Missouri State Fair Brings Local Produce To the Fair

Fairgoers acquired a “taste” for Missouri as Master Chefs turned local foods into delicious dishes during the Missouri State Fair, August 13 to 23 in Sedalia.

The Local Foods Area drew special attention on Opening Day when Governor Jay Nixon and First Lady Georganne Wheeler Nixon took time out of their busy schedules to stop by to see Missouri’s fresh produce, share their commitment and appreciation to local foods and proclaim August as Farmers’ Market Month in Missouri.

Fair visitors had the opportunity to learn about local foods and taste more than nine varieties of tomatoes in the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Local Foods Area. The Local Foods Area included a Local Foods Cooking Stage, farmers’ markets and much more!

Fair goers could watch and learn how to prepare fresh recipes on the new Local Foods Cooking Stage, sponsored by Sprint. Chefs from across the state showed consumers how to prepare simple recipes using local fresh ingredients.

The Missouri State Fair Farmers’ Market was a draw for many fairgoers again this year, where consumers had the opportunity to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables and ask industry experts questions about getting involved in direct marketing.

This year the market featured new items including fresh meats, goat cheese, eggs and summer sausage. Also in the area was the Lil’ Sprouts Kids Area, informational booth about buying local food in Missouri.

The MDA thanks the local food vendors that provided the produce, meat, eggs and goat cheese for the farmers’ market this year. Vendors included:

Anderson Produce
Kenny Anderson
12418 W RailroadCentertown, MO 65023
(573) 645-3882
andersonproduce@embark.com

Fahrmeier Farms
9364 Mitchell Trail
Lexington, MO 64067
(816) 289-2496
fahrmeierbros@gmail.com
http://www.fahrmeierfarms.com/
http://fahrmeierfarms.blogspot.com/

Goatsbeard Farm
Ken & Jennifer Muno
11351 Callahan Creek Rd
Harrisburg, MO 65256
(573) 875-0706
kjmuno@tranquility.net
http://www.goatsbeardfarm.com/

Kenny Duzan
9255 E Turner Farm Rd
Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 449-8116 or (573) 355-4843
kennyduzan@yahoo.com

Lowell Mohler
4054 Hwy 179
Jefferson City, MO 65109
(573) 353-1444
meadowcreek2@aol.com

Missouri Legacy Beef
Mark Mahnken
31369 Hwy 129
Salisbury, MO 65281
(660) 788-3555
mcc@cvalley.net
http://www.missourilegacybeef.com/

Patchwork Farms
1108 Rangeline St
Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 449-1336
timgibbons@morural.com
http://www.patchworkfamilyfarm.org/

Rasa Orchards
19510 Garr Rd
Lexington, MO 64067
(660) 259-2938
rasaorch@myturbonet.com

Sandy Nelson
761 Rodeo Rd
Camdenton, MO 65020
(573) 873-4038 or (573) 346-3346
boxturtleranch@sbcglobal.com

Sellmeyer Farms
Greg & Tammy Sellmeyer
7208 State Rd C
Fulton, MO 65251
(573) 642-1376
gsellmeyer@ktis.net

Show Me Farms
Don Mayse
7750 E Hwy AB
Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 449-4250
sales@showmefarms.com

Veggie Patch
Jim & Paula Thies
County Rd 239Glasgow, MO 65254
(660) 338-2471
jimthies@socket.net

Peter’s Market
1 1/2 miles east on U.S. 65
Waverly, MO
660-493-2368
petersmkt@hotmail.com
http://www.petersmkt.com/

Mother Earth Market
Waverly, Mo
660-493-2615

National Farmers' Market Week- August 2-8

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today encouraged consumers to visit their local farmers markets in honor of National Farmers Market Week, which will take place from August 2-8.

Currently, nearly 4,900 farmers markets operate nationwide, up from 4,685 in 2008. To make it easier for consumers to locate farmers markets in their states, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service posts The National Directory of Farmers Markets online at www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets.

USDA is a leader in government efforts to encourage healthier eating, has operated a farmers market at its Washington, D.C., headquarters since 1996. Open to the general public every Friday, June through October, as many as 14 farmer-vendors set up stands that feature their locally produced items.

USDA supports farmers markets through several programs in addition to National Farmers Market Week. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) awards grants, provides technical assistance, and helps with marketing and promotion. Meanwhile, the Food and Nutrition Service also supports farmers markets through the Farmers Market Nutrition Program and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program by providing coupons that many low-income Americans can exchange for eligible foods at farmers markets and similar outlets.

Farmers’ Markets Accepting EBT

Several Farmers’ Markets around the state of Missouri are now equipped with EBT Machines. The EBT Machines are making it more accessible for Food Stamp recipients to purchase fresh and affordable locally grown fruits and vegetables.

The Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cardholder must take the card to the market information table or look for vendors that have signs that read: We take EBT here. When the consumer goes to the information table the market master or another person in charge will ask them how much they want to spend. Their card will then be swiped and they will receive tokens for the amount they charged. Each token normally will represent either $1 or $5.

If tokens are used at the farmers market the vendors will need to meet with the market master at the end of the market day to turn in their tokens. Usually the vendors will receive a check the next week for the amount they sold to EBT users.

EBT cards/tokens can be spent on any food item except hot and prepared foods. It can also be spent on edible plants like herbs or plants that produce food like tomatoes.

The government does not allow the vendors to give change for EBT tokens. If a purchase requires change, the customer can pay the whole dollars in tokens and the change in cash or they can pay the full amount in tokens and give up the change.

Recently a television station located in Springfield, MO covered a story about EBT cards being accepted at the Fair Grove Farmers Market. To read the article, go to KY3’s website.

Missouri Local Foods Cooking Demonstration

Looking to highlight your superb culinary skills? Want to show off your kitchen handy-work or maybe even your special homemade product? Well here’s your chance!

The Missouri Department of Agriculture Farmers’ Market Program presents the 1st annual Missouri Local Foods Cooking Demonstration at the 2009 Missouri State Fair August 13th-23rd. Chefs from across the state will be demonstrating their cooking skills using foods from local vendors.

Each chef will have a cook top with two burners, refrigeration services and a grill top. These demonstrations will last about one hour between 10 AM and 4 PM each day of the fair in the Missouri Agriculture Building. Also located in the Agriculture Building will be a farmers’ market featuring local foods as well as the AgriMissouri Market which will sell Missouri made products!

Interested in showcasing your skills? Call Cassie St.Onge at 573-522-9245 or via email Cassandra.St.Onge@mda.mo.gov.

From Farm to Fork - Why you should be eating local!

Advocates of “buy local” programs often emphasize its positive effects on the local economy by “planting your dollars at home.” Just as important as its economical benefits are its health benefit!

Buying local foods, such as items from your hometown farmers’ market, can have a huge payback on the health of you and your family. Research has shown that the average household dinner consists of foods that have been shipped over 1,500 miles! What does this mean for your family? Foods that have been transported long distances are often full of preservatives to increase the shelf life of the item while decreasing its nutritional value.

When shopping at a local farmers’ market for dinner items you’ll know that your produce was vine ripened, and usually picked less than 24 hours ago, giving it great taste and long term health benefits! Buying local also allows for you to add variety to your meal with produce that is not often found in large grocery stores such as heirloom tomatoes or other unique items. Fruits and vegetables purchased from a local vendor gives you the opportunity to ask key questions about where you food came from and how it was raised.

Knowledge really is power when it comes to your family’s dinner menu. Understanding the who’s and how’s of your food production gives you the ability to make healthy decisions for the people around you!

Farmers’ Market GPS Coordinates

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has been working very hard to update their website. A new addition to the website will be a page with GPS coordinates to each farmers’ market across the state. The GPS coordinates will show the exact location of the all the markets in the state making it easier for consumers to locate their nearest farmers’ market. The Department of Agriculture hopes this online map will increase awareness for Missouri farmers’ markets.

Intern Jana Haley has been compiling and updating all of the market information. If you know the physical address of a market in your area and would like to help, please send your information to jana.haley@mda.mo.gov.

Ellisville Farmers’ Market Opens

On Thursday June 11th, intern Jana Haley visited the Ellisville Farmers’ Market, located on the outskirts of St. Louis. The market is located in the Fountain Plaza in the side parking lot of Straubs, a local grocery store. The market is open every Thursday from 4pm-7pm during the months of May-September.

This is the first year for the Ellisville Farmers’ Market and they are doing extremely well. The market has about twenty vendors each week. The vendors provide a diverse set of products including fresh produce, buffalo meat, fresh breads, wine, bedding plants, jewelry, and much more. While at the market I immediately noticed how popular it was especially because it was only the third week the market has been open. The city of Ellisville and Straubs have both been really supportive of the market.

Ellisville Farmers’ Market is mainly sponsored by Straubs. The grocery store is helping advertise the market with their weekly store advertisements. The store not only provides a place for the market but also all of the pop-up tents, the tables, and the table cloths. When I asked the market manager, Gretchen Morfogen, about the partnership she told me that surprisingly the store’s sales have increased some during the market. She also said that the amount of produce bought dips a little when the market is going on but all the other products in the store have seen a slight increase in sales. Gretchen believes people come out to the market and then decide to go ahead and finish their grocery shopping on the same night.

The farmers’ market in Ellisville is doing a wonderful job of attracting consumers to come for a visit. Each week the market includes cooking demonstrations by Chef Cary McDowell. There is also a children’s market that includes fun activities, snacks, and even educational information about where their food comes from.

The Ellisville Farmers’ Market is very exciting place to shop. To learn more about the market visit their website.

USDA Releases Survey of Farmers Markets

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2009 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the publication of the USDA National Farmers Market Survey, 2006. This report of a survey conducted by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) in 2006, in partnership with Michigan State University, draws a comprehensive picture of farmers markets in the United States in 2005, the year surveyed.

The report presents data from seven U.S. regions. It looks at such information as the number of vendors, the number of customers, the age of the market, the types of goods sold, and the way those goods were labeled, and analyzes the factors that contributed to the success of the markets. The survey also questioned market managers about the assistance they need; the most common request was for help with advertising and publicity.

Average sales at farmers markets in 2005 totaled about $245,000; average annual sales per vendor totaled $7,108. Marketing opportunities at farmers markets were sufficiently favorable in 2005 that, on average, 25 percent of vendors from surveyed farmers markets relied on these markets as their sole source of farm-based income.

With the help of such USDA programs as the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, farmers markets also provide low-income people with increased access to fresh foods. Fifty-nine percent of surveyed managers indicate their market accepted WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers, amounting to $17,696 in annual revenue in 2005. Forty-four percent of surveyed managers report their market accepted Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers, amounting to an additional $15,654 in average annual revenue in 2005.

The USDA National Farmers Market Survey 2006 is available online at or in print form on request from Shannon Ford, Marketing Services Division, Transportation and Marketing Programs, AMS, Room 2646-South, STOP 0269, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. 20250; by phone at 202/720-8317; fax at 202/690-0031; or e-mail to Shannon.Ford@usda.gov.

Farmers' Markets Bloom at Hospitals

Some hospitals around the country have gone on a diet: Deep fryers have gone cold, trans fats have been banished, and the glow of the golden arches (and other fast food symbols) have dimmed as leases have quietly gone unrenewed.

Instead, these hospitals are offering an alternative food source: farmers markets.

Read the full story here.

New Summer Interns

We have a couple new faces at the Missouri Dept of Agriculture that you may be receiving a phone call, email or market visit from over the summer. Cassie St. Onge and Jana Haley are our new summer interns that are focusing on farmers’ markets, specialty crops, agritourism and local food projects.

Cassandra St.Onge is a Marketing Specialist Intern at the MDA. She’s a college student at Truman State University, majoring in Nursing. Cassie is looking forward to spending her summer promoting healthy foods from Missouri’s farmers markets and locally made products.

Jana Haley is also a Marketing Specialist Intern for the MDA. She is attending the University of Missouri – Columbia, where she is a sophomore majoring in Agriculture Education. Jana was raised on a family farm in Eldon. She believe that supporting local producers is important to Missouri’s agriculture industry and looks forward in visiting markets and farms over the summer.

Please help me welcome our new summer interns!