Tag Archive | southeast area farmers market

Southeast Area Farmers’ Market partners with YMCA Veggie Van

Jul14

 

veggie vanSoutheast Area Farmers’ Market
MLK Jr. Park
Fridays 3 to 7 p.m.
Saturdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
SNAP, WIC, Sr. Project Fresh/Market FRESH and Double Up Food Bucks

The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market has another new vendor: The YMCA Veggie Van. Because it operates on a smaller scale than most farmers’ markets, the market has had challenges attracting more vendors. The Veggie Van will nicely complement the great range of items that its current vendors offer—especially now that the market is located at MLK Jr. Park, 900 Fuller Ave. SE, and has a lot more traffic.

Like its other faithful vendors, the Veggie Van will sell locally grown, top-quality fruits and vegetables and accept SNAP, WIC, and Senior Project Fresh/Market FRESH benefits. And, like the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market, it receives funding from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation.

While the Veggie Van will only be at the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market on Saturdays, the regular market vendors will be on hand both market days: 3 to 7 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Please come out and support these vendors who live, work and grow right here in Grand Rapids’ southeast neighborhoods!

The Tolberts are back with their amazing greens and other delicious in-season produce. Mr. Price offers fresh fruits as well as Watkins products. Ms. Yvonne Woodard, Ms. Darlene Gibbons and other regulars offer everything from herbs and chemical-free produce to kettle corn and craft items. When you buy from these vendors, you not only get healthy foods, you also help build an alternative food system that more justly serves your neighborhood.

Free foraging workshop at Saturday’s market

Jul7
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Urban forager, Laura Casaletto, always has interesting information edibles growing in your yard, park and  neighborhood.

Urban Foraging
12 – 2 p.m. July 9
MLK Jr. Park
900 Fuller Ave. SE 49506

Did you know that many of the native species we see around us (and label as weeds) once were a prize source of both food and medicine? On Saturday July 9, Our Kitchen Table’s urban forester, Laura Casaletto, will lead an Urban Foraging Workshop at the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market. Ms. Casaletto will share how to identify the edible plants growing in your Grand Rapids neighborhoods. She has been using foraging as a means to supplement her family’s food budget for many years.

SEAFM ad 2016The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market warmly welcomes patrons using Bridge cards (SNAP), Double Up Food Bucks,WIC Project Fresh, Cash Value Benefits, Summer EBT and debit cards. If you make a purchase with a Bridge Card, you get $1 for every $1 you spend to buy more Michigan produce (up to $20 each visit).

Help Build an Alternative Food System! Support the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market.

Aug18

0920141251Did you know that Our Kitchen Table manages the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market as part of its strategy to build an alternative food system in Grand Rapids’ southeast neighborhoods? These neighborhoods are often labelled “food deserts,” although OKT finds this term misleading. It’s not simply that these neighborhoods don’t have grocery stores. The current corporate controlled food system profits tremendously from selling junk and fast foods here. OKT sees this practice as food apartheid as our food system offers healthy, whole foods in predominantly white, income-secure areas and nutrient-poor foods in income-challenged communities of color.

We all can build a better local food system by growing our own food, buying from local growers and pooling our resources to buy healthy bulk foods from places aligned with a food justice perspective. The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market brings you fresh, local fruits and veggies as well as opportunity to order healthy whole foods from Country Life Natural Foods.

This weekend, both market locations will also host cooking demos to help you find new ways to prepare the fresh produce you buy at the market. The market is open:

  • Fridays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Garfield Park, 334 Burton St. SE.
  • Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gerald R Ford Academic Center, 851 Madison SE.

The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market warmly welcomes Bridge cards (SNAP), Double Up Food Bucks , WIC Project Fresh, Cash Value Benefits, Summer EBT and debit cards. If you make a purchase with a Bridge Card, you get $1 for every $1 you spend to buy more Michigan produce (up to $20 each visit)!

Farmers’ market Fridays & Saturdays!

Jul24

IMG_5517Shopping the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market is more than a convenient way to pick up fresh, locally grown produce. Every dollar, EBT swipe and Double Up Food Buck you spend helps build a new, alternative food system on Grand Rapids southeast side — and helps put an end to the food apartheid that denies so many of our community members from access to healthy foods.

The market operates at Garfield Park, 334 Burton SE, on Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. and at GR Ford Academic Center, 851 Madison SE, Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This weekend both market sites are hosting cooking demos and sampling. In addition, Saturday’s market has a new vendor, Bonao Cacao. Sales of their USDA certified organic cacao products help families in the Dominican Republic earn fair wages and safe livelihoods.

SEAFM ad 2015

Farmers’ Market in full swing at Garfield Park and Ford School

Jul15

SEAFM ad 2015The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market is well underway at two convenient neighborhood locations:

  • Garfield Park, on Fridays, 3 to 7 p.m.
  • G R Ford Academic Center on Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Our Kitchen Table’s new market manager, Christina Flier, brings experience in finance and food gardening as well as a clear awareness of justice issues. A woman of color living in the Baxter neighborhood, Flier also has become adept at preparing healthy, whole foods as her young daughter has many food allergies. “Having grown up growing food, I understand the importance for having access to fresh food and building a healthy, positive relationship with food. Food is the true medicine, life,” Flier says. “Food is a human right, not a privilege and teaching people to grow their own food and giving them easy access to fresh local produce is a great start in bridging that gap.”

Speaking of justice issues, did you know that Our Kitchen Table operates the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market as part of its food justice mission?  If you want to know more about that work—or become involved in it yourself—come on out to the free Food Justice Primer, 6 to 8 p.m. Monday July 20 at Garfield Park Lodge.  For information on the market and other programs, visit OKTjustice.org or call 616-206-3641.

Southeast Area Farmers’ Market open July 3

Jun30

IMG_5534The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market will be open Friday July 3 but closed Saturday July 4. Regular market hours are Fridays,  3 p.m. to 7 p.m.  at Garfield Park, 334 Burton St. SE and Saturdays. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gerald R Ford Academic Center, 851 Madison SE.

The Market warmly welcomes patrons using Bridge cards (SNAP), Double Up Food Bucks ,WIC Project Fresh, Cash Value Benefits, Summer EBT and debit cards. If you make a purchase with a Bridge Card, you get $1 for every $1 you spend to buy more Michigan produce (up to $20 each visit).

The Market is off to a good start. Here are some photos from last Saturday’s Summer Celebration.

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A special thank you to Boston Community Bikes for doing free bike repairs; West Michigan Jewels of Africa Drum and Dance ensemble; Grand Rapids Fire Department; and musicians, Kelly Loucks-Wilson & Eddie Killowatts.

Farmers’ Market this Friday 3 to 7 p.m. & Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.!

Jun17

seafm logoSoutheast Area Farmers’ Market opening days are Friday & Saturday June 19 & 20. The market operates at two locations through November 14:

  • Fridays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
    at Garfield Park, 334 Burton St. SE.
  • Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    at Gerald R Ford Academic Center, 851 Madison SE.

Neighbors love walking to the market, picking up fresh, locally grown produce and chatting with each other and the market vendors and staff. Don’t be afraid to ask how to use the fruits and veggies you pick up!

DUFB SEAFM 7-25The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market warmly welcomes patrons using Bridge cards (SNAP), Double Up Food Bucks ,WIC Project Fresh, Cash Value Benefits, Summer EBT and debit cards. If you make a purchase with a Bridge Card,you get $1 for every $1 you spend to buy more Michigan produce (up to $20 each visit).

Southeast Area Farmers’ Market opens June 19

Jun8

IMG_5084The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market kicks off its 2015 season on Friday June 19, 3 – 7 p.m.,  at Garfield Park, 334 Burton St. SE. and Saturday June 20, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Gerald R Ford Academic Center, 851 Madison SE. The market is managed by Our Kitchen Table (OKT). The market warmly welcomes patrons using Bridge cards (SNAP), Double Up Food Bucks ,WIC Project Fresh, Cash Value Benefits, Summer EBT and debit cards.

As part of a Fair Food Network pilot project and in cooperation with the Kent County Health Department, OKT has been signing people up for the Double Up Food Bucks program. Patrons purchasing Michigan produce at select farmers’ markets with Bridge cards receive $1 for each $1 dollar spent, up to $20 each market visit.

The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market has an exciting line-up of market activities on its 2015 calendar. In addition, community organizations will be on hand with information, activities and services. The following events will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Friday market and 12 to 2 p.m. at the Saturday market:

Cooking Demos: June 26, 27, July 24, 25, Aug. 21, 22, Sept. 26, Oct. 24 and Nov. 7.

  • seafm logoJune 27 Summer Celebration DJ & fun activities
  • July 10 & 11 Urban Foraging Workshop
  • July 31 & Aug.1 Make Your Own Personal Care Items Workshop
  • Sept. 5 Urban Foraging Workshop
  • Sept. 19 Art at the Market
  • Oct. 10 Greens Cook-off & Fried Green Tomato Festival
  • Oct. 17 World Food Day Activities
  • Oct. 31 Fall Celebration

The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market is sponsored by Kent County Health Department, Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council & OKT, market managers.