The Mercer Island Farmers Market manager, Edee Phillips, with the help of many volunteers has put together another set of fun and educational activities for this Sunday’s farmers market.
Mercer Island Farmers Market Reusable Shopping Bags
Savannah of the Snohomish Bakery with a 2010 Mercer Island Farmers Market reusable shopping bag. (Photo by Joel Wachs)
“Le beaujolais nouveau est arrivé!” say the French on the third Thursday of November.
“Les mallomars sont arrivés!” (tongue firmly in cheek) say New Yorkers once the weather turns cool.
Well the ever-popular Mercer Island Farmers Market reusable shopping bags are back. Alors, tous ensemble, “Les sacs sont arrivés!”
In all seriousness, the question “When are the new season’s shopping bags arriving?” has easily been among the top five questions that the MIFM’s market manager and volunteers have fielded all season long. We are thrilled that our community likes the Mercer Island Farmers Market totes so much.
This market season, as in previous market seasons, there is a new color. As it is a surprise, we won’t reveal it now; you’ll just have to head down to the MI Farmers Market and discover it along with all of the great seasonal produce from our wonderful farmers.
The bags will start to be given out this Sunday at the MIFM. To get one, simply pick up a coupon from one of the vendors or from the Information Booth. As you shop for fresh, local produce, have the farmers mark your coupon with how much you spend. Once you have purchased $30 worth of delicious food, bring the coupon over to the Information Booth and exchange it for one of the 2011 season MIFM totes.
We will keep handing out the bags while supplies last.
Music
Hula-hoopers hula-hooping to music by the Yaamba Marimba Band at the Mercer Island Farmers Market on July 31, 2011. (Photo by Alyssa Hatsukami)
The Yaamba Marimba Band is returning to the MIFM for an encore performance.
They were last at the MI Farmers Market at the end of July, when they were joined by community members who hula-hooped to their infectiously fun music. We hope that the hula-hoopers will be back too; they always bring an extra level of excitement and energy to the MIFM.
Yaamba Marimba features Angela Carey, who is the music teacher at Lakeridge Elementary School here on Mercer Island. We love showcasing the talent of our community members.
Chef Demonstration
Also this Sunday, the MI Farmers Market is very excited to be hosting the culinary arts team from Newport High School.
Teacher Tracy Green and her students will be doing a chef demo using pears to make a pear tart. The demonstration will begin at 12:30 p.m. We hope that you will join Tracy and the students as they teach us all about pears and how to prepare a delicious dessert with them.
Community Service/Non-Profit Booths
This Sunday, there will be two community-service/non-profit booths at the MI Farmers Market—one for the Mercer Island Boy Scout Troop and the other for the Mercer Island Sister City Association (MISCA). Please stop by the booths to learn more about these important organizations in our community.
Sharon Kramis in front of the Kittitas Valley Greenhouse booth while leading a chef tour of the Mercer Island Farmers Market for members of the Mercer Island Sister City Association on July 17, 2011. (Photo by Joel Wachs)
The MISCA was at the farmers market earlier this season, but not at a community-service/non-profit booth. Instead, the MISCA organized a special tour of the farmers market by chef, cookbook author, and food writer, Sharon Kramis. The MISCA were interested in shopping for food as the community members do in Thonon-les-bains, our sister city in France.
The MIFM was thrilled that other community organizations are interested in using the farmers market for such educational purposes. If you are interested in your organization doing an educational activity at the Mercer Island Farmers Market, please let us know as we would be very interested in helping you. Email us at “info (at) mifarmersmarket.org”.
