Go to http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/24364
to cast your vote for the Dallas Farmers Market!

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Honoring Founder Ida Papert and Showcasing Talents of Local Culinary Students

(DALLAS)- To honor the commitment and efforts of Dallas Farmers Market Friends Founder, Ida Papert, the Dallas Farmers Market Friends is hosting the 3^rd Annual ‘Mama Ida Ice Cream Social’ at the Dallas Farmers Market Plaza on Saturday, June 27 from 10 a.m.-noon. Working with local donations of fresh ingredients, a variety of ice cream and sorbet entries will be developed by local culinary students and the Dallas County Youth Village. Judged by all attendees, the winner will be awarded a cash prize.

In the late 80’s, the Dallas Farmers Market was feeling the effects of lengthy area construction, unrealized political promises and was in desperate need of a community coalition to preserve the integrity of the once popular, city owned ‘farm to table’ concept.  Community volunteer Ida Paper, an election chair for Mayor Starke Taylor and a decades-long, seasoned civic leader seemed the logical choice for the politicos of 1991 to head an organization that would gather support for the 40 year old Dallas Farmers Market. With a small but visionary support group (aka Ida’s civic pals), the Dallas Farmers Market Friends held their first meeting in early 1991.

Fast-forward to 2009 and we see the results of the efforts of these original few. The DFMFriends have contributed thousands of dollars and volunteer time to the DFM. These critical dollars have provided necessary materials, education and oft times the reason the DFM could stay in the good graces of the sharp-penciled city budgeters.

Noting that she has worked with few Farmers Market directors that had more experience and credentials than the current Administrator, Janelle Leatherwood, Ms. Papert feels confident that the DFM can only continue its success in providing the city of Dallas with locally grown produce and meats.

For more information, please contact:                                                           

Ryan Eason, President                                                                                  

Dallas Farmer’s Market Friends                                        

ryan@hcahealthcare.com   214.734.7600

The Dallas Farmers Market received a grant for a new initiative, Market to Menu. GO TEXAN is partnering with farmers markets across Texas to support local producers and GO TEXAN restaurants. Farmers markets were invited to submit proposals to receive up to $1,000 to host a GO TEXAN restaurant member or members for a cooking demonstration at their market.

The Texas Department of Agriculture’s new From Market to Menu partnership program helps certified farmers’ markets promote local growers and Texas restaurants committed to serving local products.

Saturday, June 20, 2009 GO TEXAN Chefs Janice Provost and Chad Houser from Parigi Restaurant will prepare fresh locally grown products during an outdoor cooking demonstration at the Dallas Farmers Market beginning at 10:00 a.m. and a second demonstration at 11:30 a.m.

The Market is located at 1010 S. Pearl Expressway Dallas, TX 75201 for complete information please visit www.dallasfarmersmarket.org or call 214-670-5880.

The cooking demonstrations will incorporate fresh Texas ingredients directly from the farmers markets, giving consumers an opportunity to taste and buy Texas produce and food. Participants will understand that local, sustainable products are going to be fresher. The chef will be able to explain that when your cooking is seasonally and locally-based, you might need to be more creative with what is grown locally.

Join us for this FREE demonstration and see how Chefs support local Texas farmers and Texas-grown products – and how they make the connection from Market to Menu.

The Market welcomes downtown residents and the metro community to take this opportunity to clear out their closets, basements, and storage units and sell gently used items at the Market. When an item has outlived its usefulness, it is possible that it might be useful to someone else. The Market’s Community Yard Sale is a great way for individuals to find environmentally responsible ways to reuse items that might otherwise find their way to local landfills.

Shoppers will find used household items, clothing and apparel for adults and children, children’s toys, collectibles and much more. The Community Yard Sale will continue every Sunday throughout the season. If you are interested in participating in the community yard sales, please contact Elizabeth Scoggin for an application; she can be reached by phone 214-939-2242 or via e-mail at, elizabeth.scoggin@dallasfarmersmarket.org.

The Dallas Farmers Market, offering a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, is one of the largest public markets of its type in the country where farmers, producers and dealers sell seasonal crops to consumers. Since 1941, the Dallas Farmers Market has provided community residents and customers with a welcoming and dynamic marketplace. The Market is open 7 days-a-week 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. – www.dallasfarmersmarket.org

Dear Friend,

Recently, a bill named the HR 875 Food and Safety Modernization Act of 2009 was introduced in Congress.  It is in response to the recent food-borne health scares and is an attempt to streamline the federal food regulation.  Unfortunately, it is written with a broad coverage that includes not only large-scale corporate food producers and distributors but also our local farmers and growers who would be subject to the same regulation as these industrial giants, without the resources to implement it.

Though it is the opinion of many of the Farmer’s Market Friends Board of Directors that this legislation does not favor the local farms and meat producing ranches, we would like to provide its members with information so each of you can make your own decision in choosing to support or oppose this bill.

Pro: http://csa-days.blogspot.com/2009/03/hr-875-food-safety-modernization-act-of.html

Con:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-johnson/the-hr-875-food-safety-mo_b_183096.html

More: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h87/show

If you would like to vocalize your opposition, you can sign a petition at http://www.leavemyfoodalone.org/

As this is an important issue concerning the local farm movement, your consideration would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Ryan Eason, President                                                                                                                                                                
Farmers Market Friends     

On Sunday April 15, the 2^nd annual Chef and Farmers Roundtable found its focus quickly as five well-known Dallas area Chefs sat down with area farmers and ranchers to discuss the benefits and challenges of buying locally. Go to the Friends Website for more details on the meeting.