Collegeville Farmers' Market Weekly Newsletter

In This Issue

February 4, 2012

Market Vendors

Important Announcements

Featured at the Market:

· Fresh Food

· Organic Food

· Local Products

Featured Products

Fresh Swiss chard

Longview suggested recipes

Melanie from Red Haven Farm

Collegeville Farmers' Market Newsletter

Farmers' Market Vendors at Longview

February 4th Market

Enjoy Eating Locally and Seasonally!

To meet consumer demand for locally grown food all throuhout the year, US winter farmers' markets are on the rise. The USDA recently released a report showing that the number of farmers' markets operating in the winter has increased by 38%. And Pennsylvania now ranks third in the nation, with 78 winter markets operating this year!

Don't be left out in the cold--or rather, inside a supermarket, where the produce may have traveled thousands of miles over many weeks, losing freshness and nutrients in the process. Instead, stop by the Collegeville Farmers' Market at the Longview Center for Agriculture this Saturday, and take advantage of their large selection of fresh, locally grown and produced products!

Longview is also offering a must-attend workshop on Saturday: "Eating Seasonally with Sarah Groat," from noon to 1 p.m. Sarah will talk about how to continue eating locally in the wintertime with foods such as wintergreens, turnips, radishes, onions, and winter squash. Learn how this produce is grown and techniques for preparation. The instructor may allow you to tour Longview's own hoop houses and pick a few greens yourself. Please dress weather and farm appropriate, in order to walk around the farm and harvest your own vegetables. Sturdy shoes and jeans should be adequate. The fee is $8 for members and $10 for non-members. This workshop requires pre-registration 48 hours in advance; call 610 584 8202.

Here are the farmers, vendors and products we have planned for you this week:

Mountain View Poultry--Marie will have pasture-raised turkey drumsticks on sale for $1.50 off the regular price. And eggs are also on sale-two cartons for $8.00.

As always, the farm will bring their delicious line of prepared soups. Mountain View's newest soup addition is vegetarian--very light with lots of flavor!!

Mountain View also has a full menu of prepared food. Their most recent creation is Infused Sea Salts, which come in multiple flavors that are amazingly versatile in spicing up your recipes! Check out their full line of products at the market on Saturday. You can find Mountain View this week both at the Longview farm store and at Clark Park. Barb and Marie hope you have a great week and they look forward to seeing you on Saturday!

Red Haven Farm returns this week with their premium grass fed beef and lamb, pastured pork, artisan cheeses and free range eggs. Melanie only sells at Longview every other week, so stock up on her amazing meats and cheeses!

Kate of Om Shanti Naturals is chuffed to announce that her luxurious body and shower washes, in addition to being so very special, are also organic and all-natural. Mention this newsletter and you will get a special deal on a bottle for your home! Kate also has a line of

soaps, moisturizing lip balms, body scrubs, massage oils, bath salts, bath oils and much more.

Old Mill Gourmet will have the following products available this weekend: Mango Strawberry Jam, White Peach Raspberry Jam, Local Honey and *NEW* Honey sticks in both Natural Clover and Mango flavors.

Marcy's Granola returns with her six original flavors of artisan granola, including her newest, cashew with cranberries. Her granola is made with oats, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, and she uses only the finest oil and vegan friendly sweeteners to make it slightly sweet. Try a

free sample on Saturday, and you can also pre-order from her website: www.shop.marcysgranola.com and

pick up your order at the market.

Bigg Dutt's BBQ is bringing Matt's special sauces along with his barbeque rubs.

A'dello Vineyards is bringing their chardonnays, including Chardonnay Reserve and Chardonnay Naked, as well as their reds, including Cabernet Franc and their signature fruit wines.

Little Lost Creek Alpaca Farm will have all their alpaca products available--including their heavenly soft and warm socks--and handcrafted pottery by local potter Nicole Dubrow.

Visit our Collegeville Farmers' Market vendors inside the Longview Farm Store each Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. through April 28th, 2012. The Longview Center for Agriculture is located at the former Willow Creek Farm, 3215 Stump Hall Road in Collegeville.

While visiting our farmers and vendors this week, take advantage of Longview's fresh, local vegetable offerings! Their organically grown greens and root vegetables, including kale, chard, scallions and salad greens, among other vegetable offerings, are picked fresh daily from their season-extending high tunnel houses. Also, don't miss their many varieties of apples, potatoes, meats, fish and dairy products-all grown, raised or made locally!

The farm store, which is operated by the non-profit Greener Partners, is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and is open Wednesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Directions to Longview: The Longview Center for Agriculture is located at 3215 Stump Hall Road, Collegeville, PA. (From the Collegeville Farmers' Market Main St. site, drive East down Main St. and cross the Perkiomen Creek Bridge. Drive about five miles East on Germantown Pike, then turn left on Rt. 363, and after several miles turn left again to Stump Hall Rd. Longview is about a mile down on your right.)

Market Vendors
From the Collegeville Farmers' Market

Yellow Springs Farm - is a native plant nursery and artisan goat cheese dairy that offers an assortment of goat cheeses, caramel sauce, blueberries, and chocolate truffle candies in season. For more information: www.yellowspringsfarm.com

Marcy's Granola - Their granola comes in six delicious flavors, including 100% vegan, and offers great taste, a chewy texture and is baked to perfection to retain as much nutrient value as possible. Marcy's wonderful selections are based on her 30 years of experience. For more information: www.shop.marcysgranola.com.

A'dello Vineyards - Is a local vineyard and winery in Perkiomenville. A'dello sells a range of reds, whites and sweet fruit wines and wine products for the enjoyment of residents in the Collegeville area. For more information www.adellowines.com

Bigg Dutt's Barbecue Sauce - Matt Dutton (Bigg Dutt) who is from Collegeville, perfected his barbeque sauces over a ten year period, and now has added his Jacked Up Chipotle Sauce and rubs to his product line. Find out more at www.bigduttsbbq.com

Little Lost Creek Alpaca Farm - Alpaca fiber is some of the softest and warmest fiber in the world. It does not contain the lanolin found in sheep's wool, so that people allergic to wool can comfortably wear alpaca. Stop by their table and experience the lush feeling of alpaca fiber and sign up for a farm visit! For more information, www.littlelostcreekalpacafarm.com

Om Shanti Naturals specializes in hand made, all natural bath and body products. Learn more at www.omshantinaturals.com

Neil's Sharpening Service - Neil returns to the market on the third Saturday of each month to sharpen all of your kitchen knives, scissors, and tools. He also sells handmade wood products. View his website at

www.neilssharpeningservice.com

Red Haven Farm - Offering grass fed beef and lamb, pastured pork, artisan cheeses and free range eggs. Red Haven Farm will return next week. See their website at www.redhavenfarm.com

Mountain View Poultry Farm - Is an organic, free-range farm offering poultry, eggs, and a full menu of poultry products. They have been busy enlarging their kitchen at the Mountain View Farm Store so they will be offering even more delicious entrees in the future! They will be back at the market next week.

Announcements

Collegeville Farmers' Market seeking 2012 Summer Market Manager

The summer Collegeville Farmers' Market will open May 5th and run weekly for 29 weeks, ending Nov. 17th, 2012. The summer market is held each Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the parking lot behind the AmeriGreen Gas station at 460 E. Main St., Collegeville. The market hosts about 20 farmers and vendors each week. The market is sponsored by the Collegeville Economic Development Corp. and the market manager reports into the Main Street Manager. Volunteers from the Collegeville Farmers' Market Committee assist with the market.

Position Summary:

The Farmers' Market Manager is a part-time position with the primary responsibility for:

1) Working to increase the market's customer base by promoting the market through PR activities such as writing and sending out press releases, writing newsletter articles, posting flyers, use of social media, including posting on Facebook, blogs and tweeting, writing and sending the market's weekly e-newsletter, putting up signage and creating and promoting a series of special events at the market throughout the summer season;

2) Overseeing the weekly operation of the market, most importantly in getting the market and sound equipment set up and ready before the 9 a.m. opening time, and then ensuring that all tents and equipment are taken down and stored and the site put back in order when the market ends at 1 p.m.

3) Administrative work, including record-keeping and communication with farmers, vendors, the public, and others during the non-market hours.

Hours:

It is expected that the Manager will work a total of 20 hours per week during the 29-week Farmers' Market season. Of those hours, the Manager will be required to oversee the running of the market every Saturday, and most particularly its opening and close. The remaining hours per week are required to plan for and promote each market, perform administrative duties, update the website and Facebook page, tweet, and send out the weekly market Constant Contact newsletter.

Off-season, the Manager will work an average of 30 hours per month. These hours are flexible.

Qualifications:

Must possess computer skills in Word, Excel, e-mail, and be able to update the Farmers' Market web and Facebook pages and write and send out the weekly Constant Contact market newsletter.
Must have excellent writing skills and be able to write press releases to send to the news media and newsletter copy.
Must be familiar with and able to use social media tools
Excellent organizational skills
Self-motivated
Passionate about the community and local agriculture
Mature and able to make good decisions
Ability to train, supervise, coordinate and motivate volunteers
Some financial knowledge helpful: i.e. budgeting
Prior experience overseeing a farmers' market or special events desirable

Salary and Compensation

The Market Manager salary will be $13/hour for 20 hours a week for 29 weeks (from 5/05/2012 through 11/17/2012) for a total of $7,540 while the market is in session. In the off-season, the salary will be $13 for about 30 hours per month for a total of $2,260, making the yearly salary $9,800.00. The salary is fixed at this compensation level.

More information on this position is available here: http://webpages.ursinus.edu/rwallace/CFM%20Manager%20Job%20Ad%202012.pdf

To Apply or for More Information

Contact Cathy Kernen, Chair, Collegeville Farmers' Market Committee, 476 East Main Street, Collegeville, PA 19426. E-mail: catherine.kernen@comcast.net

Commercial Space Available at the Collegeville

Farmers' Market Site

Beginning May 1, 2012, retail space will be available at 448 E. Main St., in the building owned by Vince Raffeo at the current site of The Tennis Shop. The property is a block from Ursinus College in a prime location in the center of Collegeville with plenty of parking. The space totals 1,100 sq. ft. and includes an office, kitchenette area, bathroom, and storage space. Other businesses in the building are Diane's Hair Salon and the newly opened Lunchbox Café, serving breakfast and lunch. For more information, contact Cathy Kernen at catherine.kernen@comcast.net

Hope to see you on Saturday!

Sincerely,

Cathy Kernen
Chair, Collegeville Farmers' Market Committee

The Collegeville Farmers' Market is sponsored by the Collegeville Main Street Program

Support the Farmers' Market by becoming a member of the Collegeville Main Street Program. For more information: www.collegevilledevelopment.org