Chewelah Farmers Market is Ready

The Chewelah Farmer’s Market is Ready to Grow
Chewelah, WA July 16, 2008- Nothing says summer quite like the taste of garden-fresh produce, and beginning Friday, July 25, a variety of fruits, vegetables and other products will be available at the opening of the Chewelah Farmer’s Market, to be held creek side on the grounds of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, N. 202 2nd St. W, in Chewelah. The Chewelah Farmer’s Market will be open every Friday from 12:00- 6:00 throughout the growing season. Terry Swagerty, Small Farm Program Director for the WSU Stevens County Extension says "This is the latest edition to our direct marketing efforts to promote local agriculture and food systems".
The Chewelah Farmer’s Market is a part of the Mustard Seed Project, a group of farmers, educators, and community volunteers interested in making locally-grown produce, meat, baked goods and other products available to the community. "The mustard seed is a tiny little seed that grows into something really big" says Ed Pace, Pastor of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, "This Farmer’s Market is a small start of something much larger- we see this as a way to help create a larger market for local produce and making available fresh, quality, locally grown food". With the rising cost of food, now is an excellent time to buy local and to learn how much you can provide for yourself. "We are very excited to offer the community fresh produce out of our garden" says local producer Dean Hyden.
Every Market Day, two short classes will be offered at no charge that will explore a variety of subjects, including cooking classes, gardening classes, and backyard livestock classes. On July 25th at 2:00, come to the "Shopping the Farmer’s Market" class and learn how to pick the best produce, what questions to ask the vendor, and many other tips you need to know. At 4:00, instructor Susan Henson,
professional chef and former owner of an organic catering business in Portland, will take a stroll through the market, picking out items and preparing them right before your eyes in the "Cooking with what is Fresh Today" class. There will also be a Master Gardener on hand to answer your gardening questions.
Do you have some extra zucchini or lettuce in your garden, but not enough to be a market vendor? You can still sell your produce at the Market Consignment table, operated by the Jenkins High School FFA. There is a small consignment fee, and you can choose to keep your proceeds, donate it to the FFA, or donate it to the Chewelah Food Bank. This is a great way for everyone in the community to get involved with the market.
No matter how large or how small your garden is, we invite you to come be a part of the Chewelah Farmer’s Market. Crafts and other items are welcome that fall within the rules of the market. If you are interested in becoming a vendor at the Chewelah Farmer’s Market, contact Ed Pace at 935-6311 or revedpace@centurytel.net to receive a registration form and market rules.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Ed Pace, Pastor
(509) 935-6311
revedpace@centurytel.net