Closed for Memorial Day Holiday

Don't forget that the Market will be closed this Saturday, May 29th but will pick up again on June 5th. Please spread the word if you know people who mentioned coming this Saturday. We'll see you June 5th.

May 2010 Recap

The Market won't be open on Saturday, May 29th, so this seems an appropriate time to recap what a great season we've had so far! We had a lovely carrot roaming the Market on opening day, and there were loads of community organizations there to share news about what they do in De Soto. The police dog demonstration was a huge success, and there were plenty of volunteer cheeks, noses, and foreheads for the face painting.

We did have a vendor with a fair amount of strawberries, but they were gone in a flash! Word spread quickly, and anyone who wanted them at 9AM was just out of luck.

We also had our first vendor with maple syrup and sorghum. That's certainly an addition to the Market and needed since many of last year's honey producers are out until honey harvest. We should all start swopping recipes for molasses cookies!

In addition to these new vendors, we also have several returning vendors...and many have increased the volume of their goods. There has been some good looking lettuce and bedding plants from several vendors. One man was able to track down icicle radishes (something he had been searching for at local grocers for some time), and some of our artisans have returned with birdhouses, jewelry, and furniture. One new artisan has put her sewing machine to work and has lovely little dresses for sell.

You'll have to come to the Market to check out the rest...but not next weekend. We'll see you June 5th!

What's in Store...for May 22nd

This Saturday, there will be strawberries at the market, but there will also be other great produce and a few artisans too. Here's the list: (Once again, the new vendors are denoted with an asterisk.)

1. Needs More Farm - shrubs and perennials
2. Fischer Creek Farms - lettuce, spinach, eggs, heirloom vegetable and flower bedding plants
3. Team Millers Homestead - cool season produce, honey, baked goods, crafts and cookies
4. Amanda Hendrickson - children's garments and accessories
5. DAP's General Goods - pre-mixed baking goods, baked goods and patio pavers
6. Robert Noack - bird, bat, butterfly, bee and lady bug houses. Homemade cookies, desserts and dog treats
7. Bill Heincker - maple and sorghum syrups
8. The Rep Room - Eggs, unscented soaps
9. Carter's Produce - radishes, green onions, lettuce, blackberry plants, herb and vegetable plants
10. Steve Heuer - Cal Wonder & Jalapeno Pepper plants, Marglobe, Beefstake, Beefmaster, Big Boy and Sweet 100s tomato plants
11. Wood Unlimited - hand crafted cedar products
12. St. Andrew's United Methodist Church - baked goods and coffee
13. *Rhonda Lawson - handmade glass tile jewelry
14. Developmental Services - tomato plants
15. Dan Lutz - Strawberries!
16. *Linda Sullivan - WORMS!, perennials and tomato plants
17. Grandma Mb's Baked Goods - breads, muffins, cookies, and cakes
18. Healing Hands Chiropractic - free screenings

De Soto Farmers' Market 2010

Here are some recent photos taken by various people at the Market. Simply click on the picture, and you'll be taken to more pictures from the Market.

A Different Kind of Lettuce

I noticed some vendors at the Market last week who were selling mesclun. It's a mix of salad that originated in France, and it sometimes goes by the title "spring mix" at the grocery store. Because our vendors tend to be more adventuresome than your typical grocer, some mesclun mixes at the Market may include dandelion greens and other things you might not anticipate! Although it doesn't necessarily look the same as other lettuce (it is often more colorful), the taste isn't what you might expect either. Some mesclun mixes are peppery, some bitter, and others fairly mild.

When you purchase a mesclun mix at the Market, be sure to tell the vendor if you have a preference in how your lettuce should taste. They can probably direct you to one that will be palate-pleasing. Of course, for those who are more "fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants", try them all and report back about what you liked best!

If you'd like to try a mesclun mix, and aren't sure what to do with it once you get it home, you might try this recipe from the Mayo Clinic. It is a mesclun salad with blood oranges and radishes. Of course, I think you could substitute mandarin oranges for the blood oranges, and it would still turn out to be tasty.

Please share any lettuce adventures or produce discoveries that you come across and provide us with recipes that you find as well.

What's in Store...for May 15th

This week, we have several vendors that will be at the market. (In case you want to know which ones are new to our market, they have an astrerick by their names.)

• Needs More Farm - shrubs and perennials
• Padre's Gallery - fine art - oils and prints
• Fischer Creek Farms - lettuce, spinach, eggs, heirloom vegetable and flower bedding plants
• Team Millers Homestead - cool season produce, honey, baked goods, crafts and cookies (Yes, I know cookies are baked, but shouldn't they really be in their own category whenever possible?)
• Primrose Herbs & Gifts - herb and vegetable plants
• Amanda Hendrickson - children's garments and accessories
• DAP's General Goods - pre-mixed baking goods, baked goods and patio pavers
• Robert Noack - bird, bat, butterfly, bee and lady bug houses. Homemade cookies, desserts and dog treats
• Acorn Investments - plants and cool season produce
• The Bug Doctor
• Karen Allison - goat accessories - T-shirts, hotpads, magnets and bags
• *Bill Heincker - maple and sogrhum syrups
• The Rep Room - Eggs, unscented soaps
• Carter's Produce - radishes, green onions, lettuce, blackberry plants, herb and vegetable plants
• Harold Underwood - wooden items - decorations for indoor and outdoor
• Steve Heuer - Cal Wonder & Jalapeno Pepper plants, Marglobe, Beefstake, Beefmaster, Big Boy and Sweet 100s tomato plants
• Wood Unlimited - hand crafted cedar products
• First United Methodist Church - baked goods and coffee

What to do with a perfectly good Wednesday...

If you find yourself staring down a perfectly good Wednesday evening without a thing to do, perhaps you should check out the Crystal City Farmers' Market. The Market will be held at Grace Presbyterian Church on Wednesday evenings from 4pm - 8 pm beginning May 19th. Although their market just started this year, they have selected a fearless leader, Ben DeClue, to be their Market Master. They hope to have fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, hand crafts, and maybe even baby food!

Check out their blogspot at http://crystalcityfarmersmarket.blogspot.com/ and be sure to stop by when you can.

Still Calling for Recipes

We're still accepting recipes for the De Soto Farmers' Market Cookbook. Please bring them with you to the market on Saturday and turn them in at the Market Master booth. If you can't make it on Saturday, you can submit them electronically by emailing them to carrie.weatherholt@jeffcohealth.org or by submitting them through our Facebook page (search De Soto Farmers' Market.)

We're looking for all sorts of recipes, including those that are kid-friendly, so start writing them down or typing them out! We are anxiously awaiting your best recipes.

E-cycling at the Market

Please help to protect our landfills and bring your unwanted washers, dryers, freezers, refrigerators, ovens, microwave ovens, hot water tanks, AC units, kitchen appliances, and electronic devices (including monitors, printers, keyboards, etc.) to the market on Saturday.

Electronics and appliances can be recycled without charge, except TVs which are $15 and computer monitors, which are $10. The fee is to cover the costs associated with the lead in these appliances.

We invite you to come and enjoy a day out while you visit the numerous booths containing a variety of delicious produce, wonderful food, and homemade crafts.

E-cycling will be located on Mineral Street between 10th and Washington Streets. Look for the MCR Recycling truck(s). For additional information call Frances at 337-5098 or St. Andrew's at 586-2472.

Don't You Just Love Worms

This week in the Kids' Corner, there will be an opportunity to make a composting worm farm. From 9-11 AM kids can come by the Kids' Corner booth and take home their very own worms. (Don't worry, Mom. They'll be in a jar.) The kids will learn about composting and how worms help to not only break down material, but also to aerate the soil. Adults might listen in and learn some fun facts about worms as well. It is sure to be educational and fun!

EBT and Debit Tokens

Since the Market is open, and the EBT/Debit machine seems to be working, here are some guidelines for shoppers.

$1 Tokens (green) are for EBT ONLY. There no minimum amount & no transaction fee.

• Food stamp recipients can purchase $1 tokens using their EBT card. This can be done at the Market Master tent.


• $1 tokens are good for most food items: fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meats, seeds, baked goods to be taken home, and plants intended for growing food.


• $1 tokens are NOT good for: non-food items, ready-to-eat foods, hot foods.


• By law, change may not be given for purchases with $1 tokens. Where possible vendors and consumers are encouraged to make up the difference in product to bring the purchase total to a whole dollar value.


• Any unused $1 tokens can be used at the market on subsequent market days throughout the 2010 season.


• $1 Tokens should never be given as change because this compromises our ability to accept EBT transactions.


• For more information about EBT programs at farmers’ markets, contact the Missouri Department of Agriculture at (573) 526-4984.

$5 Tokens (red) are for debit cards only.

• Customers can purchase $5 tokens using their debit card. A 50¢ fee will be assessed to help support the token program by offsetting card processing costs.


• There are no restrictions on what can be purchased with the $5 token. Cash change is given for purchases.


• Unused $5 tokens can be used at any subsequent market day during the 2010 season.

If you'd like to share the information, please do so. We want as many people as possible to use this new option at the Market.

A Great Opening Day

Saturday was a great day to open the De Soto Farmers' Market. Okay, so it was a little windy and chilly, but we survived in grand form. There were a lot of people that came out to shop, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Thank you to everyone who helped make the opening a great success. Now here's your chance to give us feedback:

1. What went really well?
2. What was missing or went awry?
3. If you're a vendor, did you sell what you anticipated?
4. If you're a customer, did you find what you sought?
5. Did you get a free paring knife at the Market Master tent?
6. Did you have a hard time finding the market?
7. Have you subscribed to the blog, so you can easily find out about events and happenings?

And although I haven't yet received a picture of our lovely carrot mascot, I'm sure you enjoyed seeing him at the market. For future reference, he goes by Andy, and he is certainly a good sport!

I'll make sure you can post comments to this message, but you can also send feedback to anyone on the Market committee. We would really appreciate knowing what you thought about Saturday!

What's in Store...for May 8th

This Saturday is the Meet Me at the Market Event, and we have a great line-up of producers and artisans at the Market.

• Needs More Farm - shrubs and perennials
• St. Andrew's United Methodist Church - muffins, breads, and coffee
• Lisa Uzzle - Soy Candles
• Fischer Creek Farms - lettuce, spinach, eggs, heirloom vegetable and flower bedding plants
• Shenandoah Soaps - cold process soaps, lotion bars, lip gloss, perfumes, and other hand crafted items
• Team Millers Homestead - cool season produce, honey, baked goods, and crafts
• Primrose Herbs & Gifts - herb and vegetable plants
• Amanda Hendrickson - children's garments and accessories
• The Rep Room - Eggs
• Pam & Stuart's Old Fashion Crafts - 90% recycled wood products, birdhouses, feeders, butterfly and bat houses and much more!
• Carter's Produce - cool season produce, vegetable and flower bedding plants
• Harold Underwood - wooden items - decorations for indoor and outdoor
• Steve Heuer - Cal Wonder & Jalapeno Pepper plants, Marglobe, Beefstake, Beefmaster, Big Boy and Sweet 100s tomato plants
• Homemade Simple by Suz & Jay - Peanut & mix nut brittle; sweet, white, wheat and sourdough breads, cookies, and convenience mixes
• Wood Unlimited - hand crafted cedar products
• Debbie's Custom Creations - jams, jellies, homemade jewelry
• Mararet Pillen - Rose of Sharon bushes, apple pies, banana bread and baby quilts
• De Soto Community Gardens - Radishes and lettuce
• The Patchwork Attic - Fudge and other goodies
• Grandma Mb's Baked Goods - breads, coffee cakes, and muffins
• Matheny Farms - tomato plants and blackberry starts

In addition to these folks, the Bug Doctor will be present to diagnose any nuisance you might have in your garden. Feel free to bring a sample bug along to have it identified and to find out whether it is harmful or helpful.

The Back Lot Porch Band will be playing from 9-11 AM, and they are surely honored to be the first band to play in our new bandstand! (On a side note, the bandstand will be finished by Saturday, so feel free to drive by and check it out.)

Community organizations will be on hand to tell about the great support they receive from the community and to talk about what all they do. They will have separate booths, so be sure to check them out on Saturday.

Don't forget to tell your friends and neighbors about stopping by on Saturday!

De Soto Farmers' Market Garb

We will have t-shirts for sale on Saturday. They are $10 each and are just the thing to sport around town. It would also make a fabulous Mother's Day gift for those who have procrastinated on a purchase or for anyone who loves the Market.

Various sizes are available, and the t-shirts are a fetching green with our Market logo in white. Check them out at the Market Master tent!

We Won!

Each year, the Missouri Department of Agriculture gives out three awards to markets around the state. One is for Best Advertising/Marketing Campaign of the Year, and that went to Fair Grove Farmers' Market. Webb City Farmers' Market won for Best Photo. However, we won too! We won for Best Event with our Meet Me at the Market last September. That's when we had the Recycling Contest and multiple State Representatives were honored at the market.

In addition to that, the Department of Agriculture also names two Champions of the Year. Pastor Darlene Payne was named a Champion of the Year, and we are truly fortunate to have her as one of our market champions! To learn more about the awards and honors, please visit http://thinkoutsidethebarn.mda.mo.gov/.

2010 Market Master

In case you haven't heard, the De Soto Farmers' Market was the recipient of a grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health. That grant has allowed us to hire our first Market Master. "Now, wait a minute", you might think..."we had Market Masters last year", and you'd be correct. However, this year we went through a hiring process and our Market Master is actually going to receive monetary compensation for her time during the market. (She's also volunteering for far more hours than we could possibly pay her.)
We thought it was important to hire someone who was familiar with our market and doesn't mind getting up extremely early on Saturdays. We found the perfect person: Cindy Valle. Her name may seem familiar because she was a Market Master last year, but you'll see a lot more of her at the market this year. Be careful of her unimposing nature; she's quite the Cadillac of Market Masters (my words, not hers). She will have all the bells (or at least the one we use to start the market) and whistles. (No, we don't really have whistles.)
She knows how to work the EBT machine, she can reference the Rules and Regulations like she's been sleeping with it next to her bed for years, and she knows most of you already. It's going to be a fabulous year!

Her service on the steering committee for the market has been invaluable, and we are looking forward to her being a constant throughout this season. Be sure you stop by and tell her hello when you see her on Saturday.

Our Smoking Policy

The De Soto Farmers' Market is a smoke free market. As a quick reminder of why we think that is important, I thought it would be appropriate to have one of our market volunteers prepare some information about smoking and its affect on communities.

One can probably assume that if you are a smoker, you have heard all the statistics; the health and social reasons to quit. One can probably assume if you are a smoker, either you want to quit and so far have not found the right method for success, or you just don’t want to.

For some folks, it’s a freedom of choice issue. For others it’s an unconscious habit; they don’t even remember lighting that cig dangling from their lips. But for the more than 20 million Americans who have asthma, (the leading chronic illness among children in the U.S.) and 24 million Americans who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is the nation's fourth leading cause of death, breathing smoke is not a choice they can inhale.

According to the Surgeon General, there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. Every year in the U.S. over 400,000 people die from directly smoking or secondhand smoke related complications, making this the leading cause of preventable death in this country. The burden is exponentially higher for Medicaid recipients, who statistically smoke at rates 60 percent higher than the general population.

That's why the De Soto Farmers’ Market, in conjunction with Get Healthy De Soto decided to make the Market Smoke-Free and accessible to all who may have difficulty in an environment with clouds of 4000 chemicals per puff. Besides, do you really want your peppers and tomatoes coated with 50 types of known carcinogens?

(All statistics from the American Lung Association website www.lungusa.org .)

Please be considerate of others and refrain from smoking at the market.

New Seating at the Market

The market will have some new seating when it opens next Saturday. This lovely picnic table was made by one of the market vendors, Mr. Nick Stateler, owner of Wood Unlimited. If you'd like to contact Nick about purchasing a table like this one, please contact him directly at 919-602-0251. This will add some socializing space to the market, and we hope you'll come and "sit a spell" with us!