Middle Tennessee Locally Grown:  Time to Order Fresh Local Farm Products!

Good morning!

Welcome to Middle Tennessee Locally Grown online farmers’ market! As always, everything you see on our website is the “cream of the crop” from local farmers, the best products picked and made with pride especially for YOU! When you place an order with our farms, you know you are supporting your friends and neighbors, located in Middle Tennessee.

Please look around at various categories, since there may be some new things added to the market after I send out this message. Also please be sure to read the section of the page entitled “Important Ordering and Pickup Information.”

Don’t forget about our pick-up location in Tullahoma in addition to the usual one in Manchester. Now you can avoid the delivery charge and come visit with your market managers! Be sure to let us know via the drop-down menu which location you prefer for pickup.

Farm News of the Week

Amy Rae at Solace Farm has added even more new soaps:

(L to R) Goat Milk Soap 6-pack; Goat Milk & Shea Soap; Goat Milk Soap 5-pack.

Don’t forget about Wayne Diller’s special on whole frozen chickens. Get yours while they last!

Hope Harrison of Hope for Health is still on “vacation” after the birth of her child.

Terra Hills Natural Products and Casey Family Farm products will both be unavailable for several more weeks.

Many of Dogwood Valley Greenhouse‘s early-spring flowering plants are in bloom and have been added to this week’s market. I’ve also added a couple of very early azaleas and will be adding more as they come into bloom, so watch for that changing list. This would be the perfect time to add some spring color to your garden! The weather is great for planting perennials and shrubs, but please don’t buy your tomatoes or peppers yet! (We will have those in about three weeks.)

Please remember to send us your comments about your favorite products or farms, for publication in a future newsletter. The best advertising is always word of mouth, and our farmers really appreciate your encouragement.

Important Ordering and Pickup Information

Ordering will be open until TUESDAY at 10 pm, and your order will be available for pickup at your choice of the following:

• Thursday afternoon between 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.* under the big pavilion on Fort Street with signs that say “Coffee County Farmers Market.” It’s behind the Farm Bureau building on Main Street, and across the street from the Manchester City Schools administration building, 215 East Fort St, Manchester.
• Or on Fridays between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. inside “Nature’s Elite”, next to Dunham’s Sporting Goods, in the Cherokee Square Shopping Center on North Jackson Street in Tullahoma.

We can also deliver your order to your home (or other location) on FRIDAY afternoon for a small fee, if it’s more convenient for you. If you prefer to utilize this service, please place an order for it, same as other products, selecting your delivery area. Don’t forget to give us your location address in the comments section of the order. Also please text Linda at (931) 273-9708 for specific arrangements.

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible. Please encourage our local farmers by helping to spread the word about our wonderful market to everyone you know. We offer a great variety of local farm products, and our items will be in your hands in time to plan for the weekend. Wonderful local products are available for ordering from the comfort of your own computer.

More new farmers are considering joining our market, if they can expect enough sales to help pay their transportation costs. Please help us grow the market by sharing this e-mail with your friends and inviting them to give us a try. And if you haven’t ordered from Manchester Locally Grown for a while, please check out our wide variety of offerings this week. Also please let us know if we can improve our selection or scheduling in any way to better suit your needs.

Blessings,
Linda & Michael

Here is the complete list for this week.

Champaign, OH:  It’s Saturday Night!

Do you have your market orders in?

It’s rainy, the Elite Eight are playing, the night is perfect to also work on your orders, while the evening sets in…

While I watch the games, I’m also watching the market!

Throw us some love for the win!

XOXO,
Cosmic Pam

Dothan, Alabama:  March 30, 2019 M@d Newsletter

This Week’s Newsletter:
The Bad News, the Good News . . .
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes

& A BIT OF HISTORY

Why Are So Many Farmers Markets Failing? Because The Market Is Saturated”

When Avalon Farms first shared the above article with me the answer to that first questions was a no-brainer. Experience had taught that lesson a long time ago.

Your Market Manager first became involved with Farmer’s Markets the year Poplar Head Farmer’s Market was started. I had the great fortune of developing both a friendly and business relationship with Julie Bishop whose vision for a Farmer’s Market in Dothan lives on in that venue. We brainstormed a lot of ideas and wound up being mentioned in Farmer’s Market Today complete with a photo of some lovely girls dressed as honeybees (who were in my daughter’s wedding a few years later!).

2011 photo of Poplar Head in Dothan

I’ll spare you the details between then and now. Suffice to say I found myself unable to participate in all the small local farmers markets that were subsequently started in the area. There were so many! Somewhere along the way, a couple of ladies I had close connections with started Market at Dothan and I was one of the original vendors. In retrospect, it was excellent experience!

It’s possible and very probable that Market at Dothan is the oldest sustainable farmer’s market in the state. That’s the history part here. The good news is that while traditional farmer’s markets may be floundering, organic and sustainable markets are on the rise because organic and sustainable food is in increasing demand. Just this year the Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network launched an initative to train farmer’s market directors. They’ve done a great job of helping raise up farmers like ours around the state, and are now working on distribution systems. It will be exciting to see how this plays out going forward and who knows. . . . we might even wind up with other online shopping systems like Market at Dothan!

And for the record, Julie Bishop became a regular Market at Dothan customer before moving upstate a few months ago. She is still a great lady and a wonderful friend.

THIS WEEK’S GROWER NOTES

We have the best Growers in the Wiregrass! Please learn more about them on our Grower Page.

AVALON FARMS: As the Daleville and Enterprise delivery person, I want to say it was a pleasure meeting our new customers last week. It’s fun making new friends who care about where their food comes from.

Tatsoi rosettes are listed this week. Previously I was harvesting outer leaves from plants grown aquaponically. These are grown in soil and are harvested as a whole. As you can see from the picture there are a few bug nibbles but overall they are beautiful.

Asparagus are popping up! Last year we planted 3 more rows of asparagus, bringing us up to 1500 ft of asparagus beds. The young plants can be harvested for 2 or 3 weeks in addition to the older plants. Hoping for a prolific season!

Spring seems to have finally sprung, although I’ve had a light frost twice in the last week. (Crazy I know.)

The Wednesday Market:  Food for Thought, Part 2; the Market is Open

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a blog titled “Food for Thought” that shared 10 reasons for supporting locally grown agriculture. Just in case you need more reasons to support our local producers, here is “Food for Thought, Part 2.”

I read an interesting opinion piece this week regarding the recent recall of avocados due to the discovery of listeria monocytogenes at a California packing facility during a routine governmental inspection. The editorial was written by Dr. Ford Vox, a brain injury specialist at The Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Dr. Vox is the medical analyst for Atlanta NPR’s station WABE 90.1. He writes about the practice of medicine, the health care industry, health care policy and medical science.

Here is the link, if you want to read the full article: https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/26/opinions/avocado-recall-vox/index.html

Please note that the points that I am trying to emphasize for our Wednesday Market customers are in bold type.

In part, Dr. Vox writes, “Mass recalls of our wholesome fruits and vegetables like the avocado on Saturday [March 23] and romaine lettuce just months ago are a reminder, but also something of a wake-up call.”

Furthermore, he says, “The reminder is that we are all fundamentally reliant on good regulatory oversight (our well-used tax dollars at work) and good corporate management in the food sector. The wake-up call? Depending on a complex web of food production, delivery and mass retail sale — rather than well-stocked local sources — for what is on our plate every day is distinctly unnatural and makes us vulnerable.”

How many times have we heard news of a food recall in the last year? The food supply chain is susceptible to contamination by listeria, e. Coli, salmonella, and many other pathogens and contaminants. If you really want to dig deep, take a look at these links:

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm

“We should all hate that we’re vulnerable to mass infections spread by our food system rapidly delivering contaminated product across the country. But where to manifest our disgust is a thornier problem,” says Dr. Vox.

Furthermore, he writes, “A strong takeaway from bacterial outbreaks is this: We need a strong FDA, USDA and CDC out there working in our best interests, and those agencies all operate on tax dollars. With tax day around the corner, think about that fringe benefit the next time you miraculously avoid a bloody diarrhea attributable to your salad, trucked in from parts unknown.”

And, “Foodborne illness outbreaks remind us just how much we depend on commerce running well — and how little control we personally have over it all. At best they might spur us to shop locally a little more often, and that’s good for your health in many ways. Go to your local farmers market, meet your neighbors, learn about what’s going on in the city you live in. Re-connect, re-humanize, de-stress.”

Finally, Dr. Vox concludes, “Local produce isn’t risk-free either, but the lack of warehousing and cross-country distribution helps, and it might lower our modern existential anxieties a little to know something about where our food came from, as our ancestors did.”

Food for thought, indeed!

Let’s support our local farmers and producers. The Market is open. Please place your orders by 10 p.m. Monday. Orders are ready for pick up between 3 and 6 p.m. See the website for this week’s product offerings. Here is the link:

https://wednesdaymarket.locallygrown.net/market

We’ll see you on Wednesday!

Thanks,

Beverly

Miami County Locally Grown:  Lettuce, Kale, Eggs and more!

With his famous green butter lettuce and lacinato kale, Davidson Family Growers is back with a vengeance!

The chickens at J & S Buehler Family Farm must have appreciated all the sunshine recently, and aren’t we glad they have steady eggs available?!

Plus new whole wheat organic pasta from 6635 Studebaker? Awesome!

And she has passed her dog biscuit recipe to my children as a perfect entrepreneurial/math/baking project! From the measuring and reading to the rolling and dishes, they relished having a job the four of them, from 2 to almost 8 years old, can manage on their own, with the goal of saving up for more livestock to add to their menagerie :-)

Always something new and exciting on the Market, particularly with Spring favorites such as asparagus, rhubarb, and strawberries in sight! So glad to have you part of the delicious fun!

Spa City Local Farm Market Co-op:  The market is open.

The market is open for ordering
Please place your orders before Tuesday 9pm and plan to pick up your order at Emergent Arts this Friday between 3p and 4:30p. If you are unable to pick up your order at this time, please make arrangements to have your order picked up for you.

But remember to scroll all the way down and click to place this order. If you want to order from Arkansas Natural Produce, be sure to do so before Monday at 9pm.

The Spa City Co-Op Market has no paid positions, so we need volunteers to run every market. You receive a $5 gift card and your membership is extended by two months.

The Spa City Co-op market will only survive and be available if the members use it. We have had had a downturn in orders this winter, even though some of our farmers have managed to provide fresh offerings. Please have a look and consider ordering this market.

See you next Friday
Julie Alexander
This week’s market manager
5016559411

Suwanee Whole Life Co-op:  Prayers for Bob Bradbury

Good Morning everyone,
I just got off the phone with Bob (he provides the market with local honey) and he is currently in the hospital. He gave me permission to let you know that is experiencing some medical issues but is good spirits.

Please keep him you in your thoughts and prayers for complete healing and to give the doctors,nurses, and medical staff the knowledge and wisdom to help him through this situation.

Bob is at many of the open air markets on the weekends like the one in Flowery Branch and Suwanee. I may be requesting some help for him. He currently can’t pick up heavy items and may need help setting up. I’ll send out more info/details if he needs us.

For right now, he is requesting all the prayers and positive thoughts you can send his way! Bob is an amazing, strong person, that has put all his cares in God’s hands. Please pray for continued strength, peace, and comfort for Bob.

Blessings and thanks,
Nora

Spa City Local Farm Market Co-op:  The market is open for ordering

The market is open for ordering
Please place your orders before Tuesday 9pm and plan to pick up your order at Emergent Arts this Friday between 3p and 4:30p. If you are unable to pick up your order at this time, please make arrangements to have your order picked up for you.

But remember to scroll all the way down and click to place this order. If you want to order from Arkansas Natural Produce, be sure to do so before Monday at 9pm.

The Spa City Co-Op Market has no paid positions, so we need volunteers to run every market. You receive a $5 gift card and your membership is extended by two months.

The Spa City Co-op market will only survive and be available if the members use it. We have had had a downturn in orders this winter, even though some of our farmers have managed to provide fresh offerings. Please have a look and consider ordering this market.

See you next Friday
Julie Alexander
This week’s market manager
5016559411

Northeast Georgia Locally Grown:  MARKET IS OPEN FOR ORDERS!

Good Evening Locavores, Northeast Georgia Locally Grown is open for orders!
Go to the market >>
Fresh Vegetables
Clean Meats
Baked Goods with Organic ingredients
Pastured Eggs
See all products

Market stays open from Fridays 9 p.m. until at least 9 p.m. Mondays!

Thank you for choosing Northeast Georgia Locally Grown as a way to support your local producers. This online farmers market allows you to buy directly from multiple farms committed to chemical-free and local produce all year long! CHEMICAL-FREE means produce and pastures grown without synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides. LOCAL means within 80 miles from the market pickup locations (usually much much closer). Do you know someone who grows chemical-free food in the area? Get them in touch with us. Know someone who wants fresh food? Spread the word. Put the two together, and that’s growing organically!

PICKUP TIME is Wednesday from 5-6:30 p.m.

If you do not get an email ORDER CONFIRMATION right after you order then your order is NOT complete. Log back in and your order might still be there waiting for you to check out! If you have any trouble or questions at all, we are here to help; simply reply to this email or call Andrew at 770.530.3287

Statesboro Market2Go:  The Market is Open!

Thanks for shopping with us! Find lots of fresh, delicious, local produce, fresh herbs, milk, seafood, and meats. We also have items that are already prepared and ready to eat, made from local ingredients.

Strawberries and Asparagus are coming in now – look for them from Jacobs Produce.

We have big news for you – Doug’s Wild Alaska Salmon brought extra when he delivered and has stocked us up with salmon. We will keep them listed online for pickup each week until we run out. We also now have some smaller packages for sale.

Now is the time for Spring planting – find a wide variety of native fruit trees, vegetables, herbs, and flowering plants from Southern Native Plantings. Support your local nursery, farmer, and market by ordering them through Statesboro Market2Go!

Find new items from 920 Cattle & Co, Sugar Magnolia Bakery & Cafe, Scratch Made, Caribbean Feast, and Southern Soaked.

Ma’s Country Pantry is running a March special on their Jams and Fruit Butters. There’s a variety of flavors to choose from, including their GATOR jam! (Ginger, Apple, Tangerine, Orange, Raspberry)

Remember we have changed locations for our Statesboro pickup to the Statesboro Convention & Visitors Bureau at 222 S. Main St. Hours will remain the same, and our Sylvania pickup will remain the same at Victory Garden General Store.

Click to read about our exciting changes. We are eliminating the annual membership fee and in its place — because we have to maintain support for the market — we’re instituting a surcharge of 7% on each order, beginning on March 1st.

Mark your calendars – Opening day for the Statesboro Main Street Farmers Market is April 6th!