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The BAM distribution e-mail has been sent to members. Please e-mail your reservation to csalittlerock@yahoo.com by 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22. Include your full name and which day and location you will pick up your basket. Read on for distribution locations, times, volunteer opportunities and details about the April basket.
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| Mark your calendar: the next Foodshed Farm All Arkansas Basket-A-Month distribution has been set for April 23, 24 & 25. We will be at our regular community pickup locations this month. Don't RSVP just yet -- stay tuned for your official e-mail notification to come in the next few days. In the meantime, if you would like to join or renew your subscription, please visit our eShop. We look forward to seeing you!
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The Certified Arkansas Farmers' Market in Argenta opens this Saturday, April 18, 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. RAIN OR SHINE! Please come down to 6th and Main in downtown North Little Rock and check us out. The CAFM Locally Grown website will be up and running in a week or two, soon after we get the tent & table outdoor market open in Argenta. Read on for more news and details of what will be at the market tomorrow.
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Opening day for the Certified Arkansas Farmers' Market in Hot Springs Village has been set for Wednesday, May 6, 2009. Market hours are 7:00 a.m. to noon. We'll be in the same location as last year - the parking lot of the Paul Bewie Boys and Girls Club. Click here for directions.
See you at the market!
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From Jody Hardin
Hello Locavores,
We have just learned, after weeks of discussions, planning, designing and raising capital, that our earliest possible opening date will be late June or July, this summer. After getting over the disappointment of not being able to open sooner, I'm confident that this is the best thing for our new Argenta Market.
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The March 2009 Foodshed Farm All Arkansas Basket-A-Month was distributed over the past few days to more than 180 excited BAM participants. This was such a success, and I owe all the credit to our wonderful volunteers who helped us deliver and prepare for this basket. So many of you are always there to lend a helping hand, and we are grateful. I know you love to “work for food” and participate in this unique community supported agriculture program. You are the community, and I applaud you all—volunteers, BAM members, farmers, vendors and especially Jody for allowing me to take BAM to the next level in his absence.
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It was a pleasure seeing all of you who picked up your March 2009 basket this week! We hope you are diving in and enjoying all of your Arkansas goodies. We'd love to hear what you are doing with your products. Post your recipes and tips here so we can share the wealth of everyone's ideas among the BAM community.
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FOODSHED FARM BASKET-A-MONTH PICKUP NOTIFICATION
MARCH 26, 27 and 28, 2009
PLEASE REPLY TO THIS NOTIFICATION TO RESERVE YOUR BASKET.
Cut-off time to reserve your basket is Wednesday, March 25, 2009 6:00 p.m.
Hello and Happy Spring!
Spring has arrived and the fever is catching. We have been busy on the farm preparing our garden for planting, expanding our pasture for our animals, planning the 2009 Farmers’ Market season, working on getting Argenta Market open by April 16 and of course, what I always look forward to, seeing all of you and sharing in the bounty of what Arkansas farmers have to offer through our Basket-A-Month.
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We have some exciting news. The next Foodshed Farm All Arkansas Basket-A-Month has been tentatively set for March 26, 27 & 28. We are expecting to resume our pickup locations this month. I am too excited to wait. I have to tell you some of the items we are working on for this basket.
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| We have a new location for the CAFM-Argenta. The 2009 Certified Arkansas Farmers' Market will be across the street from Argenta Market at 6th & Main streets (a block north of last year's location) and April 18 is our expected opening day. I have heard that 11,000 tulips have been planted in Argenta and should bloom at this time. How beautiful is that going to be. Mark your calendar and check www.arkansasfood.net for updates. -Barbara
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| The pace is picking up for the opening of Argenta Market, and we are in need of volunteers to help us move in equipment, paint, plant, clean, build cabinets and share a Barbara's Beefalo BBQ this Saturday, March 14, from 8am to 12pm. We want to open the doors to Argenta Market in 19 days. If you would like to help, please email Barbara at csalittlerock@yahoo.com. This is an exciting time and we will have FUN watching all that Jody has built and dreamed of begin to unfold in 19 days! This is only the beginning!
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May is strawberry time! Our family farm, Hardin Farms, will be offering you the experience to come down to the farm and pick your own strawberries, if you wish. We will provide our fresh picked strawberries in Argenta Market in addition to the farmers' market booth. If you would like to visit our farm and restaurant please call 870-479-3978. If you would like to reserve and guarantee your already-picked berries, please send us an email at csalittlerock@yahoo.com. We will contact you once the berries are ready.
Visit our website at www.hardinfarm.com
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FEBRUARY 2009 BAM PRODUCTS
Organic Shiitake Mushrooms
Organic Short Grain Brown Rice
Arkansas Natural Spring Mix
Arkansas Grown Sweet Potatoes
Argenta Fresh Baked Fococcia
Apple Butter or Smoked Peppers
1/2 Gallon Arkansas Milk
1 pint Smooth & Rich Chocolate Milk
1/2 pound Raw Milk Cheese
1 dozen Farm Fresh Eggs
2 pounds Ground Beef from Foodshed Farm (whole farm basket)
Spinach, Romaine, Watercress (vegetarian basket)
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October 2008
Dear Bam Members and Friends,
Thank you for making our first farm to table dinner a huge success! We had over 40 people in attendance. The food was absolutely amazing; 4 courses of seasonal Arkansas food: Butternut squash soup made with fresh milk from Seven Doves, topped with natural Honeysuckle Lane cheese, mixed green salad with fresh spring mix from Arkansas Natural Produce, perfectly cooked grass-fed beefalo steaks from Foodshed Farms with a shiitake mushroom sauce and sides of roasted Marconi peppers and whipped sweet potatoes, and for dessert Arkansas Koshikiri rice pudding. Our compliments go out to Chef Eric Isaac, who amazed us with every course and has the dubious honor of being the first chef to prepare beefalo in a commercial setting, which Chef Eric did to perfection...he truly made Barbara proud.
Many comments were made about what a great value the meal was, and how fun it was to come together in an intimate setting to celebrate the culinary bounty that Arkansas has to offer, and there is no better setting than Argenta - the epicenter of the local food movement.
And thank you all for helping us keep our surprise fundraiser for the Argenta Market a secret. Overcoming many obstacles throughout the week, we managed to keep Jody in the dark and caught him completely by surprise...I think he is still in shock. Thanks to you, we have raised over $12,000 for the Argenta market. The funds raised will help expedite the opening of the market, and will be spent stocking the market with all of those great Arkansas products that you have come to know and love. This is community supported agriculture at work - Jody mentioned at the dinner how he was able to guarantee one farmer’s entire crop of butternut squash for the basket program. Because we have all created such a demand for local foods, we can expect even more delicious things to come!
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Please Join us n Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at Argenta Seafood, North Little Rock, Arkansas for a celebration of local food and featured farmers. For more information: Contact Catherine Longbotham at 501-960-9698 or catherine.longbotham@gmail.com
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Hello Locavores:
This weekend (Aug 30th, 2008) at CAFM we are expecting a five burner chili roaster to be the centerpiece of the farmers' market, thanks to Fred Grey of Sparkling River Pepper Company in Little Rock. He grows specialty peppers along with another farmer in the Clinton area--each year they produce a fresh crop of hot and sweet chilis, for drying, fresh market sales, and hot sauce production. I plan to be running the roaster myself. Get ready for the sweet smell of these giant, Italian Marconi sweet roasting peppers to drift through the whole neighborhood of Argenta. I'm also expecting more live music from local musicians. Come around 9 a.m. and join in the festivities. I can't predict what type of late summer vegetables will show up at CAFM Saturday this late in the year, but it could be very interesting to see all of these varieties of sweet and hot peppers we have collected. Bring your own and show them off at the market! Fred Grey, owner of Sparkling River Pepper Company gets credit for these beautiful Marconi's, and some hot Jimmy Nordello long hot varieties. Chili Heads, this is your weekend of the year in Arkansas!! Jody Hardin, Market Manager
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CAFM Market Report #4
For Saturday, June 7th, 2008
By Jody Hardin
Hello Locavores,
This is Grand Opening Week for the Certified Arkansas Farmers’ Market, and we hope you will all come see us as the Arkansas produce is beginning to roll into the market in Argenta-- in significantly higher volume. We have some exciting events to announce here.
Some may have noticed that I missed writing last weeks Market Report, which was due to our unusually busy week distributing the Basket-A-Month in central Arkansas. It was a new record for our monthly distribution. Thank you!
I’m excited to announce the Grand Opening Schedule of Events for Saturday in Argenta:
GRAND OPENING EVENTS
The farmer’s market opens at 7 a.m. with the ringing of the Fair Trade Bell: (note: the market closes at 12 p.m sharp).
We will have Mayor Hayes and the NLR Chamber of Commerce Vanguard officially cutting the ribbon at CAFM a little before 9 a.m. Mayor Hayes is expected to proclaim this Farmer’s Day in Argenta. How cool is that!
The Old School Bluegrass Band will be at CAFM Argenta and I’m very excited to get this great group of locals who know how to make things lively. You don’t want to miss this. They plan to crank up the bluegrass around 9 a.m. and play until 11 a.m. They are playing for tips, and will have some CD’s for sale, so support the local music if you can. Heeeehaw!
The Beefalo Woman has set aside 150 lbs of grass fed beefalo burgers that will be given away until they are all gone. This will start around 9:30 a.m. This is free food, but we are asking for a small donation to CAFM to help raise funds for more events like this in the near future. We need a few volunteers to help grill burgers at the market if anyone is interested??
Argenta Community Development Corp. is hosting a Community Walking Tour in the US Bank near Main and Broadway, with free food and activities, and more live music. The walk will take you around to see some of the spotlight properties that are available, as well as some history of the Argenta community.
FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTS AT CAFM THIS WEEK
We expect several new farmers to show this week, as crops begin to come in:
Daly Dairy will be back with more of their one-of-a-kind raw milk, grass based cheese. This product is getting rave reviews and we are the only market in Little Rock to have this product. Please check them out, load up on the cheese SO THEY WILL KEEP COMING BACK.
Falling Sky Farm, Cody Hopkins will be at CAFM for the first time with grass fed chickens, and will be taking deposits on fall turkeys. I’m relieved to know they are doing turkeys, as I’m no longer able to do this with an intensely busy schedule this year. They are raising Bourbon Reds and Standard Bronze. Stop in and find out more!
Christian and Brigette Shuffield (Shuffield Farms) will be back with bean sprouts, spring mix, and more of the Nuffers beets, greens, and other vegetables. What a treat for those in the know!
Arkansas Natural Produce will be back with spring mix, and Sweeden Creek Shiitake mushrooms, as well as their wonderful edible flowers, strawberries, and maybe a few blackberries and strawberries.
VAL the Russian Farmer will have strawberries, squash, and potatoes (NEW!)
Chudy Farms and Apiary will have vegetable plants, unusual herbs like Patchouli, Eucalyptus, and through their partnership with Delta Supreme will bring fresh catfish from the Delta region of Arkansas. Of course, they will have more of the delicious honey. They are bringing back the organic dog biscuits, too!
Willow Springs Market Garden will have arugula, garlic, a few tomatoes, and herbs.
Hardin Farms will have cucumbers, squash, and maybe a few blackberries.
Cedar Rock Acres is bringing in carrots, Kohlrobi, herb plants, and maybe blueberries!
Stowe Market Gardens, Jeff Stowe of Pine Bluff, with varieties of hot and bell peppers (heirloom tomatoes), cherry tomatoes, and more!!
Penny Rudder will be marketing the Clean Plate Club, which provides a weekly menu and recipes for seasonal food available at CAFM.
Foodshed Farm will have grass fed beefalo.
We hope to see you at CAFM in Argenta this weekend. We are on the 400 block of Main Street in downtown N. Little Rock, just beside the old U.S. Post Office.
See you soon!
Jody Hardin, Market Manager
Certified Arkansas Farmers’ Market
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For May 22nd and 23rd , 2008
CAFM News/Market Report #3
By Jody Hardin
CAFM Market Manager
Hello locavores!
This is a big week for CAFM, with River Fest in Argenta (NLR), and our newest CAFM opening in Hot Springs Village on Friday.
NEW! CAFM OPENS FRIDAY IN HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE
We are having the first soft opening of the new Certified Arkansas Farmers’ Market at Hot Springs Village on Friday (May 23rd) from 7am until 12 p.m at the West Gate entrance beside the Bewie Boys and Girls Club. We are expecting eight farmer’s on opening day, with several new growers from the west central part (Petit Jean down to Arkadelphia) of the state participating. We are excited because the HSV community is very abuzz and committed to making this a great market for local farmers just like Argenta. It will operate just like the CAFM Argenta(NLR) location, just different location and a different day(only one day per week). HSV will open on a Friday, but will move to Thursday and run through October. This is the second CAFM location and I’m now looking for the next community that wants to eliminate imported produce and clean up commercial products from their farmers market.
RIVERFEST
We should not be affected too much by RiverFest activities Saturday morning. Actually this may benefit CAFM Argenta as the River Market is moving its vendors to the old parking deck and one or two true farmers have asked to set up in Argenta. Please don’t let this stop you from coming down. Each weekend more and more farmers are coming and bringing more produce each time. Come see what’s new, and watch our market grow. This weekend is no exception!
HARVEST UPDATE
The weather is ideal, and the crops should be growing exponentially faster this week and the next. This means we should be on schedule with blueberries and blackberries, and early peaches by the end of this month, maybe sooner if this ideal weather hangs around.
The strawberries are slowing a bit, as I predicted last week. But, there should still be a good supply at both markets (Argenta and HSV) this weekend.
Christian and Brigette Shuffield are expected to be at the market again this weekend, and should have a big load of sprouts, biodynamic spring mix, and beets from the Armstead Mtn. Farm (the Nuffers). –maybe squash, too.
Arkansas Natural Produce is expected to be at the market this weekend with some great Arugula, spring mix, and a ton of shiitake mushrooms. (They sold out in the first hour last time).
I’m also expecting some of the first squash to be harvested this week.
There will be fresh beefalo and fresh catfish at Argenta again this week, and I’ve been told that one of the Hot Springs vendors will have a good load of blueberries. I expect blueberries to hit Argenta soon, and keep on coming for several weeks into June. I know of several organic blueberry farmers coming into production for the first time this year. Yeah!
Also, we were the first market in the state to be approved to accept EBT(just received confirmation from USDA while writing this newsletter), which will allow many families to improve their nutrition and health, as well as turn back thousands of dollars into the local farm economy. I’m very pleased with this accomplishment, as it is expected to bring a whole new group of consumers to the farmers markets around the state. However, it will require a team of volunteers to staff our booth at the markets (basically swiping cards and issuing wooden tokens that can only be spent in our two CAFM markets.) Tim Ellison of the Ark. Ag Dept. and Evelyn Bates Lee at USDA deserve a huge pat on the back for organizing and fast tracking this program. We are tying to get ten markets in the state to join the pilot program.
Fresh, in-season products expected at CAFM ARGENTA:
Mustard, Turnip and Collard Greens (few)
Arugula
Spring Mix/Lettuce
Spinach (limited)
Strawberries
Radishes
Decorative Plants
Vegetable & Fruit Plants
Herbs, and herb plants
Swiss Chard
Honey
Wheatgrass
Bean sprouts
Grass Fed Chicken Eggs
Grass Fed Beef and Grass Fed and Finished Beefalo (antibiotic & hormone free)
Pond Raised Catfish from Delta Supreme
Organic Dog Treats
2-plus pound stick of grass-fed and finished beefalo smoked summer sausage (still some available.)
New products:
Shiitake Mushrooms
Beets
Squash??
A few green tomatoes
Non-farm vendors:
Penny Rudder: Menu of the Week- Clean Plate Club
Cooking classes- registration booth
Argenta/Citigrove Neighborhood Volunteers: Providing information about eco friendly housing in Argenta, and neighborhood projects.
Foodshed Farm, Basket A Month CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Project: Providing information about the monthly local food subscription program that features all the food groups from local farmes once per month at pickup zones in central Arkansas. New members are being recruited.
Thank you all for your support of CAFM!
Jody Hardin
Exec. Dir./Market Manager
Certified Arkansas Farmers’ Market
P.S. For information about the Basket A Month, please do not use this email address. Send all BAM inquiries to csalittlerock@yahoo.com, where we have a staff to answer your questions. However, BAM pickup is set for 29 th, 30 th, 31 st. Pickup notification emails will be sent out next weekend to all members. |
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HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE GETS THE SECOND CERTIFIED ARKANSAS FARMERS' MARKET IN ARKANSAS
It's official, we are starting our second CAFM in Hot Springs Village. We are excited and nervous at the same time. Although we only know of a few farmer's who will be attending, we do know we have already lined up an impressive mix of local, seasonal produce from some important local farmers. Keep your fingers crossed for the strawberry crop to hold out just a little longer!
We expect to have approximately six central Arkansas farmers represented on opening day, which is set for May 23rd(Friday) from 7 a.m. until 12 p.m. in the parking lot of the Paul Bewie Boys and Girls Club. Although wind and rain may force our relocation to a more protected area, this seems to be a great fair weather market.location. But, with the tents that are required by each farmer, small wind gusts can damage the produce in several booths if these big tents blow away.
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT MARKET DAYS AND TIMES @ HSV:
What does this mean for HSV residents?
CAFM is a non-profit 501c6 membership corporation with a mission to create strictly local markets that serve farmers from all over the state of Arkansas. Each of our participants are inspected and governed by other farmers to ensure products are locally grown, although it is a simple inspection. We are only a food market, and we do not allow any items from outside the state to be sold at Certified Arkansas Farmers' Markets. We have one exception made for a concessionaire, who can sell hot foods under the State Health Department guidelines, and under the supervision of the market manager and market committee.
Additionally, farmers who join the CAFM can also attend the CAFM Argenta(NLR) location on Tuesday and Saturday, and be inspected only once to attend both markets.
HSV may expect to see all the great produce items, as well as grains, meats, poultry, eggs, and in some abundance throughout their different seasons. We don't know who will eventually attend this market, but we are busy telling other farmers about the new HSV market. Help us spread the word to hard working farmers who need a venue for the nutritious food they grow.
Our soft opening date is set for May 23, 2008. (Friday) 7 a.m until 12 p.m. No sales allowed after fair trade bell to close the market, and no sales allowed before the fair trade bell rings to open the market at 7a.m. Customers and vendors are expected to help with this important rule. These policies protect the consumer and the farmer.
Our grand opening date is set for June 5, 2008 (begins regularly on Thursday, and every Thursday for the rest of the summer, fall, and ending in October. 7am until 12pm one day per week.
Where?
We are going to set up in the middle of the big parking lot of the Paul Bewie Boys and Girls Club. This is outside the West Gate Entrance to HSV.
Those interested in participating in CAFM at Hot Springs Village contact: certifiedarkansas@yahoo.com or call 501.231.0094 for Jody Hardin, Executive Director and Market Manager. Visit www.arkansasfood.net on a regular basis to see what's in season at your local market.
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For Saturday, May 17, 2008
CAFM News/Market Report #2
By Jody Hardin , Market Manager
Certifed Arkansas Farmers' Market, Inc.
Hello Locavores! The cool and wet weather is really slowing the harvest and the planting of many crops in Arkansas. Although no one wants to complain, the weather is making us look a little premature for opening the market so early in May. We are almost through the spring crops like strawberries, and are looking ahead, perhaps over the next two weeks, for big crops of blue berries, black berries, peaches, squash, and peas. More plants and herbs, spring mix and strawberries are expected to be the main attraction this weekend.
The Junction Bridge is open this weekend, connecting the two markets (CAFM with RiverMarket). Please check it out, and tell everyone what there is to see in Argenta. We hope to be the primary destination for folks walking across the new bridge for the first time. Help us spread the word about CAFM in Argenta.
The first sugar snap peas will come to market this weekend in a small quantity from farmer Glen Baugh, who is too busy to sell his small picking of peas, so another farmer will most likely assist with the marketing of this new crop. You’ll have to look around the market for them. Also, Chudy Farms and Apiary, who has partnered with Delta Supreme Catfish in Dumas, expects to have solved his portion size problem, by breaking down the five pound cases to smaller packs. Check with the Chudy family, as three generations are working their booth at certain times. They are doing us all a favor by handling this product, as the fish processor is not able to participate in Saturday markets. Let’s keep it here at CAFM.
The beefalo summer sausage is still available from the Beefalo Woman. She’s been working all week to replinsh her stocks of grass fed&finished beefalo steaks, and ground burger. I’m expecting her to make a big batch of beefalo jerky in the near future, maybe by next weekend. Start asking for it, and she will do it.
We are excited to add Shuffield Farms (Christian and Bridgette formerly of Farmer’s Daughter Café ) to our list of great new farmers at the market. They specialize in organic and biodynamic sprouts, spring greens, and vegetables. They are going to try both markets, so you will probably see them working out the logistic of how to do this. Please show your support at CAFM, and encourage them to join us permanently and exclusively at our Certified Arkansas market.
As a bonus, Shuffield Farms partners with Armstead Mt. Farm (Sue and Rusty Nuffer of Jerusalem), who are outstanding farmers who have chosen to stay on the farm on Saturdays, after many years of doing a weekend farmers market. You will see excellent greens and squash from Shuffield/Nuffers if they send more product to CAFM. Also, Shuffield will have wheatgrass flats for sale.
Strawberries are getting smaller and the quantity is getting less each time we pick at Hardin Farms. I would suggest if you haven’t had you local berries this year, you should try this weekend. They are getting ready to slow down to a trickle, so keep this in mind this weekend. This means the blackberries are not far behind.
I don’t usually get too excited about drawings, but we are having one this weekend at CAFM for a Farm to Table Dinner at the Capital Hotel on June 8, 2008 that is very unusual. This is a big dinner with several big time LR chefs preparing their signature dish using local fare, while celebrating the work of some local farmers. The winner gets to spend that night in a suite at the Capital Hotel. This is worth about $500 altogether, and includes the dinner and sponsored by the AR Dept of Agriculture. Be sure to check the market tent at CAFM, as one of the vendors will have the information about this once in a lifetime culinary event. If you want to go ahead and get your tickets locked in (this will sell out fast as soon as word gets out, you all are the first to hear about it), just call the Capital Hotel (501.374.7474) yourself and ask about the Farm to Table dinner on June 8. The big news is that all the proceeds after costs will be donated to the new Certified Arkansas Farmer’s Market!!! I will see you there.
Fresh, in-season products expected at CAFM ARGENTA:
Mustard, Turnip and Collard Greens (few)
Arugula
Spring Mix/Lettuce
Spinach (limited)
Strawberries
Radishes
Decorative Plants
Vegetable & Fruit Plants
Herbs, and herb plants
Swiss Chard
Honey
Wheatgrass
Bean sprouts
Grass Fed Chicken Eggs
Grass Fed Beef and Grass Fed and Finished Beefalo (antibiotic & hormone free)
Pond Raised Catfish from Delta Supreme
Organic Dog Treats
New products:
2-plus pound stick of grass-fed and finished beefalo smoked summer sausage (still some available.)
Non-farm vendors:
Penny Rudder: Menu of the Week- Clean Plate Club
Cooking classes registration booth
Argenta/Citigrove Neighborhood Volunteers: Providing information about eco friendly housing in Argenta, and neighborhood projects
Coffee and pastries will be provided by The Circle Café (scones and muffins)
Foodshed Farm, Basket A Month CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Project: Providing information about the monthly local food program that features all the food groups once per month at pickup zones in central Arkansas. New members are being recruited.
Thank you all for your support.
Jody Hardin
Certifiedarkansas@yahoo.com
Note: The Certified Arkansas Farmers' Market is a local, fair trade food market that serves farmers from all over the state. CAFM is a non-profit, open on Tuesday and Saturday in Argenta from 7 a.m. until 12 p.m. No sales can be made before or after the market opens. The fair trade bell is sounded to signal the start and end of the market.
Directions: Argenta District is located in downtown North Little Rock, not far from Alltel Arena. We are in the 400 block of Main Street, right on the trolly line beside the old US Post Office. |
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