Local First will host its first Growers’ Fare, an event aimed at introducing consumers to West Michigan farms that offer community supported agriculture shares.
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CSA shares allow families or individuals to purchase weekly shares of produce grown on farms in the region.
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The event on Saturday, March 21 is free and will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the ground level of the Downtown Market.Featuring 20 West Michigan-based CSAs, the event will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. At 10 a.m., there will be a “CSA 101” presentation and include several other presentations about CSAs and share cooking demonstrations.
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“Attendees will be able to learn about the benefits of community supported agriculture, how to prep and cook meals with their produce share, and find the share that is right for them based on pick-up location and what the farm offers in the share,” according to a news release announcing the event.
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There will be presentations on the above in addition to nutrition and and workplace CSA programs, and discussion about food accessibility in relation to produce shares.
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IF YOU GO
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Growers Fare at Downtown Market
n• 10-10:30am – CSA 101 (with Eighth Day Farm)
n• 11-11:30am – Workplace CSA Programs (with Spectrum Health)
n• 12-12:30pm – Using Your Share cooking demo (with TerraGR)
n• 1-1:30pm – CSA and Nutrition (with Spectrum Health)
nSource: Downtown Market
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nFarms that will be present at the event include:
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Blackacre Farm Products
nGrandsons Gardens LLC
nSchuler Farms
nThe Urban Mushroom
nMelody Bee Farms
nMud Lake Farm LLC
nEighth Day Farm
nChimney Creek Farm
nGreen Wagon Farm
nGroundswell Community Farm
nGreen Pastures
nBlandford Farm
nHope Farms
nTwo Sparrows Farm & Dairy
nFull Hollow Farm
nBlackbird Farms
nNew City Urban Farm
nEarthkeeper Farm
nPeach Ridge Farms
nVisser Farms
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Growers’ Fare is a collaboration of Local First, the West Michigan Growers Group, and MSU Extension.
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Event sponsors include Downtown Market, Spectrum Health, GRNow.com, The Image Shoppe, Fair Food Network, and Michigan Farmers Market Association.
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nRead original article here by Jim Harger.
