New Meadows Farmers Market Opening Day: Young Farmers, SNAP
Summertime music and scents of lavender and handmade soaps greeted customers arriving on opening day of the New Meadows Farmers Market this past Saturday, June 29. A steady flow of buyers and browsers visited the 15 vendors in the city park. Everything from sourdough bagels and loaves to hand painted jewelry boxes and wood crafts were available for purchase. A new program called Young Farmers began at noon with lessons for youth on growing plants and how to prepare market fruits and vegetables into delicious, healthy meals. The market has been approved to accept SNAP benefits this year and many of the food vendors participated.
Crafters, sewers and bakers had an abundance of creative and delicious items available. Goods included re-purposed and newly made fabric or jean hats, bags, and other useful wares and sourdough breads. Amie’s Apothecary Creations’ tallow soaps with essential oils and beeswax candles, Klaryssa Keane’s PaperPie books and activities, Country Delights’ freeze dried treats, fresh produce at amazing prices, wooden crafts including adorable train engine money banks, potted plants and herbs, dried lavender, elderberry syrup, beautiful handmade greeting cards, hot dogs and lemonades, and sign ups and newspapers from The Record Reporter were also present. Youth vendors made an appearance with handmade garden signs, jewelry, cold brew coffee and iced tea, and cookies.
Yael Oren is heading up the new youth program called Young Farmers. Each Saturday of the season, youth will be able to join the group at Oren’s produce booth. In season produce will be featured and participants will learn how to prepare fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruits so they can share with their families and grow confidence in the kitchen and sample new foods. The goals of the program are to teach youth how to use market produce and increase consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits. Eleven youths joined the program for its first meeting. Oren engaged the group of varied ages for about an hour with activities including decorating signs for the booth and guessing what color potted flowers might be when they bloom. Oren helped each of the children plant cucumber and sunflower seeds to take home.
Youth who signed up for Young Farmers received a cloth bag with a calendar, passport log book, and a water bottle. Funding for the program is being supported by a grant from the Fosdick. Other donations from supporters include fabric for the bags as well as prizes that will be available for those who participate regularly. Next Saturday, July 6, participants will learn to make a cucumber salad they can share with their families and hopefully replicate when their plantings produce new cucumbers. Sign ups are still open and all youth are welcome. In the coming weeks, young people will have the opportunity to do more planting with sprouts and herbs and learn to make dishes like pasta salad, fresh pasta with herbs, and fruit kabobs. Oren hopes these Young Farmers will grow invested in the program, learning about and tasting new foods, and sharing broader food options with their families.
The New Meadows Market was started five years ago with a similar hope for all people in the community. Market Manager, Julia Olson, noted that the market was created to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to New Meadows and offer a way for locals to showcase their crafts and wares. With these goals in mind, Olson applied for the Fosdick grant. Residents and repeat customers attend the market and travelers often stop to shop on their journeys. Currently 17 vendors are registered to sell at the market.
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) has been approved for use this year. Olson wanted to bring this benefit in to hopefully help low income families and seniors who need it be able to put more healthy, fresh food, especially fruits and vegetables, on their tables. Elisa Leigan, who manages the SNAP table at the market, hopes that more people will utilize this resource as word spreads about its availability. SNAP dollars can be used dollar for dollar on food at the farmers market. Double up money ($2 SNAP for every 1 US dollar) can be used on fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs as well as food producing plants.
The Youth Advocacy Coalition (YAC) and Planet Youth group were also present to promote their programs. They will be in attendance once a month and hope to raise awareness about opportunities for youth. Teresa Fanselow, Meadows Valley Coalition Coordinator (among many other titles), told me YAC will be hosting a volleyball in the park gathering in August and they look forward to returning with the after school program on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Fall.
The Meadows Valley Farmers Market will take place every Saturday now through September 14, except Labor Day Weekend. Many market vendors will be found in the marketplace that holiday weekend at Meadows Valley Days. Other events over and outside of the season include New Meadows Community Yard Sale, the Fall Festival, and Trunk or Treat. Come check out the market!
