We are now on our Summer Market schedule: Fridays 3:00 - 7:00 P.M.
THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHT
Love at First Bite
I recently received an email from one of our customers, whose words put a huge smile on my face and warmed my heart. Lindsay B. has been a regular customer since early
last month. She has taken to the market - and the pre-order program - like a duck to water. She loves the fact that she can purchase most of her food items from our market. She finds the pre-ordering to be a convenient way to plan her food needs for the week by perusing the vendors' weekly pre-order emails. In her own words, "This is so exciting!! Your market has so much. I seldom have to go to the grocery store anymore. I can get it all through you guys. I love it." We love you right back, Lindsay. (If you are not familiar with the pre-order program, please see further info in the Previously Announced section of this newsletter.)
During market I have the opportunity to talk with, and listen to, lots of customers. The market is now in its sixth year of operation, and the customers have changed over the years. For about the first five years we had a smaller number of frequent/regular customers, with many folks stopping by the market out of curiosity and purchasing a few items. Now, we have many customers who, like Lindsay, love being able to purchase so many of their food needs each week at our market. Patti B. has said that when she's at the grocery store she realizes she can get this item and that item and that other item and many other items at the farmers' market. It's so fun to listen to our customers' excitement about being able to know where their food comes from and how it was grown, by purchasing the items at our market.
Now our customers are bringing their friends with them. Yay! Emily brought a friend to market recently and when they walked in I greeted them, calling Emily by name. Her friend was quite surprised about that and commented, "They know you by name here?" We not only know our regular customers by name, we often know their new grandchildren through the pictures they share with us (via the wonders of technology of camera phones). I am so happy to say that our market is evolving to be what I have envisioned for some time: a venue for connecting local consumers with local producers of high quality food, and a place where we provide true personal service. I send out a huge thanks to both our customers and our producers for helping this happen!
I recently received an email from one of our customers, whose words put a huge smile on my face and warmed my heart. Lindsay B. has been a regular customer since early
During market I have the opportunity to talk with, and listen to, lots of customers. The market is now in its sixth year of operation, and the customers have changed over the years. For about the first five years we had a smaller number of frequent/regular customers, with many folks stopping by the market out of curiosity and purchasing a few items. Now, we have many customers who, like Lindsay, love being able to purchase so many of their food needs each week at our market. Patti B. has said that when she's at the grocery store she realizes she can get this item and that item and that other item and many other items at the farmers' market. It's so fun to listen to our customers' excitement about being able to know where their food comes from and how it was grown, by purchasing the items at our market.
Now our customers are bringing their friends with them. Yay! Emily brought a friend to market recently and when they walked in I greeted them, calling Emily by name. Her friend was quite surprised about that and commented, "They know you by name here?" We not only know our regular customers by name, we often know their new grandchildren through the pictures they share with us (via the wonders of technology of camera phones). I am so happy to say that our market is evolving to be what I have envisioned for some time: a venue for connecting local consumers with local producers of high quality food, and a place where we provide true personal service. I send out a huge thanks to both our customers and our producers for helping this happen!
NOTICES
- To help you plan ahead, following are dates that Mahlon will be at market with his pastured, NON GMO pork over the next several months: October 2, Oct. 16, Nov. 6 Dec. 4, Jan. 8, Feb. 5, March 4, April 1. Please see Previously Announced section for further details.
AND THE WINNER IS.....
The winner of last week's free market bag is Maureen B. 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.
10-Day Local Food Challenge: I enrolled in this fun and informative food adventure
and thought you would like to join in. It begins October 1 and is free and open to all. The 10-Day Local Food Challenge was created by Vicki Robin of Whidbey Island, Washington. Vicki is the author of Blessing the Hands That Feed Us and the best selling book, Your Money or Your Life. Vicki developed the 10-Day Local Food Challenge as a way to help people discover much more about the state of our food, where it comes from and how dependent or independent we are on the industrial food system; and, very importantly, how we can become more supportive of our local food system.
I participated in the first 10-Day Local Food Challenge last year and am looking forward to this year's experiences. For more information and to sign on to join the fun, visit their website http://localfoodchallenge.org/#home
Please read this important clarification about our newest vendor, Heritage Farms. It has come to my attention that some of our customers are under the
impression that our newest vendor, Heritage Farms, is associated with
the line of meats sold at a national grocery store chain. Let me assure
you that is not the case. The pork at our market comes from pigs
that were raised by Mahlon Schlabach of Heritage Farms in Adams County
Ohio. While the name is similar, the pork at our market is far, far
superior to the meats at the grocery store. Mahlon's pork is from
pastured pigs that were fed no GMO feed. Also, nothing is injected into
the meat during the slaughtering process. I have personally purchased
both pork and beef from Mahlon for several years and can attest to its
quality. As those who are frequent shoppers at our
market know, we hold our producers and their products to very high
standards. Mahlon's meats meet all of our standards. We are pleased to
welcome him as the newest member of our LEWFM team.
Although pre-ordering of the pork is not required, it is recommended because Mahlon sometimes sells out of some items. If you are not familiar with our pre-ordering program, please see further details below.
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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
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.
10-Day Local Food Challenge: I enrolled in this fun and informative food adventure
I participated in the first 10-Day Local Food Challenge last year and am looking forward to this year's experiences. For more information and to sign on to join the fun, visit their website http://localfoodchallenge.org/#home
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Please read this important clarification about our newest vendor, Heritage Farms. It has come to my attention that some of our customers are under the
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| Click image to enlarge |
Although pre-ordering of the pork is not required, it is recommended because Mahlon sometimes sells out of some items. If you are not familiar with our pre-ordering program, please see further details below.
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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.
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| 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!
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