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One of my friends at work asked me this and you may have been asked the same question. Here are some talking points:
  Farm-To-Table director Trista Grigsby in Rappahannock, VA works to to introduce young people to locally raised, healthy foods. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 authorizes federal funding for school lunch programs and increases access to healthier foods to all children in public schools.The new law will help schools provide better choices, with a goal of reducing malnutrition in children who are obese and whose families do not have the resources to give them enough food - and make it a little easier for schools to purchase locally raised foods.
A great place to take a walk with your friend. Kids play at the tot lot with their parents. Dogs and their owners can be seen together at all times of the day, rain or shine. It's a wonderful place - especially now that it's spring! Check out all the pictures on our Facebook page.  Every Sunday, the vendors bring their goods to the West End Farmers Market. Their produce picked the day before, their baked goods made earlier that morning - the best way to experience freshness. And despite the fact that the market is thriving, there is always a little extra. Small farmers usually do not have the resources to keep produce fresh for more than two days and bakers will not sell stale goods.
Food systems are usually organized like this - designed to channel large amounts of product through centralized locations, like farmers markets and supermarkets. This system is not perfect. Gleaning is an activity often missing - and this is where the volunteers of Bread for the City step in. Bread for the City is a non-profit organization that helps vulnerable residents of Washington, D.C. Among their comprehensive services, they provide nutritious food to hungry people. They go to various farmers markets and farms to glean surplus vegetables and fruits. Tonya Hamilton, a Community HealthCorps Member, is the new Gleaning Coordinator. This week she confirmed that Bread for the City will continue gleaning at the West End Farmers Market. She will begin on Sunday, May 1. All your favorite vendors will be at the market on May 1 - and hopefully a few more to add to the spice and pizazz of our market. We look forward to welcoming new vendors selling pickles and more prepared foods.
Our vendors as of today:
Yesterday, a coalition of organizations, local food advocates, and small family farmers from across the country met with legislators in support of local food and food sovereignty. The goal was to educate elected officials on how real food is raised and practical ways people can eat better and support local growers. The reception was held in The Kennedy Caucus room in the Senate Russell Building. What a beautiful setting!    Based on what's being offered by the Food Matters CSA, keep an eye out for the following:
Does the market have stipulations on items being local? Absolutely. All the food brought to the West End Farmers Market from a 2.5 hour driving radius, or approximately 150 miles. There are a few artists who sometimes come from as far away as Charlottesville, Virginia. Only two artists offer items from South America and the Far East - and only because the goods are considered fair trade (an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability). They are our only exceptions to the rule. All of the farmers at the West End Farmers Market grow their own vegetables and fruits.  Welcome! This is the first post on the new website for the West End Farmers Market. To give you a brief tour, the homepage is currently an "About Us" page. The impressions page is for our social media connections and lists articles in which the West End Farmers Market has appeared. Vendors can submit their application from the Vendors tab. Once you hit submit, an email will be sent to us and you can expect a response in 3-5 business days. And the Contact form is for any questions, comments or feedback you have for us. Though of course you can do that here too!
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West End Farmers Market
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