The market news is also wonderful. We will be able to continue our SNAP match program when our grant from the Coover Foundation ends this spring. The market partnered with the Mid-America Regional Council in Kansas City who applied for a GUS NIP grant from the USDA. The grant will, among other things, fund matching programs at 45 farmers markets in eastern Kansas and western Missouri. When I contacted the Council about including Webb City they were hesitant. We were outside their service area but it didn’t take them long to convince them to include us. After all, we’re an amazing market and would strengthen their application. I have no idea if it really did, but they got it!
The SNAP match program is well used by our customers using food stamps. It allows them to purchase food stamp tokens good to purchase eligible products in the market and also receive free tokens for fresh uncut fruits and vegetables. Our current program is funded by the Coover Foundation and we have been so thankful for the funding but it will end in March. Now we will be able to continue the program for another three years. That’s a lot of healthy fruit and vegetables for our neighbors in need and a lot of produce sales for our farmers.
And speaking of produce, it’s lettuce season! The lettuce is pouring into the market which is why the kids meal this week is Taco Salad – lettuce and tomatoes from Braker Farm, ground beef donated by Misty Morning Farms. I really should say it’s green season because there is also broccoli, kohlrabi, and acorn squash just to name a few other green things at the market.
It’s also chilly and chili season. Dress warm because the market will remain
open air as long as we can manage. And load up on chili to-go at the market. Central
United Methodist Church is selling chili with beans and without and it sure is
good. They also have fudge for your sweet tooth. All profits go to buy food for
the Webb City Christmas basket program.
This Saturday MaMa JoJo’s will have artisan pasta and red sauce to-go, as well as pasta for you to cook at home. Songbird Kitchen will have made-at-the-market egg rolls, crab Rangoon, and fried rice.
The Free Kids Meals are: Breakfast – breakfast casserole with eggs, sausage, and cheese, plus a banana and milk AND Lunch – Taco Salad with milk. Kids don’t need to be present, but we need to see a photo of yourself with the kids – or grandkids – so we can get a head count. The meals are free to anyone aged 1 through 18.
Breakfast for adults is biscuit and gravy, cheesy scrambled eggs or cheesy scrambled eggs loaded with market veggies, and juice or coffee for $5. The breakfast benefits the market.
All the meals can be eaten on site or taken home. Randy & Phil are on the market stage. The breakfast, kids meals, and music run from 9 to 11.
Make your plans now for the Holiday Market on the day before Thanksgiving, Wednesday, November 25. We’ll be open from 11 to 1 under the pavilion and bakers are taking orders now!
Talk of bakers reminds me - pastry is coming back to the market! Juniper Coffee Roastery is adding a pastry to their freshly roasted coffee beans and coffee drinks. Their pastry is inspired by rugelach which was brought to the US by eastern European immigrants and is especially popular for Jewish holidays. The Mayfield’s will do their own interpretation using fillings of orange marmalade and dark chocolate. They’ll be made right in the market kitchen.
Also at the market this Saturday – five produce farms, two mushroom growers, Grison Dairy with cow’s cheese, Clear Water Shrimp Farm, DnD Smoked, Helm’s honey, Garrett’s and Sunny Lane with meats, three bakeries, and 2Ts Soap. It’s going to be another wonderful market. See you there!
