Friday, March 11, 2011

Farmers Market 2011 Kick-off Event Saturday

Leaders of the Clayton Farmers and Community Market intend to ask local residents to take "The 10 Percent Challenge" in a kick-off event for the new market season at the Clayton Center Saturday, March 12.

Local farmers want a pledge from residents to spend 10 percent of their food dollars on locally grown food this year. "It would mean a lot to local farmers while enhancing the diets of local residents," said Farmers Market Board Member Kathy Tate-Hildreth.



The event, scheduled for 5 to 9 pm, features a showing of the movie INGREDIENTS, a film about the importance of eating locally-grown foods. In addition, growers from all over the area will be there to meet the public and perhaps work out personal deals for farm-fresh products during the coming year. Everyone is invited.

Kathy, whose farm has 200 bee hives and offers all sorts of honey products, said residents will get to meet and talk with a variety of local farmers---from bee keepers and vegetable growers to egg and meat producers. While fresh food is still weeks away, Saturday's event will bring residents face-to-face with the people who grow it so they can get to know each other, and their preferences, better.

"It's an important event that should be a lot of fun as well," said Kathy, who also works in Customer Services at the Clayton Operations Center. "It's a great opportunity to meet and get to know the people who grow a lot of the food you'll be eating."

The market offers food and crafts from 29 local vendors, with an average of 17 on-site each Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm during the spring, summer and fall.


INGREDIENTS will be shown at 6 pm. Tickets for the movie are $5, plus a service charge of one dollar.

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