I admit it, I’m proud of our market. So it’s
always lovely to hear when others think highly of it too. I received an email
today from a staff member of the Farmers Market Coalition, which is the national
association for farmers markets. They have been tasked by the US
Department of Agriculture to put together a short list of exemplary markets that
personify this year’s National Farmers Market Week tagline: where farmers
prosper and communities thrive. The email ended with “I hope you'll
consider it - Webb City was a quick and mutually agreed suggestion by all staff
familiar with your market!” (I’m just pleased that any of their staff are
familiar with our market, much less that we’d be put on a national list as
exemplary. .And it is a really short list - only 10 markets in the country)
I don’t know if being on the short list means we’ll be featured
in a press release or if the USDA will do a media event at the market during Farmers
Market Week or something else entirely. It’s just nice to be noticed in a good
way.
Speaking of media, I’ve been working with 417 Magazine which is
based in Springfield. They are doing a story in May on the market’s free kids
meal. What great timing that is since the meals will start at the end of May. We’re
hoping for even more kids to eat with us in 2018. If you’d like to be part of
that wonderful program, give me a call. We could certainly use a volunteer
counter and we’d love to have volunteers that would do tastings or
demonstrations with the kids to teach them about local fruits and veggies.
While we’re excited about the upcoming regular season, winter
market continues to be special too.
The Kids Garden Club is back and it’s All About Lady
Bugs this Saturday. The kids will make a lady bug craft and everyone will learn
about beneficial insects in the garden.
Ghetto Taco will serve biscuit and gravy, scrambled eggs, sausage
and hashbrown casserole, plus a choice of juice or coffee. They have chicken noodle
soup for eat-in or take-away.
Scott Eastman will be on the market stage.
And, of course, there will be lots of local produce, jams and
jellies, cracked and shelled pecans, all natural meats, raw honey and more.
Come enjoy our “exemplary market”. You are part of what makes us successful!
