Dear Arkavores:
This is the biggie! Argenta Fall Foodie Fest is this Saturday, October 17, from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. We have 15 confirmed local chefs all serving local dishes at very reasonable prices (no festival or fair prices here!) There will be new arts and crafts vendors, live music, soap making lessons, corn shelling, a cider press demonstration with hot fresh apple cider, and knife sharpening. Nearly 20 Arkansas farms will be represented in almost two city blocks of local food and fun! We will have a large tent with plenty of seating. Visit the Foodie Fest page for a preview of what's on the menu!

CAFM Outdoor Market Season Ends Saturday
On top of this being a great weekend to come try different local foods from various chefs, our Certified Arkansas Farmers Market farmers are gearing up for one last big day at the outdoor market. It’s really shocking how much produce will be at the market this weekend, as we have been seeing the normal seasonal decline over the past few weeks. Since we’ve been planning and promoting this to the farmers for months now, they have all responded with a bounty of fall produce for this weekend.

Here are some of the items I have confirmed: kale, mustard greens, lettuces (big selection), beets, carrots, turnips, raspberries, pumpkins, tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers, corn stalks, apples (four varieties), honey, beef, beefalo, chickens, pork, buffalo, duck, eggs, soap, beeswax candles, fair trade locally roasted hot coffee, hot chocolate, apple cider, squash, honey, strawberry plants (maybe), flowers, roasted peppers, local cheese, doggie treats, fresh pasta, pastries, bread, and more surprises.

Online Market Continues Through Winter
Beginning next weekend, we will only be operating the CAFM Online Farmers Market (www.cafm.locallygrown.net). The hours of pickup will change. Pickup will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 12:00 noon, in the same location as the CAFM Argenta Farmers Market. Some farmers will continue to attend in person on Saturdays and set up a booth as usual, until their crops play out sometime late winter, or until the weather prevents an outdoor booth. We hope you will continue to shop locally on our web site, as we expect it to improve dramatically in the next few weeks. Click over between Sunday night and Wednesday night to place your order — all winter long!

Basket-A-Month Pickup Scheduled
Next weekend (Oct. 22-24) is the Foodshed Farm Basket-A-Month CSA pickup. Members will receive their  e-mail notice in a couple of days, so watch your inbox to make your basket reservation. If you would like to become a BAM member and receive the next basket, sign up now at our eShop.

Hardin Farms Pumpkin Patch on TV
Tune into the KTHV Channel 11 early show (5:00 - 7:00 a.m.) on Saturday morning, where Hardin Farms Pumpkin Patch will be the host for the entire morning show. Check it out, and then come on down to Grady after Foodie Fest and pick your own pumpkin and hang out on our extremely muddy farm. Because of all the rain this month, just about all the pumpkins are still waiting for a home. Bring your rubber boots!

Thank you all!
Hope to see you at Foodie Fest this weekend,

Jody Hardin
Certified Arkansas Farmers Market
www.ArkansasFood.net
www.cafm.locallygrown.net