We are now on our Summer Market schedule: Fridays 3:00 - 7:00 P.M.
THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHT
Waking Up
A few years ago the publishers of The Green Grapevine asked me to write an article about eating local. Given my penchant for eating locally sourced food, asking me to write an article on local food was like asking Mark Bittman to talk about one of his favorite recipes; I (pardon the pun) ate it up. Coming across the article recently and seeing how timely it currently is, I decided to include excerpts from it in this week's newsletter. I hope you enjoy reading it and find it helpful in your quest to Eat Well. As always, if you would like to share comments feel free to simply reply to the newsletter, or chat with me at market.
The surest way I have found to know what my food ate is to talk directly with the farmers at farmers’ markets. However, because not all farmers at farmers’ markets follow the same growing practices, there are some important questions to ask in order to determine if the food you are considering purchasing is grown using healthy methods. For produce: you can ask if the producer grew the food using no synthetic chemicals throughout the entire growing process. This would include synthetic chemical fertilizers, insecticides, or herbicides. For beef: you can ask if the steer was 100% grass fed, receiving no hormones or antibiotics. For pork, chicken, and eggs: you can ask if the animals were pastured and were fed Non GMO feed.
Although we might not yet be able to purchase all our food items following the above “gold standard,” we can at least begin the journey toward healthier, more sustainably grown food. As Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu shared, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” Each step, no matter how small or big, that we take toward a healthier, more sustainable food system counts immediately and immeasurably. Let the journey begin, and Lettuce Eat Well and Live a More Sustainable Life.
A few years ago the publishers of The Green Grapevine asked me to write an article about eating local. Given my penchant for eating locally sourced food, asking me to write an article on local food was like asking Mark Bittman to talk about one of his favorite recipes; I (pardon the pun) ate it up. Coming across the article recently and seeing how timely it currently is, I decided to include excerpts from it in this week's newsletter. I hope you enjoy reading it and find it helpful in your quest to Eat Well. As always, if you would like to share comments feel free to simply reply to the newsletter, or chat with me at market.
Waking Up to What is Really in Your Food
It is said that Rip Van Winkle slept
for 20 years. It seems that many of us have been in an extended Rip Van Winkle
state regarding the food we eat, asleep at the wheel, not even noticing what is
taking place in the production of food. For the past half century or so, much
of “farming” has followed the former Secretary of
Agriculture Earl Butz’s dictate to “Get big or get out.” Food
production has gone from big to bigger to gigantic, often resulting in more
harm to the environment, and less nutritious food.
Fortunately,
it appears the tide is turning a bit. Over the past few years or so, some of us
have begun to wake from our Rip Van Winkle state. There is now an entire genre
of literature informing us about the expanding topic of the politics of food.
Because of the plethora of books, blogs, and articles on the topic of food
production, we can now educate ourselves about the origins of the food we
consume.
But why bother?
With all the
other demands on our time, why add yet another project to our lives? Because, you are what you eat ate. Yes, whether
you are eating beans or beef, you are what the beans or beef ate. Do you know
what your beans or beef ate?
The surest way I have found to know what my food ate is to talk directly with the farmers at farmers’ markets. However, because not all farmers at farmers’ markets follow the same growing practices, there are some important questions to ask in order to determine if the food you are considering purchasing is grown using healthy methods. For produce: you can ask if the producer grew the food using no synthetic chemicals throughout the entire growing process. This would include synthetic chemical fertilizers, insecticides, or herbicides. For beef: you can ask if the steer was 100% grass fed, receiving no hormones or antibiotics. For pork, chicken, and eggs: you can ask if the animals were pastured and were fed Non GMO feed.
Change Over Time
We cannot
expect to make massive or complete changes in our food system overnight. It will take time for our small family
farmers and the other farmers’ market vendors to make the changes they and we
want. Some of these changes are complex; for example, reversing the practice of
using GMO seeds to using non GMO seeds for livestock grains and flour grains. You can learn more on this topic by watching the documentary
film, “The Future of Food.” Another part of the change process will involve reversing the practice
of heavily subsidizing corporate agribusiness, a change that will likely take a
united effort involving both our personal food choices and changes at the
governmental level.
Although we might not yet be able to purchase all our food items following the above “gold standard,” we can at least begin the journey toward healthier, more sustainably grown food. As Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu shared, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” Each step, no matter how small or big, that we take toward a healthier, more sustainable food system counts immediately and immeasurably. Let the journey begin, and Lettuce Eat Well and Live a More Sustainable Life.
NOTICES
- Market Location: This week, market will be held right inside the front entrance of the church.
AND THE WINNER IS.....
The winner of last week's free market bag is Andrew H. 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.
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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.
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For a full listing of our vendors, their products, and services including:
Newsletter compiled by Mary A. Hutten, Market Manager
The winner of last week's free market bag is Andrew H. 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 |
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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