Newsletter for Friday April 7, 2017

Important market location changes/updates for the remainder of the Winter Market season:


Cheviot Elementary School, 4040 Harrison Ave. 45211: 
Fridays April 7 and April 21 from 3:30 - 6:30 at the market's new home in the gymnasium of Cheviot Elementary School [directions to Cheviot School: Harrison Ave. to Carrie Street to McFarran Street] 

Summer Market begins Friday May 5 with market being held every Friday indoors 3:00 - 7:00 at Cheviot School.



THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHT
News, News, and More News
Yes, lots of changes and they're all great.  I'm so excited about all the news going on at our market, I hardly know where to start!

I'll begin by letting you know that you will see two new faces at market starting this week, Kirana Rao of Nija Foods and Rev. Thomas Hargis of Jubilee Urban Farm. I'm sure you will also be delighted with our newest collaboration between Julie Wheeler of Capistrano Farm and Grass Fed Gourmet CocoGhee.  

Kirana Rao, with her 18 years of experience in the field of nutrition, brings us her 100% Real Food in the form of nut milks and nut creams.
Not only are they the real deal, they are totally delicious.  You might have heard/read about some unscrupulous tactics in the making of almond "milk."  Rest assured, you can be confident that nut milks and nut creams from Nija Foods are made of real nuts, no fillers.  Kirana will tell you step by step what she puts in her products and how she produces them.  Yet another reason to purchase your items from our local producers.  You can also visit the Nija Foods website http://nijafoods.com/  for more information.  And of course Kirana will have samples for you to try before you buy.  



The other new face awaiting you this week is Rev. Thomas Hargis of Jubilee Urban Farm.  Pastor Hargis will provide customers with micro greens, a product that is small in stature and large in nutrients; they pack a big punch in their small package.  Rev. Hargis, a Methodist Minister, grows micro greens in his special growing room at his home in Westwood, with exciting plans for expansion soon.  When I made my site visit to Jubilee Urban Farm, Pastor Hargis  was eager to fill me in on their ideas for the expansion projects.  You are invited to stop by to talk with him each market day, sample and purchase some of his nutrient dense micro greens and ask about the many components of the Jubilee Project.  You will be fascinated with the breadth and depth of what they're doing in and for the community, and to hear how the projects are taking shape. 



Our next exciting news revolves around a collaborative with Julie Wheeler of Capistrano Farm (Jo the Dough Lady's replacement) and Grass Fed Gourmet CocoGhee, a local producer of the absolute most scrumptious food I've ever tasted.  With my first purchase of CocoGhee I fell in love, so much so that I just had to have them at our market.  Even though Maria and Debbie, the sister team who creates CocoGhee, will not be able to be at our market due to scheduling conflict, they and Julie are teaming up to bring this wonderful product to our market.  To learn more about their products, visit their website https://www.gfgcocoghee.com/about/  
         
  


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.

IT'S CSA TIME AGAIN
Just in from Honey Tree Acres Farm and Gardens is the latest news to remind us that it's time to sign up for their CSA.  Although they are extending the signup deadline
for new members to April 15, be advised that each year their CSA has filled to capacity before the cutoff date.  Therefore, you are advised to contact them soon to reserve your spot so you, too, can pickup your CSA bag each week at our market.  For more details, including pricing and product list, please visit the CSA page of their website https://www.honeytreeacres.com/csa  

Welcome to the 2017 CSA season!

It's hard to believe it is that time of year! We are now accepting sign-ups for our 2017 CSA season!
Since our inaugural 2015 season, we have been grateful for the interest in our CSA program. Thank you to all of our members and we look forward to partnering with you again for 2017. Last year was such a great success that we are very excited to announce that we are going to accept more members. Space will be limited so reserve your spot early. We will accept sign-ups/forms through March 31. 
For those not familiar with a CSA, it is a partnership between the farmer and a dedicated community of supporters who enter into an agreement to share in the cost of the season's harvest, in exchange for "shares" of the harvest during the growing season. HTAFG is committed to growing non-GMO produce following organic practices. We will plant and harvest a wide variety of produce from mid/end-May through early/mid-October to share with our members on a weekly basis. 
Benefits of a CSA:
  • CSA members will enjoy a weekly harvest of fresh, nutritious produce directly from the farm
  • CSA members help support the local economy by participating in a direct market outlet for family farmers
  • CSA members will have an opportunity to get to know their farmer and connect with the farm
  • CSA members have the opportunity to learn and understand the growing practices used by the farmer
  • By getting to know their farmer, CSA members have the opportunity to influence what is being grown each season

 If you have questions or are interested, feel free to call 513-265-2796 or email honeytreeacrescsa@gmail.com

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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 no longer has to happen?  At LEWFM you can pre-order your items and pick them up any time during regular market hours.  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 market week you will receive emails 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
Check out our Vendors.

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BEEF AND PORK
The first Friday of each month, Mike & Deb of Abundant Green Pastures Ranch supplies us with their 100% grass fed beef from their Red Devon heritage breed cattle, and pastured pork from Mahlon Schlabach.  This collaborative arrangement between Mike and Mahlon is more efficient for Mahlon who, being Amish, necessitated hiring a driver to bring him to market.  This arrangement will be a win-win for all.  If you are on the market's pre-order list you will receive further info from Abundant Green Pastures Ranch about the pork.  If you are not on the pre-order list and would like to be, please see further details below.

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BYOB: Bring Your Own Bags to Market
As a way to help reduce the use of plastic bags, we are asking customers to bring their own reusable bags to market.  I realize that many of you are already doing this and we very much appreciate you doing so.  For those who are not yet in the habit of grabbing a few reusable bags as you leave for market, it might take a bit of extra effort to develop this new habit.  Doing so will result in short and long term benefits.  To gain some insight into the importance of reducing the use of plastic bags, take a look at this brief video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhxX1g9A2OM


If you don't have any reusable market bags we've got you covered.  Beginning this week I will have free reusable bags courtesy of Green Umbrella 10% Local Food Shift.  To receive your free bag, check out this link for directions for signing up for the 10% Shift.  https://greenumbrella.org/10shift  Then, when you come to market just let me know that you've signed up for the 10% Shift campaign and I'll have a bag for you: one per customer, while supplies last.


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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:
“Produce Perks” is an initiative modeled after a similar program in Cuyahoga County.  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 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. 


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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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