All Entries Tagged With: "farmers markets"
Mobile farmers market rolling into NoCo soon
Aiming to bring fresh produce to local "food deserts," the Sappington Farmers Market runs a mobile farmers market at various locations throughout St. Louis.
According to the USDA, my house in Ferguson is nearly surrounded by food deserts. That’s what you call the census tracts with low access to a large grocery store, and thereby low access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
A good chunk of North County, particularly near the airport and the St. Louis city border, is classified this way, meaning residents have fewer healthy eating choices. So that’s why it’s pretty awesome that the Sappington Farmers Market has decided to do something about it.
Teaming with Metro Transit and a network of small-scale farmers from Missouri and Illinois, Sappington’s Farm to Family Naturally Mobile Market will soon make regular stops at four Metrolink stations, including the North Hanley station right here in NoCo.
Drop by once a week and you can choose from a whole range of local and sustainable products, including eggs, produce, herbs, beans, jams, cheeses, baked goods and more. You can also sign up for the market’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, actually purchasing a share of the coming season’s crops.
Of course, I’m lucky to have the Ferguson Farmers Market and the indoor Vine Market within walking distance of my front door, so I’m not exactly in the Sahara. But I think it’s great that this new market is opening, and I can’t wait to try it out! I especially love the payment options: cash, credit/debit & EBT. Something for everyone.
By the way, if you want to know if YOU live in a food desert, you can use this handy tool from the USDA. From what I can tell looking at the map, at least the folks in Florissant are eating well…
The Farm to Family Naturally Mobile Market arrives at the North Hanley Metrolink station Wednesdays, 3-5:30pm, starting March 21. All are welcome! For more info, check out the mobile market website.
The Vine Market returns on November 19
Will you be serving locally grown food this Thanksgiving? 'Early Wonder' beets are just one variety of autumn veggies that you'll find at the Vine Market.
There are many, many reasons to be proud of my Ferguson community, but perhaps nothing gets me more excited than our awesome farmers market. Like a lot of locals, I usually get market withdrawal this time of year, since the outdoor venue wrapped up a few weeks ago. But thanks to the good folks at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, we’ll all be able to enjoy fresh local food even during the winter!
For the second year, St. Stephen’s is hosting The Vine Market, an indoor farmers market where you can find a nice array of locally grown vegetables and locally produced meat, cheese and baked goods. It’s not quite as large as the outdoor market, and it only takes place every third Saturday through April, but hey, who’s complaining?!
The Vine Market kicks off this Saturday, November 19, and Ferguson’s own EarthDance Farms will be there with a fabulous selection of organic autumn veggies. Look for ‘Watermelon’ and ‘White Icicle’ radishes, ‘Bolero’ carrots, ‘Gonzalez’ cabbage, ‘Red Sails’ lettuce, ‘Tyee’ spinach, ‘Purple Top’ turnips, ‘Toscana Lacinato’ kale, and ‘Bright Lights’ swiss chard, as well as garlic, shallots, acorn squash, scallions, arugula, Asian salad greens, baby pak choi, dill & cilantro, and even green tomatoes.
Need some recipe ideas? Check out A Veggie Venture from my fellow St. Louis blogger Alanna Kellogg.
The Vine Market is open Saturday from 9 to 11:30am and takes place inside St. Stephen’s beautiful gathering hall at 33 N. Clay, 63135. You can enter through the center door by the parking lot.
EarthDance seeks 2010 organic farming apprentices
If you're going to learn about organic farming, why not do it at the oldest organic farm in Missouri? EarthDance Farms is seeking new apprentices.
If you’ve ever dreamed of getting your hands dirty in the rich soil of an organic farm, head on down to the Ferguson Library this Tuesday for an informative session on EarthDance Farms‘ organic farming apprentice program. Launched in 2008, this hands-on “school” allows Freshman Farmies to maintain their own organic plots at Mueller Farm in Ferguson, while also learning about organic vegetable and flower production from seasoned pros.
Freshman Farmies are required to commit at least 10 hours per week working at the farm and selling produce at area farmers markets. In return, they enjoy a weekly share of the harvest (nine months worth!) and the opportunity to join a lively community of progressive, green-minded people.
For more details about EarthDance, which is actively seeking a diverse group of 25 new apprentices, stop by one of two info sessions being held this week:
Tuesday, December 8 @ 7pm: Ferguson Library, 35 N. Florissant, 63135
Wednesday, December 9 @ 7pm: Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave, 63143
J. Goeke Produce: bigger and better
The new and improved J. Goeke Produce, celebrating five decades in NoCo
For more than 140 years, farming and produce have been the lifeblood of the Goeke family. In 1867, German immigrant Joseph Goeke began selling vegetables at St. Louis’ Union Market, a Soulard-like market that once operated at Sixth and Broadway. That same year, his brother John also entered the agricultural field, managing what the 1924 History of the Archdiocese of St. Louis called a “splendid truck garden.”
As time went on, many descendants of Joseph, John and their brother Bernard went on to work as farmers or produce vendors, including Tom Goeke, who ran the popular Herman’s Farm Orchard on Shackelford Rd, and John J. Goeke, the founder of J. Goeke Produce Outlet in Old Town Florissant.
Goeke Produce sells Randy's Famous Salsa and a growing selection of other local products.
Like his father and grandfather before him, John J. Goeke started his career as a truck farmer, selling produce out of the back of his pickup. Eventually he entered the wholesale market, serving local restaurants, and then in March 1960, he opened a retail location.
“I guess dad thought that since he had daughters, not sons, a retail store would be the best idea,” says one of Goeke’s four daughters, Karen Ormsby, who now runs the business with her sister Lynne Combest. Her father died in 2002, but his original hunch was spot on. Nearly 50 years later, the produce company that he founded is still going strong.
Just this week, Goeke’s retail store relocated a block up the road – to a much larger location at 449 St. Ferdinand in Old Town. Adding to its already impressive selection of local and non-local produce, nuts, eggs, honey, spices and baked goods, the store also plans to offer fresh, locally-produced meat from the historic Wenneman Meat Market in St. Libory, Illinois (open since 1927).
Produce & nicknacks in one convenient location
“We’re also selling Amish apple butter and local salad dressing, and we’re hoping to get meat from Swiss Sausage in Hermann,” Ormsby says. “Have you heard of it? It’s delicious!”
With its newly expanded retail space, Goeke’s can now peddle even more than just food. It can also sell you the plate to eat it on! Spearheaded by another of John Goeke’s daughters, one-third of the store has been converted into a mini antique shop, where customers can peruse charming vintage housewares and kitchen items, as well as heirloom furniture.
“We’re just trying to create a fun, unique atmosphere,” Ormsby says, noting the store’s cheery yellow walls and old-timey decor. “We also still have the wholesale business, so we sell produce to a number of North County restaurants, just like my dad used to.”
In fact, J. Goeke Produce is more successful than ever – a NoCo gem! – and I’m betting that its roomy new storefront and increasing focus on local foods will lure in even more happy customers. Maybe even you?
Goeke’s Produce: 449 rue St. Ferdinand, Florissant MO 63031; (314) 831-1931. Open Mon-Sat 8-7, Sun 9-6.
Shelves are still being stocked at Goeke's new location, which just opened on November 5th, but many gourmet goods are already on display.
Are you getting ready for the big day? NOCO is a proud sponsor of the 3rd annual Live Well Ferguson 5K