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FOODSHED FARM JULY 08 ALL ARKANSAS BASKET
6/25/2008 5:22:17 AM
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| The next Foodshed Farm All Arkansas BAM will be July 10th, 11th and 12th. If any changes are to be made we will post them here first. More details coming. |
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JUNE 2008 ALL ARKANSAS BASKET-A-MONTH PICKUP NOTICE
6/13/2008 6:57:36 AM
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BASKET-A-MONTH CSA PICKUP NOTIFICATIONùPLEASE REPLY TO THIS EMAIL TO |
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CAFM Market Report #4
6/4/2008 10:38:46 AM
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CAFM Market Report #4
For Saturday, June 7th, 2008
By Jody Hardin
Hello Locavore’s,
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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CAFM Market Report #3
5/24/2008 5:26:26 PM
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For May 22nd and 23rd
CAFM News/Market Report #3
By Jody Hardin
CAFM Market Manager
Hello locavore’s!
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 29th, 30th, 31st. Pickup notification emails will be sent out next weekend to all members.
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MAY 2008 BASKET UPDATE
5/21/2008 7:48:30 PM
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The May basket will be distributed May 29th through May 31st. The official email notification will be sent out over the holiday weekend. Have a safe holiday and we will see you soon. Barbara and Jody |
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Certified Arkansas Farmers' Market at Hot Springs Village
5/19/2008 4:00:26 PM
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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 farmer's from all over the state of Arkansas. Each of our participants are inspected and governed by other farmer's to insure 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 guidlines, and under the supervision of the market manager and market committee. Additionally, farmer's 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 farmer's 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 evey 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 @ Hot Springs Village contact: certifiedarkansas@yahoo.com or call 501.231.0094 for Jody Hardin, Executive Director and Market Manager Certified Arkansas Farmers' Market or visit: www.arkansasfood.net on a regular basis to see what's in season at your local market.
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CAFM Market Report #2
5/19/2008 9:05:50 AM
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For Saturday, May 17
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
Note: The Certified Arkansas Farmer’s 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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CAFM Market Report#1
5/8/2008 12:18:20 PM
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Certified Arkansas Farmers’ Market Report #1
May 8, 2008
By Jody Hardin
Market Manager
Well, we made it through our first full week at the new Certified Arkansas Farmers’ Market in Argenta! Saturday was wildly successful for the eight farmers who took part, as we all sold more than anticipated, while the crowd was extremely grateful for our new market. The experience was truly a one in a million for me. We think nearly 1,000 visited the new CAFM on our soft opening day. I am most grateful and we want to thank you all for your awesome support in Argenta!
Having some insight into what goods will show up at CAFM-Argenta has me confident you will be proud of the quality of the farmer’s that have made CAFM-Argenta their new home. We are all so much happier here, and generally feel that this is a fair trade market. I thought it would feel good, but now I know it is truly great to be among serious farmers in a strictly local market, with customers who appreciate what we are doing. Food security for our communities is ultimately what we are trying to achieve. Everyone should have a say in this matter, and I hope people will continue to step up and help make this effort an ongoing success.
This morning, as I sit writing the first Market Report in the fifth generation farm house left to me by my agrarian ancestors, I’m once again content to focus on the land, having straightened out a big problem with marketing our homegrown products. I think we’ve also discovered a deeper need for our market policies by other new markets in the area. It has presented a really huge opportunity for CAFM Inc.(a non-profit corporation) that I would like to present as breaking news here in the CAFM Report.
Breaking news: CAFM is in discussions with representatives of Hot Springs Village. We are discussing the details of partnering with this group to open the second Certified Arkansas Farmers’ Market (on a Friday from 7 a.m. until 12 noon, May through October). Farmers who join CAFM will be allowed to sell at both the Argenta and Hot Springs Village markets with a single inspection and single membership.
The objective, for those who have not heard me ranting on this subject, is to build a network of markets that are talking and working together. In other words, we want to coordinate multiple markets across the state with paid market managers who also act as market makers in their individual market regions. This is what I’m calling the foundation of the Arkansas Food Network, so that we may organize the flows of local food through distribution channels that are focused solely on local food security.
The end goal of building the Arkansas Food Network is to get more nutritious food to children in our schools, as well as turn the billions of dollars Americans spend in imported foods back to the local farm economy. Ultimately, we are working only within our state’s borders to build our food supplies and distribution channels so that we reduce the fossil fuel miles our food travels. It’s all good, and it’s very urgent to me that we move forward steadily in this endeavor. Of course, there are other markets that are ripe to join the CAFM network, and I will keep you abreast of new developments as they occur. As supplies and volume grow, we anticipate building the first Arkansas Food Warehouse in Argenta to meet more of the food needs of the families in our state; we anticipate this will happen over the next three to five years.
CAFM-Argenta for Saturday, May 10
Fresh, in-season products;
Mustard, Turnip and Collard Greens
Arugula
Spring Mix/Lettuce
Strawberries
Radishes
Decorative Plants
Vegetable & Fruit Plants
Herbs, and herb plants
Swiss Chard
Shiitake Mushrooms (NEW!)
Honey
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
Non-farm vendors:
Penny Rudder: Menu of the Week
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
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.
News from markets around the state
I was at a meeting at the Arkansas Plant Board this week with market managers from around the state. Many had heard of what we are doing at CAFM and it gave me a chance to gauge our success. With eight farmers participating last Saturday in Argenta, we surpassed all but the Fayetteville farmers’ market in vendor attendance. Russellville had three or four vendors, Jonesboro had about five, Texarkana had about six farmers, and Pine Bluff had about four.
Thanks for your support!
For more information, contact:
Jody Hardin, Market Manager
Certified Arkansas Farmers’ Market
certifiedarkansas@yahoo.com
www.arkansasfood.net
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April 2008 All Arkansas BAM Notice
4/20/2008 11:25:55 AM
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ALL BASKET A MONTH PICKUP NOTICE April 2008 Basket-A-Month CSA THIS EMAIL SENT ON PLEASE REPLY TO THIS EMAIL by We have products in the e-shop at www.arkansasfood.net . You may order and pay for these online and pick them up when you pick up your basket. The DEADLINE to order these items will be Tuesday, April 22nd at DON”T FORGET TO BRING YOUR CLEAN MILK BOTTLE AND BASKET WITH YOU!!!!! DAY 1: Thursday, April 24th: DAY 2: Friday, April 25th: DAY 3: Saturday, April 26th: ( Emergency contact cell #: 501-288-2109 (Barbara’s cell) Email: csalittlerock@yahoo.com REMEMBER THAT YOU MUST REPLY TO THIS EMAIL TO SCHEDULE YOUR BASKET PICKUP and PICKUP LOCATION. ALL WE NEED IS WHAT LOCATION YOU WILL BE COMING TO. (A.M. AND P.M. IS NO LONGER NECESSARY SINCE WE ONLY DO PICKUPS IN THE P.M. ( It’s Basket-A-Month time…and, spring has sprung! We have a great basket of local food coming to you this month, with several first time product additions. Most of the products are secured, so I want to tell you about as much as we can before you pickup your basket. Remember, there is always a chance one of these products will not make it into the basket due to some unforeseen circumstances. The seasonal centerpiece of the spring basket is the first picking of Another featured item, and for the first time ever, we expect to have a larger portion of homemade butter, the first ever local yogurt, and finally, mozzarella cheese (a whole pound!!!), and again, all the fresh milk is from the last farm in Arkansas(that we know of) bottling on-farm and using a grass fed, antibiotic and hormone free milk. And, most interesting to me is the fact that they use the old heritage breed Other products that are also special, are listed below: Certified Organic Shiitake Mushrooms, Certified Organic Short Grain Brown Rice, Spring Mix, over-wintered Spinach, bread or pasta, honey, sweet potatoes, grass fed eggs, and one pound of bacon. Important Notes about April BAM WEBSITE DOWN ON WEDNESDAY, April 23rd. Strangely, our website hosts has planned a major upgrade to our web server on the day before our pickups begin, so if you try to place a order on Wednesday, there’s a good chance we will not get it until it is too late. So, please contact us by email: csalittlerock@yahoo.com A FEW EXTRA BASKETS We ordered a few extra products to for new members. Anyone who wants to tell a friend about this incredible spring basket, they must subscribe before Monday(Apr 21) by MEDIA COVERAGE Also, I think KATV is doing a special on local food and will be visiting our pickup location either Thursday or Friday. Don’t be bashful because you are a locavore! Who knows who may identify with your personal reasons for eating local, and you can credit yourself with saving thousands of gallons of fossil fuels for each convert you bring to eating more local foods. UPCOMING EVENT FOR LOCAVORE’S Another reminder, please mark your calendar for these upcoming events, as we really need your support.
We are looking forward to seeing you at your basket pickup location and sharing this wonderful bounty of local food found in the great State of Arkansas from farmers’ who are committed to you and the land we share. As always, we are very appreciative to you for your continued support. See you soon! Jody and Barbara P.S. DON’T FORGET TO REPLY TO THIS EMAIL!
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February 27, 2008 Update on Certified Arkansas Farmer's Market (CAFM)
2/27/2008 11:01:49 AM
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CAFM HAS BEEN FORMED!! Yesterday, Barbara and I filed the Articles of Incorporation for the non-profit 501 C-6 to be called Certifed Arkansas Farmer's Market. We also received formal permission from the landowners, and filed a request with the city for a conditional use permit. It goes before the NLR planning commission on March 19th, then to City Council on April 8, 2008. Our attorney, Bob Hardin (no relation) is amazing and a local food lover, who lives nearby the new market site. He's working hard to get everything in place, then we expect to hold our first organizational meeting with farmers to set the policies, amend bylaws, and elect officers, etc... I'll try to collect as many email addresses as possible, and do a blanket email to let people know we've posted the meeting time and place on ARKANSASFOOD.NET. We hope to have six to eight Charter members get this new market off on a good foundation, with strict adherence to our producer only policy. And of couse, I want to keep everyone informed at every critical juncture, so you will know we are doing what we say we are going to do. We are building a better local food network. We need your help to spread the word. Jody Hardin Market Manager, Certified Arkansas Farmer's Market |
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FEBRUARY 08 ALL ARKANSAS BAM PICKUP INFORMATION
2/9/2008 7:40:56 AM
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ALL BASKET A MONTH PICKUP NOTICE February 08 Basket-A-Month CSA THIS EMAIL SENT ON PLEASE REPLY TO THIS EMAIL by We have added products to our eshop at www.arkansasfood.net . You may order and pay for these online and pick them up when you pick up your basket. The DEADLINE to order these items will be Monday, February 18th at 12NOON to be guaranteed these products. After this deadline, we can not guarantee delivery of the additional products when you pickup your basket. DON”T FORGET TO BRING YOUR CLEAN MILK BOTTLE AND BASKET WITH YOU!!!!! Announcing the BAM Cookbook Project! We have been working on putting together a collection of recipes we have gathered over the years and we would like to invite all of our members to share with us their favorite recipes, tips, stories, experiences with BAM or what being part of a CSA means to your family. Please send your submissions to hollyingebo@gmail.com. We hope to create a book that is very practical and useful yet creative to highlight the best DAY 1: Thursday, February 21st : DAY 2: Friday, February 22nd: DAY 3: Saturday, February 23rd: ( Emergency contact cell #: 501-288-2109 (Barbara’s cell) Email: csalittlerock@yahoo.com REMEMBER THAT YOU MUST REPLY TO THIS EMAIL TO SCHEDULE YOUR BASKET PICKUP and PICKUP LOCATION. ALL WE NEED IS WHAT LOCATION YOU WILL BE COMING TO. (A.M. AND P.M. IS NO LONGER NECESSARY SINCE WE ONLY DO PICKUPS IN THE P.M. ( If you are a We have been approved to use the covered parking deck at the BAD WEATHER: The food must get delivered, rain our shine, is our creed! If weather threatens, please go to www.arkansasfood.net for further instructions. Thank you for being patient with us last month as we had to make a few changes in short notice. It all came together perfectly! B-A-M NEWS AND UPDATES FOR FEBRUARY 2008 WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!!!!! We have added 24 new members to our CSA family. Our communities are growing and the demand for more is increasing rapidly. We will add We did our first pickup in We have asked Casey Pierce-Atwood to help with the coordination of this basket location since she is very familiar with Our LOCAL FOOD MOVEMENT – With this rapid growing movement we (Barbara, Holly and Casey) will be stepping up temporarily for Jody so that he can focus on the many task at hand and projects (aka: markets/food policies). His vision and dreams are finally unfolding and the opportunities are endless. The new farmer’s market, Argenta Market, the exploding CSA programs all over the state and surrounding states, are coming together because of his heritage, expertise, experience and passion for local food. Get ready…..he’s on a roll! Holly, Casey and I (Barbara) are very proud to be a part of all that is getting ready to happen and are looking forward to keeping our CSA family up-to-date with upcoming events planned over the next year. This is my first email notification. Hope you find it informative and fun. FEBRUARY 08 ALL GOT MILK! We are on the Mooove....there’s a new milk in town! We found a jewel hidden in the SPRING MIX – Again, we will have spring mix from Arkansas Natural. Jay and Deanna have been great supporters in providing us the freshest greens throughout the seasons. War Eagle Pancake/Muffin mix will be in the basket. We know you have missed the availability of these products so we hope you will be please to find this addition in your pantry. Fresh Pasta – always a favorite and we have listened to your request to the availability to purchase extra pasta when you pick up your basket. We have added this to our eshop. Want pasta? We got it. Be sure to order online before the Wednesday deadline. Organic Raw Milk Cheese – We again will have cheese in your basket and have added this to our list of products in our eshop. Order online before Wednesday’s deadline for your extra cheese. ORGANIC BEEF - Our “center piece” of the basket this month will be 2 pounds of Organic ground beef and 1 pound of Organic pork sausage. This farmer, as well as abattoir, has been working toward full certification for his farm and business. Read more in your newsletter included in your basket. These are just a few of the items we are planning on for the basket. We will be traveling all over the state the next several days for more products and wanted to send out our notification early so that you may be able to add additional products and we can make those additional orders you have requested. We are looking forward seeing all of you soon!! Don’t forget to reply… your milk bottle and basket. See you soon, Jody Hardin, Founder/Buyer Casey Pierce-Atwood, Coordinator Barbara Armstrong, Manager Holly Ingebo, Coordinator EMAIL: csalittlerock@yahoo.com |
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FEB 08 Update- Progress on Argenta Market
2/5/2008 1:26:00 PM
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Things could be going faster, but I'm having some back issues that have me going much too slow, and miserable. Work is piling up and I'm afraid I'm getting behind on some things. Nevetheless, progress is being made thanks to the volunteers and many loyal BAM members! more>> I'm working on the February basket, but most of my time is spent thinking how we can make Argenta Market work for us and the building owners. Everything and everybody tells me it is too risky, but its the fact that so many potential customers from Argenta have told me it will be well received. I can see the new ALL Arkansas Farmer's Market working well in the new location, and ample parking will draw the crowds from the River Market. In conjunction with the many restaurants and our new Argenta Market opening at the same time, something good is going to happen with Argenta this summer. I'm moving ahead with BAM, and know that this will be our main attraction, while I'm studying the product mix for Argenta Market. This store is about local food in a very true sense, and as long as this is what it is all about, I couldn't be more engaged and determined to make it happen. This is what it will take. For all those who have been so committed to supporting our small but growing effort to distribute local food from local farmers, we do this for YOU. And, we know there are many more out there who want to eat local. It only take a few committed customers like so many have been for the past two to three years to keep the momentum going. >>Jody 2/5/08
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Argenta Market update January 2008
1/13/2008 5:55:11 PM
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Argenta Market gets the green light!
We are in the final stages of our plans to do our new store in Argenta. It will be called Argenta Market and we are very excited to have put the final touches on the floor design this weekend. We now have a growing product list with much of it being from local producers, chefs, bakeries, farmers, etc.. Of course, we think you will be impressed when you see it the first time. Projected opening date is April 2008.
Location: We are in a new building directly adjacent to Creegan’s Irish Pub, facing Main Street. Parking is scattered behind us, across the street, in the US BANK parking lot, and curbside for 30 min. loading unloading zone and quick pickups.
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NEW Certified Arkansas Farmers Market
1/13/2008 5:42:56 PM
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Certifed Arkansas Farmer’s Market gets the Green Light!!
I think we have cleared one of the last hurdles to form the first Cerfified Arkansas Farmer’s Market to serve farmers from all over the state. Thanks to some forward thinking property owners of prime Argenta real estate, we not only have a plan for 2008, we have an ambitious plan to expand the market in the coming year 2009, to a larger, custom space for our very important local food project. We have a good idea that the people of Argenta (as well as central Arkansas) are going to go from a food desert, to the food Mecca of Arkansas. Our whole plan is to build a strictly governed local farmer’s market that serves as a market maker for local foods. The market maker is responsible for keeping demand strong by buying anything that has a weak demand at the farmer’s market by having marketing channels in place. Ours will begin on a small parking lot right on Main St. in downtown just across the street and a block down from our new local food store, Argenta Market, where we hope to do a significant amount of buying. We will help manage the market from our store location, and provide support to the local farmer’s while we build our new state of the art market facilities over the next year to two years. Ultimately, we want to build a market that chef’s love, and grocery stores from all over Arkansas will send in buyers for local commodities, meats, as well as fresh produce.
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Conway Basket A Month CSA
1/11/2008 1:08:42 PM
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We are meeting with a local food group to discuss starting BAM CSA in Conway. I'm sure if you are interested, this group would like your involvement on a local level. We will be there Saturday, Jan. 12 at 2 p.m. in the MCGee Center in Conway, 3800 College Ave.. If you are interested in the Conway BAM CSA, email us and we will bring you up to date on our progress. We need at least 10 members to get it started in Feb or Mar. 2008. Jody |
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Early Update- January2008 Basket
1/11/2008 1:02:14 PM
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The tenative pickup dates for January are: Thursday 24th & Friday 25th. It appears at this stage we will be in the same pickup locations as |