5th Birthday for our Market!

Posted on 2012/08/09 by mifarmersmarket

We will be celebrating with a special birthday cake with fresh berries which we will share with everyone at 11AM. Please join us!

This Sunday, August 12, is the 5th anniversary of the Mercer Island Farmers Market. To help us celebrate, our longtime friend and supporter, Chef Nathan Zielski from Lilly’s at Aljoya, will show us how to make his sublime Pacific Rim Salmon with Green Tea Noodles. (I’ve eaten this dish at Lily’s, and it is SO good, you’ll want to stop by and learn his secrets!)

Garrett & Wescott will be on hand to sing some blues, and at the kids’ table, Judy Witmer will demonstrate how to make very berry ink.

If you haven’t been to our market in a while, be sure to check out some of our newest vendors. I love the salsa from the Seattle Salsa Guy. I eat his salsa with a spoon, like gazpacho, or put it on scrambled eggs or grilled chicken.

Because I am currently on a gluten free kick, I’ve had to break my normal routine of starting my market day with a cranberry orange scone from Snohomish Bakery (it’s just temporary, Snohomish! I’ll be back, I promise) and check out alternatives. I used to be one of those uninformed haters who disparaged gluten free bread (“Why bother?”) until I tasted Manini’s. It looks good, it smells even better, but still, I was like a suspicious kid, afraid to even taste it. Silly me! Their gluten-free bread really is delicious, soft and pillowy yet firm enough to stand up to a tomato sandwich.

My friends and I rave about Abu Eden’s hummos. Seriously, everything they sell is delicious, and fresh. I’m also avoiding caffeine for a while, and I found just the thing to pick me up and soothe my head at Theo Dorre’s Tea: an herbal tisane. Each week she comes up with a new alchemy from the season’s harvest. Check out what she has this week.

5th Anniversary Fun at the Market

Posted on 2012/08/08 by mifarmersmarket

Garrett & Wescott will be on hand to sing some blues, and at the kids’ table, Judy Witmer will demonstrate how to make very berry ink.

Cat/Cows and Jazz Squares at the Market 7/22

Posted on 2012/07/20 by mifarmersmarket

Stretch and bend! and jump! jump! jump! It’s time to pull out your yoga moves and jazz hands. This Sunday at the market we celebrate Mercer Island in Motion, with help from Lori Hallow and Maria Bliss, and the Texas Swing sounds of Fred Fast and His Frettin’ Fools. All ages are invited to participate.

In addition to our Sampling of Summer Drinks – Infused with fresh market herbs and fruits, we will also be sampling berries!

Other market news:

Alvarez Farms will have Cukes, carrots, green beans and new crop garlic, Walla Walla sweet onions, all varieties of squash, garlic braids, and 10 varieties of new crop potatoes. If you have a favorite recipe for potato salad, please share it below, and we will post on this blog.

Heaven Scent Lavender will have fresh lavender bouquets for sale.

Here is a list of our 2012 Winners from the Pie and Dessert Baking Contest:

PIE

1^st Place: Summer Harvest Berry Pie Tanya Bednarski and Miranda Johnson (13 yrs old)

2^nd Place: Raspberry Cream Pie Ellena Jones

DESSERT

1^st Place: Nectarine, Blueberry and Cynthia Shifrin

Strawberry Galette with

Macadamia and Oat Crumble

2^nd Place: Raspberry Peach Crumble Kindred McQueen

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

1^st Place: Raspberry-Filled Devil’s Food Cupcakes Carina Williamson

October 9th Mercer Island Farmers Market Event News

Posted on 2011/10/07 by mifarmersmarket

The Mercer Island Farmers Market on October 2, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

This Sunday, October 9th, is the last regularly scheduled market day of the 2011 Mercer Island Farmers Market season. (The MIFM and many of its farmers will be back for a pre-Thanksgiving Harvest Market on Sunday, November 20th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Even though the MIFM’s regular season is coming to end, our volunteers have planned a full schedule of activities for this Sunday’s market.

Children’s Table

Mr. and Mrs. Pumpkin Heads made by our community's kids at the Children's Table the Mercer Island Farmers Market in October 2010. (Photo by Julie Sarkasian)

MIFM volunteer and Mercer Island pre-school teacher Judy Witmer is planning to decorate pumpkins with our youngest shoppers at the Children’s Table.

Last year’s pumpkin decorating was one of MIFM board member, treasurer, and volunteer Julie Sarkasian’s most memorable market moments.

We are sure that our children will have a great time making Mr. and Mrs. Pumpkin Heads with Judy at the Children’s Table. And that many more of us will join Julie in having a memorable market moment watching our children’s creativity as they decorate the pumpkins.

Sampling Table

Sign at the Sampling Table at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 3, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., MIFM board members and volunteers Susie Rosenstein and Tanya Bednarski are planning another Sampling Table. As of today, they are not sure of whether they will be sampling apples or pears, but it will be one of those two.

This will be another opportunity for our community to learn about the large number of different apples and pears produced by the growers at the MI Farmers Market. So, be sure to stop by the Sampling Table to talk with Susie and Tanya about different apples or pears and learn about their different tastes, textures, and uses.

Music

Music this Sunday will be by Miles and Karina, whose describe their music as “a confusin’ country fusion of quirkish delights: Accordion – Banjo – polka – Bossa – James Bond … a soundtrack for your life.” Their accordion-banjo take on the theme to the James Bond films is definitely something to hear. We can’t for their performance at the MIFM.

September 25th Mercer Island Farmers Market Event News

Posted on 2011/09/24 by mifarmersmarket

The Mercer Island Farmers Market volunteers have organized music and a few educational events for this Sunday’s farmer market. In addition to these activities from the MIFM, we are so pleased that two other groups—the City of Mercer Island and IslandVision—have organized events this Sunday around the farmers market.

Sampling Table: Apples

Organic Gala apples from Tonnemaker Family Orchard at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on September 18, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

The MIFM’s Events Team volunteers are planning another sampling table for this Sunday. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., they will be sampling various apples from our farmers.

The MI Farmers Market has an embarrassment of apple riches with dozens of varieties now being brought to market by our farmers: Akane; Gala; Golden Supreme; Ginger Gala; Honey Crisp; Jonamac; McIntosh; Mollie’s Delicious; Prima; Sugar Crisp… This will be a great opportunity for our community to try many of these and learn about their different colors, tastes, textures, and uses.

Music: Garrett and Westcott

This Sunday’s music at the market will be by Seattle-based, accoustic duo Garrett and Westcott.

Children’s Table: Amazing Squashes

Organic Delcato, pumpkin, and acorn squashes at the Five Acre Farm booth at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on September 18, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Mercer Island preschool teacher, Judy Witmer has planned another Sunday of fun and educational activities at the kid’s table. She always finds great hands-on ways for our community’s children to learn about gardening, farming, and the environment.

This week’s theme is “Amazing Squashes.” So while the kids are learning about these fruits at the children’s table, be sure to check out the great squashes now appearing at our farmers’ booths.

Master Gardeners

Gordon Polson of the King County Master Gardeners answering a gardening question from a Mercer Islander at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on June 12, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

As on previous Market Sundays, the Master Gardeners will be available at the MI Farmers Market to answer your gardening and lawn-care questions.

IslandVision Fall Community Picnic

IslandVision, a Mercer Island organization dedicated to creating a more sustainable community, is planning to hold their Fall Community Picnic on Sunday. From noon to 3 p.m., they will be at the Train Playground in Mercerdale Park. IslandVision was instrumental in helping start and run the Mercer Island Farmers Market in its early years.

The group encourages everyone to come down to meet its board and members. They are interested in hearing the community’s ideas for new IslandVision activities and events.

City of Mercer Island: Native Tree Distribution

As part of the City of Mercer Island‘s efforts to encourage the planting of native trees, the City will be distributing trees at the Mercer Island Farmers Market this Sunday, September 25th, as well as on Sunday, October 2nd and Sunday, October 9th.

The trees are available to any Mercer Island resident at an expected cost of $5.00 per tree. The types of trees that will be available are Vine maple, Western red cedar (two-gallon size), and Mountain hemlock. This program is supported with funding assistance from the King Conversation District.

Trees play an important role not only in maintaining our Island’s natural beauty, but also in our environment by:

Reducing our carbon footprint by sequestering carbon in trees. Trees, especially large conifers like Western red cedar, remove the greenhouse gas CO2 from the atmosphere during photosynthesis;
Reducing stormwater runoff. Mature trees can hold up to 100 gallons of water during storms; and
Increasing wildlife habitat, especially when done in conjunction with the removal of invasive species such as ivy and blackberry.

September 11th Mercer Island Farmers Market Events Highlights: Music, Sampling Table, Children’s Table

Posted on 2011/09/14 by mifarmersmarket

In addition to the commemoration for the 10th anniversary of 9/11 that the Mercer Island Farmers Market held this past Sunday and the chef demo by Kurt Daimmeier of Bennett’s Pure Food Bistro, there were several other events and activities.

Music

Patrick Daugherty (left with electric guitar), Bert Bertram (center with trombone), and Joe Ross (right with acoustic guitar) playing at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on September 11, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Musician Joe Ross returned to the MIFM. Joe last played at the market over July 4th weekend. This Sunday, he was joined for a few sets by another popular Mercer Island musician, Patrick Daugherty, who has been a musical mainstay of the MI Farmers Market, playing consistently throughout the market season, as well as in previous seasons volunteering as music coordinator.

In the afternoon, Joe was joined for a set not only by Patrick, but also by Bert Bertram, who played the trombone. We aren’t sure, but this might be the first time that a trombone was played at the MI Farmers Market. Over the years, there has been an extensive array of instruments played at the MIFM: guitar; banjo; bass; clarinet; harmonica, accordion; saxophone; steel drum; marimba…We love how the list and diversity continues to grow.

Thank you, Joe, Patrick, and Bert, for the great music.

Sampling Table

Kari Fisher (left in red top) talking with a family about the different varieties, tastes, and textures of the peaches at the sampling table at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on September 11, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

In the morning, MI Farmers Market board members and volunteers, Tanya Bednarski and Kari Fisher, organized a sampling table featuring fresh peaches grown by our farmers.

There were Angelo’s peaches from Collins Family Orchard, Selah, WA, J.H. Hale peaches from Martin Family Orchard, Orondo, WA, organic donut peaches from Billy’s Organic Garden, Tonasket, WA, and Diamond Princess peaches from Tonnemaker Family Orchard, Royal City, WA.

We want to thank Tanya and Kari for taking the time on such a beautiful day to put together this educational activity as well as Billy’s Organic Garden, Collins Family Orchard, Martin Family Orchard, and Tonnemaker Family Orchard for supporting it.

Children’s Table

Judy Witmer talking with a parent and her children about snails and slugs at the children's table at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on September 11, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Volunteer Judy Witmer developed another educational, hands-on activity for kids at the children’s table.

This past Sunday’s activity was “snail hunts and slug traps.” While some might have thought that kids might be put off by such “slimy” and off-putting creatures, there was, in fact, a great deal of enthusiasm for them.

Each week, Judy is a wonder coming up with a different fun activity that teaches our community’s children about gardening and food. Thank you, Judy.

September 11th Mercer Island Farmers Market Event News

Posted on 2011/09/08 by mifarmersmarket

9/11 Commemoration

To mark the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2011, the Mercer Island Farmers Market will be conducting a moment of silence at noon. We will be asking all vendors and community members to remember those who perished that day as well as all those who have fought and even given their lives since then defending our country.

If they are not on call at noon, the Mercer Island Fire Department will be joining the community at the MI Farmers Market to help us commemorate the occasion and the first responders, in particular, who lost their lives on 9/11.

Furthermore, Officer Rob Jira of the Mercer Island Police Department and several members of the Mercer Island Emergency Preparedness team of community volunteers will be in the market’s community service booth. Please take this time to learn more about what you can do to help be prepared in the event of an emergency. Maybe even take this opportunity to sign up to become a volunteer yourself.

In addition to these solemn and serious activities, the Mercer Island Farmers Market will also have its usual roster of educational and entertaining activities.

Sampling Table

Susie Rosenstein (on left) and Mindy Landsman (in middle in brown top) preparing peaches and nectarines, which customers are sampling, at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on August 28, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

From 10:30 to 12:30, Tanya Bednarski and Kari Fisher, who are dedicated volunteers and Mercer Island Farmers Market board members, will be sampling fresh produce from our vendors. While the type of produce hasn’t yet been selected as it will depend on what is freshest on Sunday, previous sampling tables have proven to be very educational by helping our customers learn about the different varieties of fruits and vegetables available from our farmers.

Be sure to stop by the sampling table not only to find out what Tanya and Kari will be sampling (apples? pears?), but also to learn more about it and the kinds of varieties available at the MIFM.

Chef Demo

Kurt Dammeier

Kurt Dammeier of Bennett’s Pure Food Bistro will be back at the Mercer Island Farmers Market to do another chef demo. His demo last year was one of our most popular events with dedicated fans of his cooking and restaurant showing up en masse.

In honor of Kurt’s chef demo, Maximus Minimus, which is a member of the Sugar Mountain family along with Bennett’s, will be at the Mercer Island Farmers Market at day. Maximus Minimus, for the uninitiated, is an extremely popular food truck that is the shape of a giant pig, which we are sure will prove to be a big hit with shoppers of all ages. Maximus Minimus is famous for their pulled-pork sandwiches friends and slaw. They also have veggie sandwiches as well as mac and cheese featuring what else but Beechers cheese, another member of the Sugar Mountain family.

Music

This Sunday Joe Ross and the Ain’t No Heaven Seven jazz band will be playing at the MI Farmers Market.

August 28th Mercer Island Farmers Market Event Highlights: Music, Dancing, and Sampling

Posted on 2011/08/31 by mifarmersmarket

We had great weather for the August 28th Mercer Island Farmers Market—blue skies, 80°F temperatures… And our customers came out in droves not only to purchase fresh, local fruits and vegetables, but also to be part of the fun.

Music and Dancing

Matt Lome performing and inspiring children to dance at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on August 28, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Matt Lome, Mercer Island musician and teacher, returned for an encore performance on Sunday. The last time he played at the MIFM was June when the weather was unseasonably cool and he had to wear a heavy coat. He still did a wonderful job entertaining farmers, volunteers and shoppers.

This past Sunday with the great weather Matt was able to be much more relaxed and to wear shorts and a t-shirt. While the weather and his clothing might have been different, his music was as entertaining as ever. It even inspired some of our youngest shoppers to dance.

Sophie Feldman singing and playing the guitar at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on August 28, 2011. (Photo by Heather Feldman)

Sophie Feldman, a student of Matt’s, was a big hit when she played at the MI Farmers Market in June. We are very happy that she agreed to return for an encore performance at the Mercer Island Farmers Market.

Children dancing to music played by Sophie Feldman at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on August 28, 2011. (Photo by Heather Feldman)

We know that our customers were quite happy as well as she too inspired dancing among our youngest shoppers.

Thank you, Matt and Sophie, for coming back the MI Farmers Market and doing such a great job entertaining everyone. We hope that you will come back to play next market season.

Sampling Table: Peaches and Nectarines

Susie Rosenstein (on left) and Mindy Landsman (in middle background in the brown top) preparing peaches and nectarines, which customers are eagerly sampling, at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on August 28, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

Susie Rosenstein and Mindy Landsman, who are tireless Mercer Island Farmers Market volunteers as well as MIFM board members, put together a sampling table to help educate our shoppers about the different varieties of peaches and nectarines available.

Susie reports our customers had an overwhelmingly positive response to the sweet stone fruit. “The only other times I have experienced such interest in the sampling was when we were sampling ice cream and baked goods from the market. Tanya [Bednarski, Susie's partner in organizing the sampling events] and I used to say that nothing attracts the crowds like sugar and butter. Well, I guess we need to add peaches and nectarines to our list.”

Mindy related that one customer said that the peaches were so sweet that “they tasted like candy” to which Susie replied, “healthy candy.” Well, I guess we know why the sampling of peaches and nectarines was so popular.

Thank you, Susie and Mindy, for organizing such a successful event. And thank you Billy’s Organic Garden, Tonasket, WA, Collins Family Orchard, Selah, WA, Martin Family Orchard, Orondo, WA, and Tonnemaker Family Orchard, Royal City, WA for donating peaches and nectarines for the sampling table. Billy’s donated Red Haven peaches; Collins donated Sun Crest peaches and Honey Blaze nectarines; Martin donated Rosa Hale peaches and Red Gold nectarines; and Tonnemaker donated Delps peaches and Yellow Flesh nectarines.

August 14th Mercer Island Farmers Market Event News

Posted on 2011/08/13 by mifarmersmarket

It’s the Mercer Island Farmers Market’s 3rd Anniversary this week. Our first market day ever was August 10, 2008. Please join us this Sunday to celebrate our farmers and community.

Sampling Table This Sunday: Ice Cream

Volunteers celebrating the Mercer Island Farmers Market's first anniversary on August 9, 2009. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

To help celebrate this occasion, MIFM volunteers and board members, Tanya Bednarski and Susie Rosenstein will be sampling ice cream on Sunday. The ice cream has been donated by our two ice cream vendors: Molly Moon Ice Cream, Seattle, WA and Parfait Artisan Organic Ice Cream, Seattle, WA. Everyone at the Mercer Island Farmers Market would like to offer a big “thank you” to Molly Moon and Parfait for their donations and support of our farmers market and community.

Tanya and Susie will be offering ice cream samples beginning at noon and will continue to offer them while supplies last, which shouldn’t be too long knowing how much our customers love ice cream.

Music: Strictly Fest 2011

Hula-Hoopers dancing to the Yaamba Marimba Band at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 31, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

We are very excited that third annual Strictly Fest 2011 will be happening in Mercerdale Park at the same time at the Mercer Island Farmers Market.

Strictly Fest features many Mercer Island youth bands and seeks to raise money for the Mercer Island High School music programs.

The day’s program is:

11:00 ~ Kaze Daiko
11:45 ~ Ross Di Julio
12:30 ~ Electric Geometric Freak Test Recipients
1:45 ~ The Fool on the Hill
2:50 ~ The Good Time Police
4:20 ~ A Well Lit Room

Kids Table Activity: Kitchen Botany

Berry-ink painting at the Kids Table at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 31, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

Once again super volunteer Judy Witmer has organized another great educational activity for our youngest shoppers. This Sunday the kids table activity will be “Kitchen Botany: Is it a fruit or veggie?”

July 24th Mercer Island Farmers Market Event News

Posted on 2011/07/21 by mifarmersmarket

The Mercer Island Farmers Market has another day of exciting events and activities planned for this Sunday’s market.

Chef Demo

Cover of "Tender: Farmers, Cooks, Eaters" cookbook. (Courtesy of Shin Shin Chez)

At noon, Chef Tom French will be doing a chef demonstration. Chef Tom plans to make dishes using ingredients from the vendors at our farmers market based on recipes from the cookbook “TENDER: Farmers, Cooks, Eaters.” “TENDER” was written by chef, restauranteur, and James-Beard-award-winner Tamara Murphy (the Elliott Bay Cafe, the Reading Room, and Terra Plata, opening in September). Chef Tom is the director of the Experience Food Project, which is dedicated to educating children about food and cooking as well as changing the meals available at public schools.

Copies of the cookbook “TENDER” will be available for purchase at the Mercer Island Farmers Market just after the chef demo. Part of the proceeds will go to support the Experience Food Project. Copies of this cookbook are also available for purchase at Mercer Island’s Island Books.

Music

Two Mercer Islanders, Audrey Miller and Eddie Bond, will be performing this Sunday at the MI Farmers Market.

Audrey Miller from 10 a.m. to noon

Ms. Miller, who just returned from performing in Belgium, is spending the summer teaching clarinet and performing around the Seattle area. She is a graduate of Mercer Island High School and has an undergraduate degree in clarinet performance from Western Washington University. Ms. Miller is currently a masters student at Florida State University, where she studies with internationally renowned clarinetist Frank Kowalsky.

Eddie Bond and Friends from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Mr. Bond, like Ms. Miller, is from Mercer Island. He began playing piano at age 7, but picked up the guitar after hearing the space-age sound effects of Jimi Hendrix. He is now a Jazz Studies major at the University of Oregon. Mr. Bond has performed with a wide array of different musicians, in venues across the world, and has recorded two albums. Eddie is also a visual artist and writer and is working on ways to incorporate these different skills into one unified project.

Sampling Table

Sign at the Sampling Table at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 3, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., MIFM board members and long-time volunteers, Tanya Bednarski and Kari Fisher, will be sampling fresh, local raspberries and blueberries from our farmers. Be sure to stop by to get a taste of the many different varieties that are available at the Mercer Island Farmers Market. At last week’s market, our farmers brought several varieties of raspberries, including Cascade Dawn and Coho, as well as several varieties of strawberries including Rainier and Puget Summer. Here’s a chance to find your new favorite kind.

Kids Table

This week the theme of the kids table will be “Little Red Hen’s Wheat.” We can’t wait to see what educational activitity volunteer Judy Witmer has developed for our youngest customers.

Master Gardeners

The Master Gardeners answering a question at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on June 19, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)

The Master Gardeners will be back for another week of expertly answering your questions about your plants, garden, and lawn.

Mercer Island Farmers Market

Cultivating community around Washington State farmers

Category Archives: Sampling Table

5th Birthday for our Market!

5th Anniversary Fun at the Market

Cat/Cows and Jazz Squares at the Market 7/22

October 9th Mercer Island Farmers Market Event News

Children’s Table

Sampling Table

Music

September 25th Mercer Island Farmers Market Event News

Sampling Table: Apples

Music: Garrett and Westcott

Children’s Table: Amazing Squashes

IslandVision Fall Community Picnic

City of Mercer Island: Native Tree Distribution

September 11th Mercer Island Farmers Market Events Highlights: Music, Sampling Table, Children’s Table

Music

Sampling Table

Children’s Table

September 11th Mercer Island Farmers Market Event News

9/11 Commemoration

Sampling Table

Chef Demo

August 28th Mercer Island Farmers Market Event Highlights: Music, Dancing, and Sampling

Music and Dancing

Sampling Table: Peaches and Nectarines

August 14th Mercer Island Farmers Market Event News

Sampling Table This Sunday: Ice Cream

Music: Strictly Fest 2011

Kids Table Activity: Kitchen Botany

July 24th Mercer Island Farmers Market Event News

Chef Demo

Music

Sampling Table

Kids Table

Master Gardeners

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Sampling Table: Apples

Music: Garrett and Westcott

Children’s Table: Amazing Squashes

IslandVision Fall Community Picnic

City of Mercer Island: Native Tree Distribution

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Music

Sampling Table

Children’s Table

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9/11 Commemoration

Sampling Table

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Music and Dancing

Sampling Table: Peaches and Nectarines

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Sampling Table This Sunday: Ice Cream

Music: Strictly Fest 2011

Kids Table Activity: Kitchen Botany

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Chef Demo

Music

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