| Here in Marin County, we are blessed to live in an | | | | gets very little of every dollar spent on that item. |
| area so abundant with family farms, historic ranches | | | | Produce at the farmers market is most often picked |
| and local businesses offering fresh, organic, | | | | that morning or the day before - and the farmer is |
| homegrown produce. We are gastronomically spoiled! | | | | supported directly with the whole amount of your |
| Twenty years ago, the Marin Farmers Market | | | | purchase. Really, you can't get fresher! |
| Association was created as a non-profit organization | | | | Shopping at the farmers market is more fun too. |
| for the mutual benefit of the farmers and consumers. | | | | Being in the open air, walking among neighbors, |
| Each week Marin residents have a choice of 7 | | | | meeting your local farmers, and simply strolling along |
| farmer's markets to shop at 6 days of the week! | | | | with music in the background all add to the charm |
| When we shop at our local farmer's markets, the | | | | and experience of the Marin Farmers Market. |
| middleman is eliminated so our money goes directly | | | | Why should we teach kids about composting? Will |
| to the hardworking farmers and our produce is | | | | there be a plasma, flat screen somewhere in the |
| fresher and much more nutritious. | | | | garden? . . |
| I mean why suffer through eating 4-6 servings of | | | | Teaching composting means you are teaching about |
| fruits and vegetables each day if the nutrients are all | | | | the cycle of life and death. Composting is |
| lost in travel? I may as well go back to my favorite | | | | decomposition and it teaches kids in a tangible way |
| breakfast of non-champions; the holy chocolate | | | | how food waste is a resource for other organisms |
| croissant and a cup of muddy Jo. Right? | | | | that then turn that waste into natural fertilizer that |
| We're also reducing the impact on the environment | | | | then helps start the cycle again of generating new |
| by shortening our food's commute. Produce from a | | | | life. School gardens are a great way to teach life |
| supermarket requires more packaging, refrigeration | | | | cycles. By helping students become literate - |
| and fuel, and generates large amounts of pollution | | | | ecoliterate - they understand the way natural cycles |
| and waste. Leah Smith is the new outreach director | | | | work. When students feel more of a sense of |
| of the Marin Farmer's Market. Smith, a lifelong | | | | connection to other living things and to each other, |
| advocate for teaching sustainable agriculture to | | | | they become stewards of the land, and they learn |
| children, has worked in the past at Slide Ranch, Malt | | | | things of value in the real world of soil, food and |
| and EECOM. I asked her some questions about this | | | | insects! |
| year's farmer's market: | | | | What's new at the Marin Farmer's Market? |
| What is the new "Marin Farmers Market Distribution | | | | Asparagus! With the coming of spring, we are now |
| Program" and how will it behoove ME?" | | | | starting to see vegetables that indicate the changing |
| If you want to have locally grown food wherever | | | | seasons. We see the return of more varieties of |
| you or your children go to eat in Marin, encourage | | | | lettuce, beets and greens. And don't miss out on the |
| your local restaurant, corporate cafeteria, school, | | | | early strawberries and tomatoes which will entice you |
| hospital, or other food service program to buy from | | | | to hang in until the peak of the season when they |
| the Marin Farmers Market. We're pleased to have | | | | are at their best. |
| launched a program that now serves people of all | | | | There's always something new at the Marin Farmers |
| ages locally grown food from sustainable farms. | | | | Market. Here you can taste a creamy Jersey cow |
| Among our many new customers are Community | | | | cheese from Spring Hill Jersey or smooth goat |
| Action Marin and North Bay Children's Center who | | | | cheese from Redwood Hill, larger duck eggs from |
| serve our youngest populations, Walker Creek Ranch, | | | | Triple T Ranch, or unique Baby Chicory from Marin |
| which serves mostly 4th and 5th graders at outdoor | | | | Roots Farms. Your taste buds will never be |
| education programs and the Marin County Cafeteria, | | | | disappointed. Don't forget the flowers! Don't miss the |
| run by Ray's Catering, "Delicious Catering" and | | | | Cherry Blossoms and Ranunculas. Breads - whoa - |
| "Epicurean." Marin General Hospital, which participated | | | | talk about a place to find fresh baked items. And |
| in our pilot program in 2006, under the new leadership | | | | prepared food to just pop in your mouth immediately |
| of Billi Grossman, is continuing to order the freshest | | | | - from samosas to flat bread to sausages, oysters |
| local produce available for their patients, visitors and | | | | and tomales, here is where great taste happens! |
| staff. These are just a few of our local hero | | | | Will there be more organic produce available at the |
| programs, companies and agencies. | | | | Farmer's Market this year? You know "green" is the |
| The Marin Farmers Market distribution program is | | | | new pink, don't you? |
| aimed at helping businesses and organizations who | | | | Yes. Recently awarded by the Pacific Sun as the |
| serve large groups of people source their products | | | | Best Place for Organic Produce, the Civic Center |
| locally. We offer a full range of local products - from | | | | Marin Farmers market has 44 % organic vendor |
| conventional to transitional to organic and beyond | | | | participation, and it has been increasing every year. |
| organic, and including preserves, mushrooms, dried | | | | We are pleased to be able to provide a venue for |
| fruits and nuts, oils, vinegars, juices and lots of | | | | farmers to stay in business, some of whom are |
| produce! Ordering through this program is an easy | | | | transitioning from conventional practices to organic, |
| way to get a wonderful diversity of products from | | | | and to facilitate the exchange of ideas and exposure |
| close to home. | | | | to sustainable farming concepts. We support all local |
| Why should we shop at Farmer's Markets when we | | | | sustainable farms. |
| can get a cheap shiny apple, "made in China", at the | | | | Organic is great, and local is what we emphasize here |
| Pic-N-Save supermarket? | | | | at the Marin Farmers Market. An organic tomato |
| Shopping at the farmers market means you're buying | | | | from Central America does not represent sustainable |
| direct and fresh from small local farmers. On average, | | | | to us. Buying local means you have a relationship with |
| fruits, vegetables and other edibles found at the | | | | the farmer and can ask questions about why they |
| Marin Farmers Market are grown on small farms | | | | choose a certain technique. Personally, I have always |
| within a 150 mile distance from the market in San | | | | been pleasantly surprised how freely any farmer is |
| Rafael, often even closer. Nowadays, the typical | | | | willing to share why he or she farms the way they |
| food item on a store shelf travels on average 1600 - | | | | do. Farming is a big job, and one that I humbly |
| 2100 miles, often changing hands between shippers | | | | respect. Thank you to the Marin farmers and |
| and distributors several times over several days | | | | producers for feeding me ... and you! |
| before arriving on the store shelf - and the farmer | | | | |