CCP's Did You Know? Fact #11.

The "Did You Know?" Campaign highlights partnerships, connections, and collaborations between Wesleyan and the greater Middletown community. Every Tuesday and Thursday we will post a fact and send it out to WesLive, Middletown Eye, Middletown Patch, Facebook, Twitter, and beyond.

This week's fact highlights the partnership between Wesleyan's student-run Long Lane Farm and NEAT's North End Farmers' Market.

North End Farmer's Market Today

The phenomenally fun farmers market is today, on the North End of Main Street. I don't need to give an address, because you just have to look for the spectacular produce, food, arts, and most of all for the happy people enjoying a summer midday in our beautiful city. It runs from 10 to 2.

The pictures are from the North End Action Team's beautiful slide show of past Farmers Markets.

Our congresswoman, Rosa DeLauro, will be touring the Market today at 12:30. She will meet with some of the children participating in the “Kids’ Market” portion of the farmers’ market and hear about their summer lunch program.

North End Farmers Market Opens Season, Offers Double Dollars and Kids Market Programs

North End Farmers Market will open its season this Friday with over a dozen vendors selling
fresh bread, milk, eggs, produce, flowers and more! From 12-1 pm, there will be prepared lunch
offering from Tandoor Indian Restaurant and soulful music by local musician, David Davis.

The Market will once again be offering its Double Dollars Incentive Program, which matches the
amount of money spent by customers using federal and state benefits, bringing more food into
the homes of families. Additionally, the market will offer our North End Kids Market program to
North End youth. This innovative program gives the kids involved tokens to shop at our farmers
market and teaches them about the environment, eating healthy, budgeting and the importance
of knowing where your food comes from.

DATE & TIME: Friday June 22, 2012. 10 AM – 2 PM.
The market is held every Friday through the end of October.

LOCATION: Corner of Main St. and Liberty St., Middletown, CT.

www.northendfarmersmarket.org

The Farmers Market is a project of the North End Action Team. It is made possible through partnerships with CT Department of Agriculture and Wholesome Wave. The North End Kids Market is supported by the Rockfall Foundation and the City of Middletown.

Wholesome Wave is a national nonprofit, working to increase access to and affordability of
fresh, local produce in underserved areas while supporting local farms. www.wholesomewave.org.

ROCKFALL FOUNDATION TO DISCUSS LOCAL FOOD (IN)SECURITY

Some learned names will be discussing the future of food resources in Middlesex County tomorrow.

The Rockfall Foundation will hold its annual symposium at "The Kate" in Old Saybrook. This year the environmentally-focused foundation, headquartered on DeKoven Drive, will examine "Our Future Food Security: National Issues, Local Response".

Symposium Chair Christine Nelson said "We've been hearing more about hunger [in Middlesex County]. It's not starvation, but there are issues with hunger." Too many of them involve children, who may suffer consequences from even a short period of malnutrition. "You only develop once" said Nelson. But, she also noted, "We have an agricultural legacy we really could capitalize on again."

To discuss how Middlesex County can create our own 'healthful, sustainable food system and maximize community self-reliance', the Rockfall Foundation has invited Mark Winne, a community food activist, writer, author and co-founder of the Connecticut Food Policy Council.

His keynote address will be followed by a panel discussion among Nicole Berube, Exec. Director at City Seed, New Haven and a member of the New Haven Food Policy Council; David Zemelsky, co-owner at Star Light Gardens in Durham; John Guszkowski, Director of Planning CME Associates and CEO at Eastern CT Resource Conservation & Development Area, Inc., and Middletown's own Izzi Greenberg, Exec. Director of NEAT and manager of the North End Farmers' Market. The discussion will be moderated by the Hartford Courant's Susan Campbell.

The program begins at 8:30am and runs until noon. Cost is $50. An optional lunch follows.

Farmers Market Today

It's going to be a great market today.

Come down to the corner of Liberty and Main for delicious CT grown produce, gourmet olive oil from the Olive Oil Factory and fish tacos from Iguanas Ranas.

The market runs from 10-2!

We have kids crafts, lunchtime music, special guest lunch vendors (Iguanas Ranas and the Whey Station) and lots of great vendors.

This week, you can expect to find fresh bread, cheese, stone fruit, corn and an abundance of other CT Grown veggies and fruit.

We hope to see you there!

Next North End Night Market: August 9

Join us on Tuesday August 9, 2011 for our second North End Night Market.

We will have fresh and organic produce for sale from local farms. Esca head chef Joe Bucholz will cooking on site at the market and The Whey Station Grilled Cheese truck will be selling their delicious gourmet grilled cheeses and cheese by the pound from Beltane Farms and Cato Corners Farms.

The Green Dahlia will be on at the market selling locally grown plants creatively designed and Connecticut grown.

We are also excited to have Zen Roasters coffee, Raw You-niverse smoothies, The Hartford Baking Company Breads and Lizzie B’s iced coffee and treats.

Rani Arbo& Daisy Mayhem will be providing amazing music to keep the folks at the market dancing. Daisy Mayhem has been called "Playful and profound” by the Boston Globe and are sure to keep your entire family entertained.

There will be a kids craft area for the little ones, as well.

For more information on the North End Farmers Market please visit our website at www.northenedfarmersmarket.org

The concert series is generously sponsored by Green Street Arts Center, Oddfellows Playhouse and the North End Action Team.

First North End Night Market Next Week!

The first North End Night Farmers Market is next Tuesday, July 19th from 5-8 pm. We'll have great produce vendors, food vendors (dinner, anyone?) and live reggae and funk music by Buru Style.

Go to the website for more information. www.northendfarmersmarket.org

First Farmers Market Today!

The first North End Farmers Market will take place today, Friday, July 1st from 10-2 at 575 Main St., on the wide sidewalk at Main and Liberty Streets.

We have a great lineup of vendors, including the Whey Station food truck for lunch and an amazing Irish Band at noon.

Come pick up some fresh, CT grown veggies and fruit for the holiday weekend!

For more info, go to www.northendfarmersmarket.org

North End Farmers' Market Season Finale

Today from 10 to 2 in front of It's Only Natural Market, 575 Main Street

You don't want to miss it! Several fantastic guest vendors are joining us--Crystal Pistritto with beautiful hula-hoops, Whey Better Farm with soothing soaps, and Tschudin Chocolates with dessert delicacies. Plus, First and Last Tavern will serve up their tasty, soul-warming chili, voted best in this year's Middletown chili cook-off! This week is also your last chance to use WIC and Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program checks before they expire.

We would like to thank everyone involved with the market--vendors, volunteers, musicians, and all the shoppers that took time out of their busy Fridays to stop by. It's been great to see the North End Farmers' Market become a popular Middletown shopping destination as well as a great place to gather with friends over lunch and live music. Have a warm and healthy winter--we'll be back next year!

Today's Market

The North End Farmers Market runs Fridays from 10 AM - 2 PM, in front of It's Only Natural Market, 575 Main St.

Join us for the penultimate farmers' market of the season! A great variety of fresh produce is still available, including greens, eggplant, peppers, squash, apples, and the last of the tomatoes. Our guest restaurant is Public Market, serving up delicious pizza and desserts.

See you there!

The market is on!

The North End Farmers Market runs Fridays from 10 am - 2 pm in front of It's Only Natural Market,575 Main St.

The weather held out for us, so come on over to the market! There is a wide variety of local produce available, as well as Tschudin Chocolates, New Image Greenhouse (beautiful mums), and Pattie Palace serving up lunch.

See you there!

Today at the Market

The North End Farmers Market runs Fridays from 10 am - 2 pm in front of It's Only Natural Market, 575 Main St.

Looking for exciting new ways to prepare meals? Tired of the same old recipes? Take part in the North End Market Cookbook Swap! Bring an old cookbook to the market and grab a new one! The swap will continue until the market ends the last week of October.

This week's guest restaurant is Tandoor, and the guest vendors are Crystal's Hula Hoops and Addeo's Italian Ice. For this week's live music, there will be a guitar and vocal duo.

Kim O'Rourke, Middletown's recycling coordinator, will also be at the market with information and recycling bins to give away!

This week check out new products from some of our farmers. Chris from Chaplin Farm grows his own line of herbal tea, called Ummah Teas, and will have some available at the market. He'll also bring fresh cheeses from SweetPea Farm. And Gotta's Farm will have homemade apple cider, right from the orchard!

See you there!

Don't Bring Lunch Tomorrow....

Iguanas y Ranas will be the featured vendor at the North End Farmers Market tomorrow.....
Fish Tostadas have been the "most requested food" at the market all season. I hope you'll join us!

Firday, 10-2 pm, 575 Main St., in front of It's Only Natural Market.

Other guest vendors include:
Ballado Orchid Farm
Whey Better Farm

North End Farmers Market: Friday August 6th

The North End Farmers Market will run Friday, August 6th from 10-2 in front of It's Only Natural Market, 575 Main St.

I can't believe it's already August! Watermelon is finally in season, and we're beginning to see pears and apples. We have the same great line-up of farmers returning to the market this Friday, as well as Starlight Gardens, which sells heirloom tomatoes, O'Rourke's, Linda's Sweet Memories, and Crystal Pistritto's hula hoops. The Cardinals Nest will sell delicious homemade pizza for lunch, and Vecchitto's truck will be back.

Looking for interesting ways to prepare your vegetable purchases? 'Recipes for Health' from the New York Times, featuring a lot of the local produce we have at the market, is a great resource. This week's recipe, Zucchini "Pasta," is from this collection.

NEW: North End Farmers Market tote bags are now available! They areprinted on ECOBAGS® 10 oz. Recycled Canvas Tote with double stitched seams and stress points. Super-sized to hold all your market goodies, this bag folds easily to fit into smaller spaces and will last for years. You can get a bag for $10 at the market, or donate $15 to NEAT and we'll mail you one. (You can always give more to support the market. Your contribution is tax deductible.) Visit neatmiddletown.org for more info and to order your bag!

Also, if you haven't already, please join us on facebook! "Like" the North End Farmers' Market and use this as a forum to discuss recipe ideas and share photos.

The restaurant of the week is CARDINALS NEST and guest vendors are STARLIGHT GARDENS, CRYSTAL'S HULA HOOPS and VECCHITTOS ITALIAN ICE.

Click Here for the recipe of the week: Zucchini "pasta"

Meet Your Vendor

Each week we profile a vendor from the market. This week, it's Tom from Ceccarelli Farm.

Farmers' markets are all about knowing where your food comes from. Whereas supermarkets shelves are stocked with produce that was likely picked from industrial-scale farms up to two weeks in advance, farmers' markets are much more intimate. The produce is local and fresher, and you are free to talk with the person who grew your food. Here we feature an interview with a vendor from the North End Farmers' Market, seeking to promote connections between buyers and sellers.

Name: Tom Dilella

Farm: Ceccarelli Farms

Location: Old Post Rd, Northford, CT

Tom's favorite product: Can't choose

Customers' favorite: Corn

Why are local farms important?

"The reason local farms are important is because it's just not natural for food to come from far away. Food that is closer is more nutritional, and it allows you to better connect with your surroundings. People easily forget where their food come from. Lastly local food is better, fresher, and something all the people from the community can share."

How is this growing season?

"The weather has been real erratic--heavy rains, hot periods. But the farm is doing really well even with the unpredictable weather. It is what it is. If it's always hot no greens, rainy no corns. The weather has been extreme."

What do you like about the North End Farmer's Market?

"You get in touch with different people and vendors, great coming out and having fun, and being in a new location."

Today at the Market

The North End Farmers Market runs Today and every Friday from 10 am - 2 pm in front of It's Only Natural Market, 575 Main St.

North End Farmers' Market returns today, Friday from 10 to 2 with the same great line-up of farmers, O'Rourke's Diner, Linda's Sweet Memories, and Whey Better Soaps.

Jerkfish Restaurant will sell authentic Jamaican food for lunch, and the Vecchitto's truck will be back (the forecast is warm and sunny, perfect for Italian ice!) String Band Madness will return with their sweet, old-timey sounds.

Despite steady rain, many people gathered last week at the market to buy local produce, hula hoop with Crystal Pistritto's beautiful hoops, and listen to the Wesleyan Ghanaian Drumming Ensemble. Rain or shine, the market goes on!

In the news: The Kids Market was featured in the Hartford Courant this week. Read about it here.

Also, if you haven't already, please join us on facebook! "Like" the North End Farmers' Market and use this as a forum to discuss recipe ideas and share photos.

NEAT's Director and NEFM Market Master, Izzi Greenberg was on CT Outdoors radio show on WMRD this week. Click here to listen to the audio. They talked about the North End, the Farmers Market and other programs in the community.

Farmers Market Today

The North End Farmer Market will run today, Friday from 10-2 in front of It's Only Natural Market.

We are looking forward to another exciting market this Friday! Tandoor will be selling Indian food for lunch, and Crystral Pistritto will be back with her famous hula hoops. She sold out last time, so now is your chance if you didn't get one!

Our great line up of farms, Linda's Sweet Memories and O'Rourke's will also return. Guest vendors for the week are Paoletto Farms from Trumbull, CT, which sells homemade honey and honey-based body care products, and Urban Oaks Farm, a non-profit farm from New Britain, CT. Local resident, Deb Flynn will also be selling her beautiful handmade decoupaged items.

Last week, we enjoyed desserts from Linda's Sweet Memories and purchased soothing, aromatic soaps from Whey Better Farm. The Atticus Kelly Quartet entertained us with jazz as we ate lunch from Iguanas Ranas, and kids participating in the kids' market program enthusiastically bought fresh fruits and vegetables. You can read more about the program in the Middletown Press: "North End Kids Market lets local children take part in buying produce at farmers market."

Guest restaurant:Tandoor Indian Restaurant (Lunch is from 11:30-1:30)

Guest Vendor: Paoletto Farms, Deb Flynn Decoupage, Urban Oaks Farm, Crystal Pistritto Hoola Hoops

Recipe of the Week: Babaganoush

Music: Wesleyan Ghanaian Drumming Ensemble (11:30-1:30)

Meet Your Farmers: each week, we will profile a different vendor from the market. This week, it's Leah Beckett of Beckett Farms.

Farmers' markets are all about knowing where your food comes from. Whereas supermarkets shelves are stocked produce that is often picked up to two weeks in advance from industrial-scale farms, farmers' markets are much more intimate. Your produce is local, probably picked by same person that is selling it, and you are free to ask questions to the farmer.

Leah Beckett, Glastonbury CT

Leah's favorite product: Lemon Basil

Most popular: Blueberries

Why are local farms important?

"Know your farmer, know your food."

How is this growing season?

"Good, dry--rain is helpful, so hopefully it rains again soon. Last summer was extremely wet. Unfortunately, apples arent ready yet because it's been so hot."

What is your favorite part about working on the farm?

I really enjoy working with the guys from Mexico. I learn a lot from them and respect a lot."

I also really like going to farmers' markets--it's great to interact with the people and the vendors! You can just click the button below.

The North End Farmers Market is now on facebook! "Like" our market and use this as a forum to discuss recipe ideas, share photos, and make suggestions.

Also, you can vote for our market in America's Favorite Farmers Market contest! Click the button to vote.

Fun at the Farmers Market

The North End Farmers Market on Main St. had its first market of the year this past Friday.

There were hundreds of people shopping, eating, chatting with friends and listening to the old-timey sounds of the blugrass jam. The line for fish tostadas was 10 deep for about an hour, and the chefs had to keep running back to the restaurant to restock. The bike rack was full and so were the bellies. There was amazing fresh produce from six CT farms, incredible fresh baked goods (scone, anyone?) from O'Rourkes Diner and beautiful soaps from our guest vendor, Whey Better Farms.

This market will come again this friday from 10-2 in front of It's Only Natural Market. We'll have the same great lineup of farms and breads but this week's guest vendor will be selling handmade hoola hoops. If you've never wiggled with a really good hoop around your waist, come down and try one out. It's really fun.

Here are some pictures from the first market.

First Farmers Market Today!

Come down and get your groceries for the holiday weekend!
Summer is here and it's market season! Today is opening day of the North End Farmers' Market, in front of It's Only Natural Market (575 Main St.) The market features local vendors selling delicious fruits, vegetables, cheeses, baked goods, and more! Also look for live music, recipe samples, and food from local restaurants. We accept SNAP/EBT, Senior and WIC coupons. So come out to the market today and every Friday between 10 and 2 to enjoy the summer weather, great food, and fun times!
The Featured restaurant for today's market is Iguanas y Ranas Taqueria. There lunch be a market special delicious fish tostadas for $2.00!
Our vendors include:
Beckett Farms

The Beckett family started farming in Glastonbury in 1973, when Chip's father bought the Old Cider Mill to keep it from being developed into condominiums after the original condo sale fell thru. Chip worked during off times in college and vet school until 1982, and returned to Glastonbury in 1983 to start his own practice and help out with the farm. In 1985, he bought the farm next door to build the veterinary clinic, Beckett and Associates, and adds the acreage to the Cider Mill property. Originally, we sold most things to the Cider Mill, along with wholesalers in Hartford. We have gradually sold to more stands and added farmer's markets two years ago, when his daughter, Leah, was old enough to drive to the markets. The CSA is the next evolution for our farm, to let people see and share what we do with our productive land and good weather.

Ceccarelli Farm

Ceccarelli Farm is run by Nelson Ceccarelli. The farm runs Farmer's Markets, Farm Stands, and Community Supported Agriculture. They sell to restaurants, grocery stores, school, cafeterias, inns, and personal chefs. Some of the vegetables they have are lettuce, cabbage, corn, eggplant, green beans, corn, summer squash, and tomatoes. They also have a list of recipes located on their website.

Chaplin Farms

Chaplin Farms is a family farm owned and operated by the Rose Family. The owner Stephen Rose is a fourth generation farmer and has been farming for over 20 years. At the farm they grow both traditional and heirloom vegetables. We will have strawberries, blueberries, plums, peaches, nectarines, pears and over 15 varieties of apples including Honey crisp, Macoun and Mutsu.

George Hall Farms

At George Hall Farm, they pride themselves on providing their local community with the freshest, high quality organic and conventionally grown produce. Currently, they have more than 60 acres in production with the majority of the land Certified Organic. Since 1966, they have been using sustainable techniques that are environmentally safe. Almost all of their produce is organic and their other conventional produce is grown with minimal or no pesticides. There produce comes to there members and customers at the height of freshness and nutritional value. They are Certified Organic through the Bay State Organic Certifiers of Massachusetts. They offer Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, a farm stand on the property, produce at many local Farmer's Markets, eggs and honey, and farming internships.

Gotta's Farm

They are the proud grower's of quality plants, fruits, and vegetables, and fun ornamentals since 1898. Gotta's Farm and Cider Mill is a 4th generation farm established in 1898. They now have two seasonal retail locations -- Gotta's Farm on Rte 17 and the QP Market on Rte 66, both in Portland, CT. They are the proud growers of quality plants, fruits, vegetables and full ornamentals, and they offer strawberries, peaches, apples and pears that you can pick yourself when they are in season. Gotta's Farm maintains a farmstand bakery with fabulous pies, breads, and cookies, and they participate in three regional Farmers' Markets. Gotta's Farm is now open for our 112th Season. All our annual flowering and vegetable plants are grown here from the best hybrid seed available. Come by and pick some of their delicious, fresh strawberries! There fields are located on Main St. in Portland, Connecticut
Picking hours are from 8am-8 pm

Rose's Berry Farm

There farm is now open on weekends and limited days during the week. Due to all the warm weather they had in May, the strawberries came early and are now at the end of the season. They now will have raspberry picking and hopefully blueberry picking within the next week and a half! They have made a few changes to their website as they aim to expand their online shopping as well as provide more up-to-date information regarding the farm. Many new products have been added to our online store, so check them out now! Rose's Berry Farm is about more than just berries. They have put together a variety of activities that appeal to people both young and old. You are invited to the farm each and every season to see for yourselves just how much fun the country has to offer! They also have recipes located on their website made with all the delicious fruits.
Click here to see a video of Rose's Berry Farm

Guest Vendors for this week:

Beltane Farm

Whey Better Farm
Using your EBT card at the market

Find the table with the sign, "Use your EBT here!" Here, you can use your card to purchase $1.00 wooden coins, which will act as cash in the market.

You can then use your tokens to buy approved food items.
Frequently Asked Questions

What can I buy with my tokens?

Fruits, vegetables, breads, meats, dairy, maple and honey products, seeds and plants that produce food, baked goods, jams, and sauces are all okay. You cannot buy nonfood items, foods meant to be eaten on site, and vitamins.
Since the tokens are issued in dollar increments, what happens if I purchase something that is $2.50?

The vendors may choose to add product to your purchase to bring the value to an even dollar amount, or you can pay the $0.50 with your own change. Unfortunately, vendors cannot give cash change for any tokens.

Does it cost anything to purchase tokens?

Tokens are purchased with your EBT card, so there is no cost to you.

Do tokens ever expire?

You can use your tokens until the market ends in October. Any unused tokens can be returned and the value transferred to your benefits account.

What's in season in Connecticut?

Find the full-sized calendar here:USDA Connecticut Grown Crop Availability Calendar

For more information, visit www.neatmiddletown.org or call at (860) 346-4845