Cleveland Farmers Market

The Fall Market Season - It's On!

2009-09-11T04:26:00.000-07:00

The farmers have responded that they're ready to begin the fall market season.

WE'LL BE OPEN ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 FROM 8 TO 10 AM BEHIND THE CLEVELAND POST OFFICE.

Come on out and support your local farmers!

Fall Market Update

2009-08-30T10:46:00.000-07:00

Once again the summer season has flown by. There's been a bit of confusion about the "end" of the market. Here's the scoop: The summer season is done. It was fantastic but it's over now. The fall season is creeping up on us. That means greens, pumpkins, fall and winter squashes, eggs, and more are coming but we've got to give them time to grow. So, the Cleveland Farmers Market will not be open over Labor Day weekend (Sept. 5) and the opening date for the fall market will be determined by what's available to sell whenever it's ready. Therefore, the next potential market is Saturday, September 12. We'll get the news around the internet and newspapers if we'll have markets in September.

Meet our dietician!

2009-08-11T05:22:00.000-07:00

Mae Gasmido, a dietician from Bolivar Medical Center, was at the August 8 market, answering questions and handing out information about healthy eating habits.

We've had a great August so far. The crowds have been good. The abundance of purple hull peas, butterbeans, okra, watermelons, and cantaloupes has been even better!

Farming in the News

2009-08-04T03:40:00.000-07:00

The New York Times has an article about the rise of backyard poultry across America. Of course, you don't need to get your own chickens to have farm fresh eggs. Just come to the market every Saturday!

July Market Summary

2009-07-31T05:30:00.000-07:00

A friendly crowd of regular customers gathers at the Friends Tent.

In July, the Cleveland Farmers Market had a phenomenal month. The July 18 and July 25 markets each had 200 people attend! Every tent and table in the shed was set up to accommodate all of the vendors that came. In the history of the Cleveland Farmers Market, we've never had such amazing turnouts by customers and vendors.

Check out the sign in the top right corner of the picture on top. The Mississippi Department of Agriculture has raised our status to a "certified" Mississippi farmers market. This significant acknowledgment is thanks to the tireless work of farmers, customers, and volunteers. Well done to all!

Mr. Smitty chats with a customer.

The Cleveland Farmers Market is a proud partner with the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Every July, participants in the WIC program receive coupons to spend at the Cleveland Farmers Market. This year, the market has three new vendors that signed up for the program, bringing the total number of vendors up to 8. By working with the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, the CFM continues its mission of providing fresh produce to all segments of the Delta community.

Welcome to the Murphys! They're new vendors from Boyle.

Not only did the CFM get more customers and vendors but it also got generous support from Bolivar Medical Center. Bolivar Medical Center is committed to the care and improvement of its patients' lives. It's a natural fit that a medical facility would promote eating more fresh fruits and vegetables as part of its preventative health measures. Thank you, Bolivar Medical Center!

Cam McMillen, one of the founders of the CFM, and Molly Shaman from the Master Gardener program chat at the Friends Tent. Cam brought her delicious chocolate chip zucchini muffins that day.

In August, we're planning lots of special events: a cooking demonstration (August 22), a benefit art sale (August 29), another bake sale (TBA), a special "Dog Days of Summer" events for our four-legged friends (TBA), and more. Be on the lookout for updates of these events.

We can always use more volunteers for the Friends Tent. It's a fun way to spend a Saturday morning!

The early bird crowd!

Remember that we are a RAIN OR SHINE market so don't hesitate to visit the market even if it's raining!

Music at the Market

2009-07-28T05:24:00.000-07:00

All musicians are welcome to come to the market and play. It would be awesome to have more people share their talents.

July 18 Market Re-Cap

2009-07-20T12:58:00.000-07:00

Another great weekend for the Cleveland Farmers Market. We almost reached 200 people! The okra went fast on Saturday. I guess the early bird gets the okra.

Exciting news for the market - It's been certified by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture. This certification puts the CFM into a different category of farmers market and recognizes the hard work of all of the farmers and volunteers.

We're going to have a very busy August with cooking demonstrations, another charity bake sale, an art sale, and more. We have friends scheduled for the tent for Aug. 1 and Aug. 8. If you've got the time, we would love to fill in the last three weekends in August. Contact me.

See you this Saturday!

One-hour, full-body massage winner is...

2009-07-03T04:41:00.000-07:00

The winner is Karen Bell! Karen has been a true Friend of the Cleveland Farmers Market for a long time. She's volunteered for the Friends in the past and has been a regular at the market. Congratulations, Karen!

Thanks to everybody who bought tickets for this first raffle.

June 27 Market Re-Cap

2009-06-30T07:45:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Kay Campbell and Jabo Bouler, new vendors this week!

Mr. Jabo's farm is in Boyle, and he's got 7 acres of peas and 3 acres of butter beans!

Some of our regular Saturday morning shoppers.

We had over 125 customers this past Saturday. Another fine Mississippi Saturday to pick up fresh produce. The market was so busy that three of our vendors actually sold out of all of their produce.

Welcome to the Clark Family, new vendors this weekend.

Mr. Clark, also known as The Chicken Man, is from Merigold and raises quail and chickens.

Produce available on Saturday: Butter beans, shelled and unshelled purple hull peas, mint, green peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, green tomatoes, honey, cucumbers, okra, snap beans, cabbage, sweet corn, yellow squash, pickled chicken and pickled quail eggs, peaches, plums, apples, jalapeno mustard, hot sauce, jams and jellies, and fresh eggs.

Molly Shaman and Mary Anna Davis from the Master Gardener program.

Don't forget that the market WILL NOT OPEN on Saturday, July 4. We'll be back on Saturday, July 11 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Visit our farmers while the market is on hiatus for the July 4 holiday.

Produce:

Jabo Bouler, Boyle, MS: 662-721-7939

Mack and Ollie Hoop, Cleveland, MS: 662-402-5150

Mickey and Nancy Sellers, Cleveland, MS: 662-843-7731

Curtis “Mr. Smitty” Smith, Mound Bayou, MS: 662-741-2500

Cornelius Toole, Mound Bayou, MS: 662-402-0568

The Apple Farm, Cleveland, MS: 662-846-1962

Eggs:

Patrice Chandler, Ruleville, MS: 662-515-2285

Eugene Clark, Merigold, MS: 662-719-8074 (Quail and Chicken)

Mickey and Nancy Sellers, Cleveland, MS: 662-843-7731

Honey:

Blue Lake Honey, Drew, MS: 662-745-6525

Thank your bees

2009-06-26T09:40:00.001-07:00

This week is National Pollinator Week. It is thanks to pollinators, particularly bees, that we can have our farmers market.

Here's a link to the story by National Public Radio.

June 27 Market

2009-06-25T13:25:00.000-07:00

Are you stressed out about the rising costs of food at the grocery store? The Cleveland Farmers Market is the place for you!

Be sure to stop by the market this Saturday for the freshest produce and food in the Delta at prices that can't be beat. Plus, you know that the money you spend stays in the community you love.

Still stressed? From this Saturday to Wednesday, July 1, the market will hold a raffle for a 1 hour, full body massage gift certificate from Rehabilitation Services of Cleveland. Tickets are $1 each. A massage is a great gift for you or a loved one. Put yourself in the best hands in town!

All raffle money goes to the Friends of the Cleveland Farmers Market to pay for our tents, tables, and brand-spankin' new shed.

Can you feel the tension slipping away? Good! We'll see you at the market.

200!

2009-06-22T12:15:00.001-07:00

That's right. Over two hundred folks were at the market last Saturday. There were even people from as far away at St. Louis, Missouri who were at the Cleveland Farmers Market. This was our most attended market EVER!

Lisa Ference, a local artist and student at Delta State, brought her work to the market to help raise money for the Friends of the Cleveland Farmers Market. For the next few weeks, her prints, photographs, drawings, and paintings will be at the Friends Tent. They can be yours for a donation to the Friends of the CFM. Thanks, Lisa, for your help! More art to benefit the market will be coming in a few weeks.

Items available at the market were: blackberries, red tomatoes, herbs, lettuce, yellow squash, zucchini, cucumbers, honey, eggs, jams and jellies, a jalapeno mustard, hot sauce, sweet potatoes, new potatoes, sweet corn, plums, peaches, apples, collards, cabbage, peppers, okra, onions, garlic, and green tomatoes.

Farmers present/represented: Mr. Smitty, the Hoops, the Sellers gang, Patrice "The Egg Lady" Chandler, the Apple Farm, Blue Lake Honey, and Little Green Acres.

OPENING DAY!

2009-06-14T07:25:00.001-07:00

"You can count on Cleveland!" That ought to be the slogan of the Cleveland Farmers Market. Cleveland and the surrounding communities once again showed up in droves to Saturday's opening market.

Despite the torrential summer rain. Despite the cracks of lightning. Despite the wind gusts.

Ryan and Chris, from Amalgamation, played for the entire market. Be sure to check them out this Tuesday, June 16 at the Bean Counter at 6 p.m.!

The Habitat for Humanity bake sale raised over $500 for their ongoing efforts to provide quality, affordable housing in Bolivar County.

The farmers came with just-off-the-vine blackberries, early tomatoes, new potatoes, baby yellow squash, striped zucchini, crisp cucumbers, jams and jellies of every variety, a new jalapeno mustard from Nancy Sellers, plants for gardens, sweet peaches, juicy plums, golden honey, farm fresh eggs, and more.

Customers, some as early at 7 a.m. (ahem, we open at 8), brought with their appetites, their good natures as they helped keep the market from flying away, and their good humor.

Lisa Ferrence will be back next week with her art. Art and heavy downpours don't mix! Donations for her art will go to Friends of the Cleveland Farmers Market.

Special thanks go out to:

Eleanor as Saturday's superb market manager
Asia, Hilary, and Nina at the Friends tent
J.R. Love and his studly crew of shed builders - Tyler Pearson, Rob Thornton, and Craig Warren
John Green, Miranda Walker, and Antwone Wallace for their shed-building assistance and labor
Molly Shaman from the Master Gardener program

Be sure to join our Facebook group "Friends of the Cleveland Farmers Market" and follow us on Twitter.

"Rethinking Potato Salad"

2009-06-10T17:39:00.000-07:00

Mack and Ollie Hoop (662-402-5150) have got LOADS of potatoes. Here's an National Public Radio segment on potato salad.

Don't forget to get your potatoes on Saturday at the opening of the Cleveland Farmers Market!

Special Events Set for Opening Day on June 13

2009-06-04T04:58:00.000-07:00

As part of its mission to build community, the June 13 market will include music, art, and education. Ryan Betz and Chris Hartfield, two members of Amalgamation, Cleveland’s only local jazz fusion band, will provide live music during the market. Lisa Ferrence, an art student at Delta State University, will have farmers market-themed artwork available for sale at the Friends of the Farmers Market tent with all proceeds going to the market. Also, Molly Shaman, from the Master Gardener Program at the Mississippi State University Extension Service, will have a tent at the market, ready to answer questions and handout useful information about gardening.

Finally, the Cleveland Farmers Market is hosting a bake sale for the Bolivar County chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat constructs and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner-partner families. Bolivar County’s chapter is now working on its eighteenth house. All proceeds from the bake sale will go to the Bolivar County Habitat for Humanity.

Organic farming and farmers markets in the news

2009-06-01T04:29:00.000-07:00

The New York Times has an article about the struggles of small farmers in organic dairy farming. Also, the NTY reports that many college students are looking for internships in organic or sustainable agriculture.

The Knoxville (TN) News Sentinel has an article about farmers, sustainable practices, and organic certification.

National Public Radio has radio story about farmers in India moving towards organic farming. Also, last week NPR started featuring local recipes from regional farmers markets.

Gardening Tips

2009-05-20T13:43:00.000-07:00

Here's a great guide from master gardeners and the Mississippi State Extension Office. Thanks to Ryan for passing this along.

April 25 Meeting Highlights

2009-04-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

Board Officers' Updates:

J.R., as treasurer, is spearheading the community sponsorship drive. The idea is to have local businesses, organizations, and individuals sponsor the market, particularly to provide funds for upgraded tents. He's got the letters drafted and ready to go out.

Managers' Updates:

Miranda has completed the USDA Farmers' Market Promotion grant and will have it postmarked today. She did an amazing job with the eight page narrative, highlighting our past successes and positioning the market for the future. The market will partner with Delta State University in order to receive grant funds, once the grant is approved by the USDA. Just another way that the market is reaching out to the greater community.
Ryan has talked with Strings Design about an advertising campaign for this season. He'll be meeting with Strings about posters, brochures, and newspaper ads.
Michelle sent out the press release for the special event on May 2. The event is a plant sale for the Future Farmers of America chapter in Cleveland. Students, under the guidance of Kenny Georgia, will sell seedlings from 9 AM to 11 AM at the usual Cleveland Farmers' Market spot behind the post office. All funds will go to the FFA. Other vendors will be out with any early produce and products they might have.

Other business:

Starting date will be Saturday, June 13, 2009. Get ready!
New market applications are available for new and returning growers.

Upcoming Events:

May 2 - Cleveland Farmers Market Event: Plant Sale for Future Farmers of America
May 2&3 - MEGA workshops in Shelby and Mound Bayou
May 7 - "Selling at a Farmers' Market" workshop in Jackson
May 30 - Next general meeting
June 4 - Cleveland Farmers Market presentation at the Cleveland Exchange Club
June 13 -OPENING!

Plant Sale a Success!

2009-05-06T04:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the generous support of the Cleveland Farmers Market supporters, the Future Farmers of America chapter in Cleveland raised $200 at Saturday's plant sale. Mr. Kenneth Georgia and two of his students, Jamal Giles and Howard Winford, worked the crowd and sold tomato, zucchini, eggplant, and squash plants grown in the Cleveland Career Development and Technology Center's greenhouse. The money raised will go towards FFA dues, travel money to FFA competitions, and FFA supplies. The FFA has just broken ground for a garden at the school and will be using the remaining plants (more tomatoes, zucchinis, eggplants, squash, peppers, greens, and melons) for the garden. The goal is to have students selling plants and produce at the Cleveland Farmers Market through the summer.

A big thanks also goes out to the other growers. Mr. Mack Hoop, a regular grower for the market, also donated dozens of his own tomato plants for the FFA sale and brought his delicious new potatoes to sell at the market. Nancy and Mickey Sellers sent a batch of sweet muscadine jelly and fresh eggs. Since the market thrives on the diversity of products available, these growers enabled customers to come and buy plants for their gardens and produce for their tables.

If you missed the sale, check out Monday's Bolivar Commercial for a great front-page picture of Mr. Georgia and Jamal chatting with a customer.

REMINDERS

The next general meeting for the market is Saturday, May 30 at 9 AM at Delta State's Center for Community and Economic Development.
The Cleveland Farmers Market officially opens on Saturday, June 13 at 8 AM.
Nancy (sellersgang@cableone.net) and Patrice (tornadophobic@yahoo.com) have fresh eggs for sale.
Mr. Mack Hoop (846-9050) has new potatoes for sale.

Welcome to the 2009 Season!

2009-04-05T05:21:00.000-07:00

The farmers and friends of the Cleveland Farmers Market met on Saturday, April 4 at 9 AM at Delta State's Center for Community and Economic Development.

Upcoming Events:

- April 25 - General Cleveland Farmers Market Meeting (9 AM @ CCED)

- May 2 - Special Community Event hosted by CFM: The Cleveland Farmers Market will host a spring sale of seedlings, grown by the Future Farmers of America program at Cleveland's Career Development and Technology Center. Kenny Georgia and his students are raising plants to sell to benefit this important program. More information to come as details are finalized but be sure to come out and support young people engaged in agriculture and sustainable food networks. Farmers signed up with the CFM will also be on hand to sell their produce and products as well.

- May 2 and 3 - MEGA and Growing Power workshops in Mound Bayou and Shelby.

The first part of the meeting consisted of introductions and re-introductions, a brief recap of the 2008 season, and an explanation of the Delta Area Farmers Market (a network of individual markets communicating with each other) and the pro bono work of Harvard Law students last week.

The second part of the meeting was all business. Here are the highlights:

- Elections: Your new board consists of Nancy Sellers (president), Ryan Betz (secretary), J.R. Love (treasurer), and Eric Atchison, Michelle Johansen, and Miranda Walker (co-market managers). The board meets once a month, usually ahead of the monthly general farmers market meeting. The co-market managers will rotate Saturday duties and share responsibility for outreach and education of the community, communication and work with farmers, and managing volunteers and special events. Currently the CFM has $2,185 in its bank account.

- Opening and closing the season: There was discussion about selecting an opening date for the market. All agreed that June will be the month but there wasn't agreement on which Saturday. Last year, the market officially opened on June 14. We will revisit this issue in the next few weeks as farmers work on getting crops into the ground.

- Guidelines and procedures: No revisions were suggested for the packet of guidelines and information given to growers so we will just update the packets with new dates and reprint them. These will be available to farmers when they apply to the market.

- Tents: After some discussion about the sorry state of last year's green tents, J.R. Love came up with an idea. The CFM will buy at least ten tents, the E-Z pop-up kind which retail at Wal-Mart for $97 dollars, and seek corporate or civic sponsorship. For example, a locally owned business, church, school, or organization could pay for a tent and earn a prominently displayed sign that says that they sponsored a market tent and are a proud supporter of local growers. Already Kossman and Powell, LLC has agreed to sponsor a tent! That's one down and nine to go.

- Advertising: The group agreed to work with Strings Design again and continue to use the awesome logo they designed last year.

- Fundraising: The bags and shirts were a hit last year and the group agreed to continue to sell bags and shirts. Also, the group expressed interest in getting long-sleeved shirts. Cam McMillen suggested some sort of incentive/reward system for customers who brought their CFM bag to the market instead of using plastic bags.

- Grants: Miranda and Mechelle Wallace are working on a USDA market promotion and outreach grant that awards between $2,500 and $100,000 to markets. Some ideas that came up are a wireless EBT machine, tents with the CFM logo screened on, a portable shed, greater advertising budget for outreach, and more infrastructure for the market. Stay tuned for more details. Thanks, Miranda and Mechelle, for spearheading this!

- Farmer and Friends Recruitment: We need more of everybody! Cam mentioned that the farmers market needs to emphasize the ease with which farmers can participate and make sure that all feel welcome.

- Forms: No major revisions were suggested for the application form so new ones will be printed with a new date and made available to farmers.

Announcements: Nancy Sellers (sellersgang@cableone.net) and Patrice Chandler (tornadophobic@yahoo.com) are now selling eggs for $2.00 a dozen.

News

2008-09-12T17:09:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends, Farmers, and CFM Supporters,

Tomorrow's Cleveland Farmers Market (Sept. 13) will be the last regular market of the 2008 season. Due to a variety of circumstances, the decision was made this morning, with lots of deliberation and weighing of pros and cons, to discontinue the market. The ultimate reason for the market's close is that we do not have a critical mass vendors who can provide fresh produce at this time.

Also, tomorrow's scheduled cooking demonstration will not occur, due to weather and supply issues.

More information will come in the next weeks.

Thank you for all of your support.

Sept. 6 Cooking Demonstration is POSTPONED

2008-09-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

With Hurricane Gustav bringing wacky weather to the Delta this week, the scheduled cooking demonstration by Chef Adam Talley will be postponed. A likely rescheduled date is Saturday, September 13, but again we'll have to check on the weather. I'll keep y'all updated.

The market will be open on September 6th as planned but without Chef Talley.

End of Summer

2008-09-01T11:02:00.000-07:00

It seems like every summer brings more squash, zucchini, eggplant, okra, and tomatoes than most people can handle. Folks are selling it, giving it away, and making all kinds of interesting foods. Then you blink, and it's the end of August. Where's all our produce?

We have entered the awkward stage, sort of like adolescence, that is the transition between summer and fall. Summer plants just can't keep producing forever. Fall crops aren't quite ready yet. It'll happen soon and then we'll be up to our ears in collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, pumpkins, winter squash, sweet potatoes, and pecans. Just gotta be patient.

Here's the market recap:

Karen Bell was our solo volunteer for the Friends Tent. The month of September is a barren volunteer wasteland. We need some folks to step up. I made an "Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Apple Honey Cake" for snacking, using Blue Lake's honey.
Farmers represented/present: the Sellers Gang, Blue Lake Honey Farm, and Mr. Smitty
Total customers: 69
Products sold: watermelons, honey (with and without comb), okra, shelled purple hull peas, eggplant, jams, jellies, preserves, hot sauce, pickles, pears, corn, banana peppers, and eggs.

Recipes for August 9 and August 23

2008-08-29T18:15:00.000-07:00

Sweet Potato Bread

Recipe by Eleanor Green

Have all ingredients at room temperature

1-1/2 cups all purpose flour

1-1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/3 cup milk

1-1/2 tsp. vanilla

6 tbsp. butter

1-1/3 cups sugar (or 1 cup sugar and 1/3 cup brown sugar)

2 large eggs

1 cup sweet potato puree (3 medium sized sweet potatoes, baked at 350 degrees for 1 hour)

In a medium bowl, whisk together first 8 ingredients. Set aside. In another bowl combine milk and vanilla. In a large bowl beat butter until creamy. Gradually add sugar and beat on high speed for 3-4 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add sweet potato and beat on low just until blended. Add flour in 3 parts, alternating with the milk mixture in 2 parts. Bake at 350 degrees in a loaf pan for about 1 hour, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Green Tomato Cake

Recipe found on the internet

2-1/4 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil or melted shortening

3 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

3 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1 cup pecans or walnuts (optional)

1 cup raisins

2-1/2 cups diced green tomatoes

coconut (optional)

Preheat over to 350 degrees. In mixing bowl, beat sugar, vegetable oil or shortening, eggs, and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg; slowly beat into egg mixture. Blend well. Stir in pecans, raisins, and tomatoes.

Pour into greased 9x13-inch pan. Top with coconut if desired. Bake for one hour, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Bye, Ryan!

2008-08-26T06:57:00.000-07:00

With the heat and humidity and constant rain (ummm, thanks, Fay?), it was a slow week at the market on August 23. Of course, to put this in perspective, a slow Saturday this season would have been a banner Saturday last year. We did have a steady trickle of folks coming for fresh fruits and veggies. Can't complain whenever we hit over 75 people in two hours.

Maybe people were feeling bummed that it was Ryan Betz's last market. That's right, Ryan is outta here, heading to Hattiesburg before pursuing graduate school. This year's market would not have been nearly as successful without his dedication and energy. Those fantastic t-shirts, bags, and stickers? Ryan found Strings Design and worked with them on the design and then got the order placed for the first printing. WIC participants able to buy fresh fruit and vegetables for their families? That was Ryan spearheading focus groups and outreach. The reason why I know each week how successful the market has been? Yup, that's Ryan, too. There's even more that he has done in his own quiet, low-key, diligent way. We'll miss him sorely but will work hard to keep his can-do spirit alive at the market.

Anyhoo, here's the recap:

Rie Somlai and Alan Barton (both repeat volunteers) took care of the Friends Tent. There was an unusual but delicious Green Tomato Cake at the tent. The recipe was passed along by a market patron. Great way to use green tomatoes without frying them.
Farmers present/ represented: the Sellers Gang, Mr. Smitty, the Egg Lady (Patrice Chandler), and Blue Lake Honey Farm
Customers counted: 84
Products sold: Pears, honey, okra, squash, green tomatoes, red tomatoes, jams, jellies, preserves, pickles, relishes, salsa, hot sauces, watermelons, cucumbers, eggs, and shelled purple hull peas.