let him/her know how we want them to vote on the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (H.R. 1599). This bill pertains to the very hot topic of labeling foods that contain GMOs. I made my call, which took only a couple minutes. Couldn't have been simpler.
If you have never made a call to your representative in Congress and feel intimidated about doing so, I encourage you to click here to go to OEFFA's email and see just how quick and simple the call will be. It is vitally important that we make our voices heard. If you think doing so will not make a difference, not doing so will almost certainly keep us in the dark about what is in many grocery store food items. This bill is up for a vote this week so it's important that you make your call this Wednesday, or Thursday morning at the latest.
Another way to know what is in your food is to purchase it from our farmers' market. All produce sold at our market is grown without synthetic chemicals (and of course no GMOs). Eggs and chicken sold at our market are GMO free and soy free. The chickens are free range; however, chickens need feed in addition to what they forage. Pete and Linda, our farmers at Honey Tree Acres, grind the chicken feed right on the farm so they (and we) can be assured of what they are feeding the chickens. You've likely heard the saying, "You are what you eat." Years ago I realized that it is more accurate to say, You are what you eat ate. Think about it: If the chickens eat inferior feed and you eat their eggs, you also will be consuming inferior food. Do you want inferior or superior food? From whom you purchase your food makes a huge difference in the food's quality - or lack thereof. The producers' growing practices make all the difference.
AND THE WINNER IS.....
The winner of last week's free market bag is Susan V. We will be giving away a free market bag every week through the middle of October. If you are not familiar with how the pre-order/free market bag promo works, see further details in the Previously Announced section.
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED
Some of you are long-time readers of the newsletter; others are new to the market and are reading the newsletter for the first time. This section is included each week to bring your attention to important happenings around the market and around town.
New Pre-order Promo: Win a Free Market Bag
Beginning June 5th we will be giving away a free market bag to a lucky winner. Actually, there will be 20 lucky winners because we will be giving away a market bag each week for 20 weeks. To be eligible to win a free market bag, you simply need to place a pre-order with any vendor. Each time you pick up your pre-order your name will be entered into the drawing to win a free market bag. To learn more about pre-ordering, see the article Pre-ordering Pays Off (below).
The free market bag give away is made possible by the generous gift of
Erin McDermott, one of the market's volunteers.
Erin, a volunteer from Bridgetown, began spending time at the
market to meet some nearby neighbors. She loves to help make sure things
run smoothly and offer her friendly smile as a market greeter. Erin is a
talented seamstress and recently decided to sew a few market bags to
give away at the market. She wants to thank
the West-siders she sees at Lettuce Eat Well Farmers' Market for
shopping local, and for taking part in an important community
endeavor. Be sure to introduce yourself next time you see Erin at the
market!
Beginning June 5th we will be giving away a free market bag to a lucky winner. Actually, there will be 20 lucky winners because we will be giving away a market bag each week for 20 weeks. To be eligible to win a free market bag, you simply need to place a pre-order with any vendor. Each time you pick up your pre-order your name will be entered into the drawing to win a free market bag. To learn more about pre-ordering, see the article Pre-ordering Pays Off (below).
The free market bag give away is made possible by the generous gift of
Erin McDermott, one of the market's volunteers.
 |
| Erin, busy sewing market bags |
**************************************************************************
Pre-ordering Pays Off
Have
you ever arrived at market to purchase your favorite item/s from your
favorite vendor/s only to be disappointed because the vendor/s sold out
of the item/s? Did you know that that no longer has to happen? At
LEWFM you can pre-order your items and pick them up any time during
market hours of 3:00 - 7:00 P.M. Pre-ordering not only pays off for
you, it also helps the vendors know how much to prepare/harvest, which
greatly reduces waste. Pre-ordering is a real win-win for all, and it
only takes a few minutes of your time to plan ahead and place your
order. Given the importance of Eating Well, getting into the habit of
placing your pre-orders each week will likely become a high priority on
your weekly To Do List. There are two easy ways you can place your pre-orders, in person at market or via email. Here's how the email ordering works: Email me at LEWFMLOCAL@GMAIL.COM and ask to be added to the vendor email pre-order list. Each week you will receive an email from the vendors detailing the items they have available for you to order that week. Reply to their email, letting them know the items you wish to order, then come to market on Friday to pick up your items.
**************************************************************************
For a full listing of our vendors, their products, and services including:
- Kids & Krafts, where the kids can have loads of fun so you can leisurely shop the market
- Many food and non-food items
- and a list of vendors who accept credit cards
***********************************************
***********************************************
Please share this newsletter with friends and family to help spread the word about LEWFM!
Produce Perks
For
those who noticed the logo at the bottom of the newsletter recently
and wondered what it means, here is the good news about a new program. Produce Perks is an incentive program that is
meant to encourage and help those who receive EBT (formerly known as
food stamps) purchase more produce. Produce Perks is a dollar for
dollar match (up to $10), with the matching dollars used on produce.
The Produce Perks website offers the following additional information:
Please
help us spread the word about this very worthwhile program. One way to
help get the word out is to stop by the market management booth to pick
up brochures to share with those you know who receive EBT benefits. You
could also leave brochures at your church, doctor or dentist's office,
or any locations that would permit you to do so. For
those who noticed the logo at the bottom of the newsletter recently
and wondered what it means, here is the good news about a new program. Produce Perks is an incentive program that is
meant to encourage and help those who receive EBT (formerly known as
food stamps) purchase more produce. Produce Perks is a dollar for
dollar match (up to $10), with the matching dollars used on produce.
The Produce Perks website offers the following additional information:“Produce Perks” is an initiative modeled after a similar program in Cuyahoga County. It is administered by OSU Extension, Hamilton County as a partnership of OSU Extension, Hamilton County; the City of Cincinnati Health Department; and the City of Cincinnati Creating Healthy Communities initiative. Focus is on access and affordability of healthy fruits and vegetables for under-served consumers.
Produce Perks are incentive tokens given to customers at participating farmers’ markets who use an Ohio Direction Card (“electronic benefits transfer” or EBT card) to purchase food. A customer wishing to use their food assistance benefits can swipe their card at one central terminal, located at participating market’s information booths, and ask to withdraw a desired amount. The market provides tokens for the transaction and additional Produce Perks that can be spent on fruits and vegetables. As the name suggests, Produce Perks are only good for purchasing fruits and vegetables. All other tokens purchased with the Ohio Direction Card are good to use on eligible items at the market.
***********************************************
Please share this newsletter with friends and family to help spread the word about LEWFM!
We hope to see you real soon at Lettuce Eat Well Farmers' Market!
Newsletter compiled by Mary A. Hutten, Market Manager
No comments:
Post a Comment