Farmers Market Coalition and USDA Launch ‘Markets Are Up!’ Campaign in Preparation

In anticipation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 10th annual National Farmers Market Week (August 2-8, 2009), the Farmers Market Coalition (FMC), in cooperation with USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), announces Markets Are Up!, an educational and celebratory campaign to help farmers markets and farmers market associations nationwide communicate the vital role that such markets play in improving consumer health, local communities, and economies. As part of the Markets are Up! campaign, promotional tools such as ads, postcards, and templates for press releases and emails are now available on FMC’s website.

Elements of Markets Are Up! include:
• Print-ready images for advertisements, posters, mailers and other collateral point of sale material that illustrate the positive health, community, and economic aspects of farmers markets
• Marketing materials featuring a “I Love Farmers Market” logo, including decals and bookmarks• Fact sheets and Frequently Asked Questions, including statistics, data, study results, and other information about farmers markets
• Glossary of Terms defining over 30 common labels found at farmers markets including “heirloom,” “grass-fed,” “free-range,” and “locally-grown”

Markets are Up! was developed in partnership with the USDA/AMS Marketing Services Division. Support was also provided by a variety of sponsoring businesses and organizations, including Ethix Merchandise and SQN Communications.

USDA/AMS currently estimates that there are approximately 4,800 farmers markets in operation in the U.S. The agency will release its updated tally of U.S. farmers markets for 2009 during National Farmers Market Week. USDA has officially celebrated the first full week of August as National Farmers Market Week since 2000, and in 2008, USDA designated National Farmers Market Week a permanent fixture on the USDA calendar.To access the Markets are Up! materials cited above visit the FMC site.

About USDA’s AMS ProgramThe U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service administers programs that facilitate the efficient, fair marketing of U.S. agricultural products, including food, fiber, and specialty crops. AMS has about 5,500 employees located throughout the United States. For more information about AMS’s farmers market and direct food marketing activities, please visit the AMS Marketing Services Division’s home page.

The Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to strengthening farmers markets for the benefit of farmers, consumers, and communities. Through education, networking, and advocacy, FMC builds leadership and capacity for farmers markets and the organizations that support them.

Download the Markets Are Up! press release here.

St. Louis Gateway Greening

I got a chance this Tuesday to go to St. Louis and meet Mara Higdon and Annie Mayrose for a tour of Gateway Greening. Gateway Greening is a community garden organization which promotes urban neighborhood vitality and stability, healthy living and quality of life through community food projects, education and wellness programs, and civic greening. They are working with aproximately 180 gardens, in addition to dozens of schools in St. Louis to improve the appearance of neighborhoods, inspire and educate gardeners.

They also started City Seeds, an urban farming project, whose mission is to foster self-sufficiency in addicted and chronically mentally ill homeless; increase production and distribution of locally grown fresh food for low-income residents, and provide nutrition and food preparation/preservation programs. Much of the produce is sold at Tower Grove Farmers' Market, North City Farmers' Market, and Maplewood Farmers' Market.

Go to their website to find out more, get involved, and volunteer.

Tomato Grafting Workshop at Southwest Center

Everyone's in a stir about tomato grafting, as I've received quite a few phone calls about the producer info about the techniques and who to call for advice. What a great time to have a workshop in southwest Missouri on grafting on tomatoes.

Tomato Grafting Workshop at Southwest Center
By Patrick Byers and Andrew Thomas

While many of us are aware of the benefits and necessity of grafting fruit and nut tree crops, vegetable grafting is not yet widespread or well-known in the US. The idea of grafting tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, squash, and even watermelon seems far-fetched, but in reality is one of the most exciting and promising recent trends in horticulture. Vegetable grafting is relatively easy to learn and the benefits can be enormous. So that Missouri vegetable growers can keep up with and take advantage of this rapidly-developing technology, we are hosting a Tomato Grafting Workshop at the Southwest Center, Mt. Vernon, MO, on Wednesday, May 6, from 8:30 to 12:00 noon. The registration fee for the workshop is $8.00.

Several diseases can cause economic damage to commercial tomato producers in Missouri, and can also devastate home garden tomatoes. For commercial producers, tomato disease management is a significant production cost. In some cases pesticide inputs are used to manage disease problems; in other cases, there is no adequate pesticide solution for a disease. Additionally, certified organic tomato producers do not have the option to manage disease with pesticides. An important development for tomato growers was the release by breeders of hybrid cultivars with genetic resistance to a range of pathogens, including fusarium wilt, verticillium wilt, bacterial wilt, and nematodes. Diseases that severely limited production could now be managed by cultivar selection. More recently, however, breeders have taken this one big step further, by developing extremely vigorous, disease- and nematode-resistant rootstocks that are specifically selected for these characteristics rather than for fruit production, taste, or quality. By grafting desirable fruit-producing cultivars onto these new rootstocks, yields can be substantially increased while diseases and use of pesticides can be substantially reduced. In recent years interest has grown in the production of heirloom tomato cultivars that offer unusual and unique shapes, colors, and flavors. Unfortunately, these heirloom cultivars generally do not have the disease resistance that is found in “modern” cultivars, and losses to disease are often severe. Grafting weak, disease-susceptible cultivars such as heirlooms onto vigorous, disease-resistant rootstocks can sometimes make the difference between a bountiful crop or no crop at all.

Vegetable grafting is widely used in Asia, where 95% of many commercial vegetable crops are grafted. Korean scientists have even developed grafting robots that can graft hundreds of plants per hour. Vegetable grafting makes so much sense that it is rapidly gaining acceptance in other parts of the world, including the US. While the grafting process requires skill and adequate facilities, with training farmers can develop proficiency in the process, and research has demonstrated that a high rate of success can be expected with affordable facilities.

At the May 6 Tomato Grafting Workshop, Dr. Sanjun Gu, state extension vegetable crop specialist and experienced vegetable grafter from Lincoln University, will demonstrate techniques to workshop participants, who will then practice with heirloom tomatoes and tomato rootstocks. Each participant will be provided with supplies, tomato scions of several heirloom cultivars, and tomato rootstocks. A postoperative healing chamber will be available at the Southwest Center, and participants can pick up their healed plants a few days after the workshop, or take them home that day. In addition, plots of grafted heirloom tomatoes will be established this summer at the Southwest Center for observation.

Pre-registration is highly recommended, as we will limit the workshop to 40 participants. To register, contact MUExtension-Greene County, 833 N. Boonville, Springfield, MO 65802 or telephone 417-862-9284. The registration fee is $8.00

High Tunnel Workshop March 12

Attend a day-long high tunnel workshop at the Missouri State - Mountain Grove Campus on Thursday, March 12.

Dr. Ted Carey of Kansas State University studies season extension using high tunnels research and production. He will present high tunnel basics as well as research results from his work at the Kansas State Horticulture Research and Extension Center at Olathe. Other excellent speakers will address the various crops produced in high tunnels.

Many growers use high tunnels to extend the production season for many different horticultural crops – vegetables, cut flowers and even fruit. High tunnels are solar-heated structures, like a giant cold frame, used to extend the traditional growing season at both ends – allowing for earlier plant growth in the spring and later plant growth into fall. Typically, no electricity is used in high tunnels to operate fans, vents, heater, etc. Manual ventilation is instead provided through roll-up sidewalls or through the end walls. Other typical components of high tunnels are that they are irrigated via drip irrigation system and crops are grown in the soil that is under the tunnel cover.

Cost for the workshop is $20 which includes lunch and handouts. PLEASE SEND IN REGISTRATION ASAP TO ASSURE LUNCH AND SEATING.

Get the registration form online or contact Pamela Mayer - via email PMayer@MissouriState.edu or by phone at 417-547-7533.

O’Fallon Farmers & Artists Market to Debut Summer 2009

O’Fallon Farmers & Artists Market To Hold a Community Interest Meeting March 16

In these tough economic times, what could be better than creating another source of revenue in O’Fallon, while benefiting the community with farm fresh produce, specialty items and unique works of art?

After visiting similar events throughout Missouri, O’Fallon resident Wendy Glidden pitched the idea to the City of O’Fallon at a meeting in January. After receiving positive feedback, and identification of an convenient lot site next to O’Fallon’s River City Rascals Baseball Stadium on T.R. Hughes Blvd in O’Fallon, she is enlisting the support of the local community at a community interest meeting scheduled on March 16th at the O’Fallon City Hall Multipurpose Room beginning at 4:30 pm. Lane McConnell, Missouri Dept of Agriculture Marketing Specialist, will be presenting information, a community survey will be taken, and interested vendors will be given applications.

“My hope is that the O’Fallon Farmers & Artists Market will grow to be a jewel in our community,” explains Wendy. “Patrons will be able to shake hands with local farmers who grew the vegetables they feed their family, while trading tips for preparation, tasting homegrown fruit, finding a new plant for their garden, or searching for a one-of-a kind gift for a friend. A Farmers’ Market is an opportunity to gather with your neighbor to uplift the local economy, complete with entertainment and health events.”

"Buying local products means experiencing local flavor and cuisine, and for a lot of consumers, that is what farmers’ markets are all about. Often what you find when purchasing supermarket products is that the majority of your dollars spent goes into shipping and production costs of produce. At your local farmers’ market, you are buying directly from the farmers; therefore, what you see is what you get, and your money stays in your local community," said Lane McConnell, Missouri Dept of Agriculture Marketing Specialist.

So, citizens, do you want the ability to purchase quality local and/or organic meat, vegetables, fruit and one of a kind craft items at a reasonable price, right here in O’Fallon, while enriching and supporting local community? Vendors, here’s your chance to show your green thumb or gift of craft through sales of locally grown, hand made, and/or organic products. Entertainers take note- do you wish for a venue to show off your musical skills, dance ability, or hobby?

Obtain vendor applications, complete a community survey, and meet fellow market supporters who are interested at the following meeting:

GO GREEN!
O’Fallon Farmers & Artists Market Meeting
March 16, 2009
O’Fallon City Hall Multipurpose Room
4:30pm- Meeting; Open House 5:30-7pm
O’Fallon City Hall Multipurpose Room
100 North Main Street
O’Fallon, MO 63366

RSVP/ for more information:
ofallonfarmersmarket@gmail.com

Small Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Springfield

I'm headed down south for the Small Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Springfield, Feb. 16-18.

This year's conference is structured a bit different - to encourage new growers in the industry to come and learn new growing techniques and the basics in small fruit and vegetable production with an entire day dedicated to just that - Back to the Basics Session - on Feb. 16.

View the Back to the Basics schedule here.

Podcast #10: FFA Specialty Crop Program

I hear from many growers across the state, whether I’m traveling to visit a market, at a conference or even making a farm visit. One common theme is the need for younger growers in the specialty crop industry, and I agree. But how do we literally “grow, growers?”

We at the Missouri Dept. of Agriculture are working on just that through the Missouri FFA Specialty Crops Grant Program, funded through U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Marketing Service program to enhance the competitiveness of Missouri specialty crops and to teach FFA youth the importance of specialty crops as a value-added opportunity. The program is a pilot project in the Lexington and surrounding area of the state.

It is imperative that we train and motivate the next generation of Missouri farmers. Through this grant, students will learn from specialists and leaders in the produce and horticulture industry how to grow, sell and market specialty crops. These FFA students are given a great opportunity to become involved in entrepreneurial skills including direct marketing and advertising local specialty crops and have hands-on experience of selling produce and horticultural crops, flowers and value-added products at their community markets. Currently, there are almost 20 students participating in the grant program.

Brownfield’s Julie Harker recently spoke to Danni Heimsoth, who is the Santa Fe FFA President and is growing and selling at farmers’ markets in the Kansas City area.

Listen Here!
Farmers' Market Podcast #10

(PHOTO: Missouri State Fair Farmers' Market 2008.)

Homegrown Freshness From the Veggie Patch

Whether you sell at the Columbia Farmers’ Market or are a shopper you know the name – The Veggie Patch – and think of the brightly colored tablecloth that can be seen each Saturday at the market.

(Photo: Jana Thies-Porter hands a Jarrahdale pumpkin to Sean Nicholson-Crotty last Saturday at the Columbia Famers Market. Photo from the Tribune.)

The Thies Family of Glasgow started their family produce operation long ago when two FFA students (Deanna and Jana, daughters of Jim and Paula Thies) needed an FFA project and decided they wanted to grow specialty crops, instead of having a traditional FFA project like showing cattle or hogs and raising soybeans and corn.

The Tribune was lucky enough to spend some time with the family and share in the goodness of homegrown freshness straight from the Thies family farm.

Jim, who is a FFA teacher in Glasgow, recently won Grand Champion in the 08 Missouri State Fair Horticulture Contest and the Veggie Patch provided the first ever Missouri State Fair Farmers’ Market with local produce from their family this year.

When it comes to bettering the community Jana, the youngest daughter said it best in the Tribune article: “From the beginning, my parents said, ‘This is your business,’ but it really was a family project. We learned a lot. This is about food, family and building community,” said Jana.

Below is the article from the Tribune about the Thies Family.

Homegrown
An FFA family builds a business and keeps roots in agriculture.

There’s a little produce stand out in front of Jim and Paula Thies’ house in Glasgow. A scarecrow watches over stacks of odd-shaped squash and pumpkins. Folks pay by the honor system, picking their produce and putting their money in a little box in the scarecrow’s grip.

Last week, after a long day teaching at the local high school, Jim Thies stood in his driveway looking over the end of the season’s bounty. The Glasgow farmer and agriculture teacher had just picked the last of the pumpkins over the past week. The family grew more than 22 varieties this year.

Read the entire article.

New Roots for Refugee Program Helps Women Learn to Grow Food for Local Farmers Markets

If you haven’t heard about the New Roots for Refugees I came across a recent story in the Kansas City Star that highlights the concept behind the up and coming program. New Roots for Refugees is a training program designed to help refugee women develop the skills necessary to sell at farmers markets, like the Farmers’ Community Market in Brookside. The three-year program is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and the Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture manage the program.

(PHOTO: From the New Roots for Refugee Blog, Pay Lay and volunteer Susan work together at the farmer's market.)

The woman highlighted in the article, Aye Aye Nu sells produce alongside other refugee women from Burma, Somalia and Burundi at the Farmers Community Market in Brookside. According to the article, women like Nu are responsible for over half of the world’s food production, and in developing countries they produce 60 percent to 80 percent of the world’s staple crops of rice, wheat and maize, according to “A Row to Hoe,” says a report published in 2007 by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.

Read the entire article here.

Commercial Cut Flower Production Basics Workshop

Commercial Cut Flower Production Basics Workshop
Missouri State Campus – Mountain Grove Missouri
Monday, September 29, 2008.

Registration begins at 8:30am, and the workshop follows from 9:30am to 4:30pm. A fee is required to cover lunch and materials; $50 per person and $25 for each additional person in the party.

Successful flower growers and university horticulturists will present a program on the basics of commercial flower production and marketing. Please join us!

Speakers
Dr. Alan Stevens, Kansas State University Floriculture Specialist
Karen Pendleton, Pendleton’s Country Market, Lawrence, Kansas
Ethan Jones, Wild Goose Gardens, Osceola, Missouri
Jo Anne Thomas, Paeonia Select, Lowry City, Missouri
Marilyn Odneal, Missouri State University, Mountain Grove Campus

Preregistration is required; the deadline for preregistration is September 24. In order to register, click the link below and send the completed form along with a check to Pamela Mayer at Missouri State University Department of Agriculture, 9740 Red Spring Road, Mountain Grove, MO 65711.

Registration Form (Adobe Acrobat reader required to open the registration from. Download the READER)

The State Fruit Experiment Station is located at 9740 Red Spring Road in Mountain Grove. Take the second Mountain Grove exit of Hwy 60 and go north on Hwy 95 for about ¼ mile. The campus is at the crest of the first hill on the right of Hwy 95.

For more information, contact Pamela Mayer: 417-547-7533, PMayer@missouristate.edu.

Selling Cut Flowers at the Market

This week on the Missouri Farmers’ Market Podcast Show, Taste the Freshness Brownfield’s Julie Harker talks with Pam Coticchio owner and operator of Bunches of Happyness. Pam and her family run a cut flower operation on the farm, as well as sales at the Fair Grove, Ozark and Greater Springfield Farmers’ Market in Southwest Missouri.

LISTEN to the show here.

Topics discussed during the show:

- Trendy cut flowers at farmers’ markets
- Growing cut flowers for market and making it a profitable business
- Specific services that the business provides
- What consumers are looking for when shopping at farmers’ markets
- Missouri native flowers the business is using
- The differences in the three market the business sells at

New Market Looking for Vendors

The Louisiana Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Farmers Market on the river front, starting July 26. I received an email from one of the organizers of the market about the structure of the market and recruiting vendors. (See below)

We would be very grateful if you could send a notice to all your members in our area; Pike, Lincoln, Audrain & other near by counties. Any product that is home grown, canned, baked, harvested, etc is welcome. We do not allow buy-sell produce. All licensing is taken care of by the Chamber and the City of Louisiana.

The market will begin at 8am every Saturday thru the third or fourth week of October, and be open until noon each day. The Chamber will promote in the newspapers and on the radio and with professional posters in the county and in Lincoln County. The cost for a 10' x10' booth is $10.00 to help off set the cost of advertising.

If any vendors are interested in selling at the market please call 573 754 5921 to signup. If there is no answer they may leave a message : their name, their product(s), their phone and address.

Karen Stoeckley
President, Louisiana Chamber of Commerce
573 470-0742 cell

Madison County Farmers' Market Visit

Lane and I have been on the road and visiting farmers' markets in southeast Missouri the last two days. Tuesday evening Lane and I traveled to Fredericktown to enjoy a visit at the Madison County Farmers' Market. The Madison County Farmers' Market was just established this year, and they are having great success in their first market season. With some very enthusiastic vendors at the site, you could feel their true passion and love for their new farmers' market.

Even though its only their first year of existence, Madison County Farmers' Market had a wide variety of items for consumers to purchase. Some vendors had beautiful cut flowers such as zinnias and large sunflowers, while other vendors were selling high quality produce including zucchinis, carrots, and even red beets! Local baked goods along with many varieties of herbs were also available. The vendors at the Madison County Farmers' Market had a steady stream of customers throughout the entirety of our visit, and most producers sold out before the end of the evening.

After our visit to the market, Lane and I were fortunate enough to be given a tour of the farm of the market manager, Karen Yates. Karen had an impressive layout of three large garden plots, rows in their field of fresh flowers, plus a several acres of sweet corn. While only two people help with the harvesting of all their produce, they have managed to plant numerous varieties of tomatoes and green beans, most of which will be sold at the Madison County Farmers' Market soon.

As we approached the Madison County Farmers' Market, Lane and I were pleased to see the "Farmers' Market Open Today" banner proudly hung in front of the market. As we were leaving the market, we were also pleased to see happy customers walking away from happy producers. Working together towards a locally supported community is what farmers' markets are all about.

Fahrmeier Field Day Makes a Big Hit!

Yesterday in Lexington, Missouri, more than 70 producers and other agriculturists interested in expanding their knowledge of new farming techniques gathered at Fahrmeier Farms. Fahrmeier Farms is a family farm focused on specialty crop production using progressive agricultural technologies.

Fahrmeier Farms hosted a farm field day to promote specialty crops and provide education to producers. The Fahrmeiers have been expanding their operation in the last few years, and the field day featured some of their new growth including the use of HayGrove high tunnels for two acres of vegetables on their farm.

Brandon Fahrmeier, who helps with the family operation said, "We find it beneficial to share knowledge as well as learn from other growers. High tunnels have changed our business and made us better growers, making it easier to grow high quality products."

In the morning, Bob Perry from Perry Agricultural Lab shared with the field day participants the importance of soil care to a specialty crop operation, and then Robin Franks from Netafilm Irrigation spoke about how irrigation and water sources affect farming.

After a complimentary lunch, Missouri Director of Agriculture, Katie J. Smith, spoke about the affects of specialty crops on Missouri's economy and how it is a growing sector of the agriculture, the number one industry in Missouri.

Later in the day, Ralph Cramer described the benefits of utilizing HayGrove high tunnels in farming, and then participants got to see those close up as they toured Fahrmeier Farms. To conclude the second Fahrmeier Field Day, Brandon and Bret Fahrmeier led those attending the field day on a tour of their farm.

The Fahrmeier Field Day attracted people from all over the state and even some from neighboring states. The Fahrmeiers are proud of their growth and want to share what they have learned with other producers so the specialty crop industry can grow and be successful.

The Fahrmeiers will be opening their winery soon and will be hosting Tomato Days on August 2, 2008. For more information, check out the Tomato Days blog at http://annualtomatodays.blogspot.com/ or call 816-289-2496.

Specialty Crops Partnership with FFA

According to Alice Roach at the University of Missouri, FFA members across the state are out for new ideas in agriculture. Brandon Fahrmeier is taking a new twist on the FFA experience. He was both an FFA member and advisor. Now as co-owner of Fahrmeier Farms, a produce farm in Lexington, Mo., Fahrmeier is partnering with FFA students to make Missouri’s specialty crops industry more competitive.

“We’ve had a steep learning curve in growing produce,” Fahrmeier said. “I feel like we need to give back to students who are interested in learning.”

A three-year, $208,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture facilitates the producer-FFA relationship. West-central Missouri is the program’s pilot area. Grant funds will help students purchase supplies for specialty crops projects and aid organizations, such as the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the MU Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture and Enology and the MU Center for Agroforestry, in preparing high school curriculum and workshops about specialty crops and marketing.

Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, wine grapes and nuts. Their production provides an alternative for young people to participate in agriculture. Size and start-up costs for traditional farms have increased, which makes it harder for young people to compete in production agriculture. Fahrmeier started growing produce 12 years ago so he could keep producing on the farm his family has owned since 1947. With specialty crops, he said students can make a living on as few as two acres.

“It’s hard to encourage a high school student that there is a place for them in agriculture,” said Melisa Bertz, FFA adviser at Lafayette County High School in Higginsville, Mo. “With the specialty crops, we can find niche markets and still teach them how to work the land and give them value and meaning with what they’re doing.”

Six of Bertz’s students have specialty crops projects, such as growing sweet corn or working with Fahrmeier. Jessica Cole, a Lafayette County High School sophomore, will use grant money to raise about one acre of crops like tomatoes and potatoes. She’s looking forward to testing what varieties sell best at farmers’ markets in Higginsville and Warrensburg, Mo.

“I wanted to have different varieties,” Cole said. “People like to try something new.”

Support for specialty crops will increase communities’ access to locally produced foods and promote agritourism in the area. The Missouri Regional Cuisines Project, another organization involved with specialty crops, has designated west-central Missouri as the Old Trails Region. The project helps businesses collaboratively promote Missouri-produced products and helps tourists associate geographic regions with high-quality, distinctive products, such as Fahrmeier’s produce.

Fahrmeier has three grant-affiliated students working with him. They learn about producing crops in a “lab” that includes 11 acres of asparagus, 5.5 acres of tomatoes and greenhouses for growing tomatoes and raspberries. With their pay, students can buy produce at wholesale prices and resell it at farmers’ markets to earn a profit.

Fahrmeier wants the students to be business-savvy and experience the joy of producing.

“It’s rewarding to not only make money but also to see the reward when someone smiles and says that’s the best tomato they’ve ever had,” he said.

Are you prepared with crop insurance?

This has to be the craziest weather year I've ever witnessed. From tornados, damaging winds, high temperatures, rain, rain and more rain farmers across the Midwest are feeling the unseasonably like weather this year.

I've talked to many producers and many tell me they won't have sweet corn, green beans or even no crop this year because of the flooding they've incurred. Brownfield reporter Bob Meyer, and past fellow co-worker, recently interviewed Tom Thieding with Rural Mutual about crop insurance and the importance for farmers to talk with their agents as soon as possible this year.

If you have crops under water, you need to talk to your crop insurance agent
Brownfield News Reporter, Bob Meyer

There is a lot of farmland under water in the Midwest and there is going to be a lot of crop damage. Tom Thieding with Rural Mutual Insurance says if you have a flooded field, you need to contact your crop insurance agent right away. “It’s very unlikely that anything that is under water is going to survive,” says Thieding, “You need to do that if you are going to do any kind or replanting as well.” He says the agent will most likely come out, take some photos and file a notice of loss and get things set up for any type of claim payment you may be eligible for. “It’s all going to come down to the level of coverage you selected.”

Farmers should also contact their Farm Service Agency office because that information will be used to help determine if any kind of federal aid will be made available. Any damage to buildings should also be reported to FSA.

Some areas suffered hail damage to crops before the flooding, Thieding says that is a different situation because that would come under crop hail insurance, “Again, talk with your agent and they will work things out for you.”

Thieding stresses you need to contact these people now, “If you don’t do it within this window, you may have some problems based on the requirements of your insurance coverage.”

Listen to an interview from Brownfield.

The Safe Way: Farmers' Markets

Farmers' market season has arrived--and food safety is always an issue for both the consumer and the producer. Salmonella has been an issue in the tomato industry in years past, and so some seem to worry about how farmers' markets stand up to grocery store produce. This article from piseattle.com takes professional views on the salmonella situation.

Are Tomatoes Safer at the Farmers' Market?

With a tomato-related salmonella outbreak in 16 states, farmers markets got this interesting question:

"Are tomatoes from the farmer's market safe to eat, given the FDA's recent warning about tomatoes & salmonella?"

The FDA has linked the nasty illness to raw red plum, red Roma and round red tomatoes. The feds say it's OK to eat those varieties if they're sourced from regions that are not associated with the outbreak, clearing tomatoes from places like California and Canada. Washington did not make the all-clear-as-far-as-we-know list.

The markets are checking in with its greenhouse growers on the topic and came back with this:

"Yes, our local farm tomatoes are definitely safe. The outbreak is likely due to the wide use of some kind of composting medium on big factory farms that was contaminated - but none of our market farmers are connected in any way to those kinds of operations. In fact, the tomatoes at the markets right now are all hothouse tomatoes, which makes them even safer, as they are grown in wood bark. Also, our farmers are mostly growing heirloom varieties, both in their hothouses and in their fields.

The FDA web site also notes that homegrown tomatoes are safe. Our market farmers are essentially growing homegrown tomatoes: they are not huge operations but rather smaller family farms, using safe, healthy and sustainable growing methods. These farmers live on their farms, pick the harvest themselves and eat the food they grow as well as selling it to local markets."

I checked in with Doug Powell, associate professor and scientific director of the International Food Safety Network at Kansas State University on food safety.

His take on the farmer's market go-ahead? Not so fast. He wrote:

"Whether your produce comes from around the corner or around the globe, contamination must be prevented beginning on the farm. Ask your tomato supplier:-- What do you do for food safety?-- Do you or your suppliers test wash water for bacteria? Irrigation water?-- What soil amendments are being used?-- Do you or your suppliers train your staff on handwashing?"

But wait! Aren't the farmer's markets at least safe from the current salmonella outbreak, I asked, if the farmers are truly growing different varieties than the ones identified with the problem?

Powell said yes, although there's no basis (yet, I say) for the speculation that big factory farms caused the problem. In general, though, when it comes to food safety, "there is no evidence that sustainable and local is safer."

But wouldn't outbreaks from small local farms at least be easier to contain and easier to track?
Maybe, Powell wrote, but it's a tough comparison to make. "We have no sense how often they happen because they are small and don't get picked up."

So, talk to the people who grow your produce. Ask them questions. The advantage of the farmer's markets is, at least at the markets you actually get that chance.

Missouri Farmers' Market in the News

Since farmers' markets season is starting, the media is catching on. Farmers' markets have been popping up in local newspapers, statewide publications, and even in national new stories!

Here are a few articles on farmers' markets that caught my interest. Hope you enjoy them too!

Farmers market to allow food stamps, debit cards Columbia Daily Tribune - Columbia, MO, USA Low-income families "appreciate quality food and local food just as much as everyone else, and this is just making it more accessible," said Lane McConnell, ...See all stories on this topic

Many Missouri communities have weekend farmers' markets digitalBURG.com - Warrensburg, MO, USA Long before consumers had the option of buying foods and products at local supermarkets, farmers’ markets of all sizes and locales were providing healthy, ...See all stories on this topic

Farmers markets St. Louis Post-Dispatch - MO, United States Most local farmers markets are held on Saturdays, although some, such as Soulard, Kirkwood and the U. City Market in the Loop, are open more than one day a ...See all stories on this topic

Farmers market taking debit cards KOMU-TV - Columbia, MO, USA ... gonna help those citizens eat healthy and eat local, but also at the same time help grow our farmers markets," marketing specialist Lane McConnell said. ...See all stories on this topic

Food Tripping: There's no better time than now to get to know what ... Riverfront Times - St-Louis, MO, USA The best place to start is at one of the local farmers' markets. There, not only can you find produce so fresh that some of it might have been picked that ...See all stories on this topic

Farmers' Markets Are Everywhere!

This time of year is the perfect time for enjoying some nice fresh fruits and vegetables, planting those brightly colored flowers in your yard, and sitting on the porch with family while enjoying some homemade bread. These are all different things you can find at the farmers' market in Camdenton--everything from bedding plants to local produce to baked goods. This story, from the Lake Sun Leader, shared everything that the Camdenton Farmers' Market has to offer.

Farm Fresh Goodness Is Just a Short Drive Away

The weather is great and it's time to get out and explore.

While everyone knows the lake area has plenty to offer, those who spend all their time on the water and don't take time to check out what else is going on will miss out on a spring, summer and fall harvests of the ripest local produce, fruits and vegetables, bedding plants, and on a good day, baked goods still warm from the oven.

If fresh brown eggs are a favorite, check out Nolt's Country Market on Business Highway 54/52 in Eldon. The market is open year-round from from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The market carries a large selection of bulk items, such as flour, sugar, spices and various baking mixes, jam and jellies and Mennonite candy.

During the spring, summer and fall, there's an open-air market selling whatever is in season. Spring bedding plants and handcrafted wood outdoor furniture are on display now.

Later in the season and throughout the summer and fall, the market features produce and baked goods.

Since 1985, a group of local farmers have been holding a market at the Camdenton Square. Vendors set up at 7 a.m. every Saturday in front of the Camden County Courthouse.

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Taste the Freshness--Buy Missouri

Farmers’ Markets across the State Offer Local Flavors

Long before consumers had the option of buying foods and products at local supermarkets, farmers’ markets of all sizes and locales were providing healthy, locally grown food to consumers. Missouri is now home to more than 140 farmers’ markets located in communities across the state providing a rich variety of homegrown fruits and vegetables as well as locally produced goods such as dairy, eggs and meats. Markets across Missouri offer consumers healthy, yet affordable, alternatives to the typical supermarket experience.

“Farmers’ markets in Missouri continue to thrive and provide fresh fruit and vegetables straight from the farm,” said Katie Smith, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA). “These markets not only offer consumers a fresh choice when it comes to food products, but they also offer many communities an economic advantage. Buying locally gown products is supporting our agriculture industry and communities.”

Farmers’ markets provide a unique experience allowing shoppers to meet the people who produce the goods they are purchasing, allowing the consumer to get the facts about how the food is produced. Consumers are likely to find everything from locally produced dog treats to homemade candles, jellies, freshly baked breads and bison jerky.

“Visitors to farmers’ markets can expect to find strawberries, asparagus, greens, spinach, lettuce, cabbage and onions throughout May. But come mid-June, our markets really get busy and most all of the produce and fruit will be ready for the picking,” said Lane McConnell, farmers’ market specialist with MDA. “Buying local products means experiencing local flavor and cuisine, and for a lot of consumers, that is what farmers’ markets are all about. Often what you find when purchasing supermarket products is that the majority of your dollars spent goes into shipping and production costs of produce. At your local farmers’ market, you are buying directly from the farmers; therefore, what you see is what you get.”

Whether you are seeking healthy, high-quality foods and products, looking to add a variety to your everyday cooking or looking for a fun shopping experience, Missouri farmers’ markets will have something for you this season.