Slightly Unusual Week.

Dave’s Away! The Market will operate as usual this Saturday except for the absence of Market Director David Hodges, who is vacationing in Ireland. Joe Williams (who many of you will know as “Joe with the Dog Leashes”) will be on site with keys to Perkins and his usual helpfulness.

If you have a true emergency you think I can help with from Europe, text me at my usual number. I’ll see what I can do.

Site Plan for SAT SEP 03

BLOGGER CREDENTIALS

In all, six Official Market Bloggers have been provided with credentials like these:

BE PROACTIVE WITH OUR BLOGGERS

Make time for our bloggers if you can, and consider offering them samples of products they can use in their recipes. They’ll always tell readers where they got their ingredients. If you need help moving a particular product, solicit an article/recipe that features it.

SEP 03 Guest Vendors

• MECHA Artisan Chocolates
• John & Kira’s Chocolates
• Constellation Collective
• FOOD INNOVATION TENT: Homegrown Farms

The Food Innovation Tent

Our mission at the Market is to promote Jersey Fresh agriculture in whatever form it takes. For example, CSAs, once novel, have become more common as a way to support farms with cash paid to farmers at the beginning of the season for a “share” of what the farm produces.

This week, we’re making room in the Innovation Tent (Guest Vendor area) for Homegrown Farm, a unique “landless farm” housed in a container car on the parking lot of a liquor store in Pennsauken. Lots of flourescent lights running 24 hours a day provide the “sun” for this indoor hydroponic farm growing herbs and small greens.

Live Music

EAST STAGE MUSIC TENT. Sam Caruso (and guests if he chooses to include them in his act) will entertain as only he (and his guests) can.

WEST STAGE BELOW PATCO. John Rossi plays his new Martin guitar and sings.

Bag Reduction

Already this season, we have noticed a significant decline in the number of disposable, single-use plastic bags at the Market. We’re taking a variety of steps to help shoppers eliminate them where possible.

This week, Pastor Brent and the wonderful volunteers from the First Baptist Church of Collingswood will be staffing the Bag Tent. Come by to meet them, make a bag of your own, turn your t-shirt into reusable wonderfulness, or buy one of the ready-mades.

Send anyone who wants to participate to the FOFM (Friends of the Farmers’ Market) tent at the middle of the Market for

• a FREE Paper bag courtesy of Market sponsor Audubon Savings Bank, or
• a chance to make their own T-Shirt bag, or
• to purchase a snazzy Market reusable bag, or
• to BORROW a reusable bag from the FOFM Loaner Bag program.

BID Vendors

Perennial favorites DiBartolo Bakery, Villa Barone, Cheese Etc., and Sara’s Produce will be selling food.

Starting this season, David Hodges is your primary contact for all BID area questions, reservations, and requests. At the usual numbers and email addresses. See below.

Small Bills and a Bathroom Key

There will be no small bills this one week, SAT SEP 03.

For guest vendors who might not be aware, Joe Williams will be available with keys to Perkins Art Center, a Market sponsor, the primary benefit of which, for our vendors is INDOOR PLUMBING!

VENDOR PARKING PERMITS

It’s good business to save the best parking spaces for SHOPPERS! Most visitors will tell you it’s tough to find parking at the Market. We make things worse by parking our own vehicles in spaces that could be used and re-used many times by shoppers. Please encourage your table crew to park for free in the Lumberyard Parking Garage (just across Collings Avenue from the west entrance). There are plenty of spaces inside, and the walk back to the Market takes 3 minutes.

Flexible Site Plan

Changes will continue to occur throughout the season as vendors come and go and as we learn more about how neighbors interact. I remind you no spaces are ever guaranteed and require your cooperation if I have to move your location any given week.

THANK YOU
David Hodges, Market Director
Home Office (856) 854-8385
Market Day Cell Phone (856) 979-6653