Giving thanks for our market community!

The Market is taking a Saturday off, we’ll see in a week for the Thanksgiving Market, Saturday Nov. 19th, 10am-2pm. Next weeks post will cover who will be there, selling what, but rest assured it’s going to be full market with around 40 vendors, including more crafts, hot food and great live music!!!

This post is about an incredible gift to the Market. Casey ( The Rusted Nail), a market vendor, is donating one of his gorgeous hand-made tables and a bench. All made with expert care from recycled lumber. The two pieces should retail for over $1000! We are using this gift to raise funds for our kids Power Of Produce (POP) Club. He will bring it for show to the Nov. 19th Thanksgiving Market .

The POP Club started at our Market in 2011, with a HEAL grant, and has gained national attention. Many markets across the US are now providing a POP Club for their young customers. Even markets as far away as Canada and Australia are copying our model. In 2011, the national Farmers Market Coalition and Union of Concerned Scientists gave us recognition for it.

In today’s world kids get bombarded with advertising for less-than-healthy processed foods and this club is a way to introduce them to fresh nutritious foods instead. By empowering the kids to make their own food choices at the Market (they get $2 in market tokens to spend on fresh produce and food plants every time they come to market year-round) it has been proven that they eat more veggies and fruit, take a more active part in food prep at home and are more interested in trying new healthier foods.

The Club is free to join and each year we sign up approx. 1400 kids (ages 5-12 yrs) resulting in over 5,400 kid shopping trips each year to our market. In addition, we provide activities focused on good nutrition and food-growing every market day. This takes a very large sum of money to keep it going and we are constantly seeking funding, in the form of donations and grants,  for the Club. All monies raised by this drawing for the table and bench will be used for the POP Club. If you have any ideas for further funding opportunities please let us know!

We will be selling tickets at the Information Booth, $1 or 6 for $5, on November 19th, December 3rd and up till noon on Dec 17th. If you’d like to purchase tickets on line, please click on the big DONATE button on our web site’s “News and Updates” page :https://orcityfarmersmarket.com/?cat=1.                                  Make sure you note its for the POP Club Raffle. We will pull your tickets, put them in an envelope and email you the numbers. You can pick up your tickets at the Market’s Info Booth. Call if you have questions 503 734-0192. The drawing will be at the Market on December 17th at noon and you DO NOT have to be present to win!  And thank you:)

We have just gone through a very devise election, below are words from the Farmers Market Coalition that arrived in my inbox yesterday. Thought you might like the read. Thank you for your support, it means the world to the small family farms and market vendors.

On the surface, farmers markets may simply appear to be places of commerce. In reality, they’re civic and social centers of the community, where ideas are discussed, relationships formed, and new innovations devised. Farmers markets showcase the best of our country. Through the hard work of local farmers, community partners, volunteers, and innovative entrepreneurs, rural and urban America come together once a week to shop, learn, eat, and connect with each other over fresh, local food. Our country needs more of this. As we move forward after a long, divisive election year, your continued work at the farmers market is more important than ever. Thank you for all that you do, and know that FMC will be working tirelessly to ensure that the incoming administration knows of your accomplishments, strengths and needs as the farmers market movement continues to grow.