National Farmers Market Week

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared August 5-11 2018 National Farmers Market Week!

FAYETTEVILLE FARMERS MARKET

Fayetteville Gift certificates given out during farmers market week

The Fayetteville Farmers Market (FFM) honored their customers and farmers with a week full of exciting activities. As a way to show appreciation to patrons of the market, FFM featured giveaways to promote the USDA campaign “Know Your Farmer Know Your Food.” Both individual farmers and producers at the market provided gift certificates that were won in drawings with customers taking home locally produced fruits, veggies, meats, cheese, arts, crafts and more. Drawing winners were announced throughout the week.

Also featured was a Market Mandala Competition hosted in partnership with The Fayetteville Underground Art Gallery and Cobblestone Project, which provided a fun way to see food as art.

Images below showcase Market Mandala winners who created art mandalas using seasonal produce for a chance to win a $50.00 gift certificate.

On August 4^th, the ‘”Know Your Farmer Know Your Food” photo exhibit by Joshua Duke & Saatchi & Saatchi X was on display at the Fayetteville Underground Art Gallery.

FFM and the Fayetteville Underground Gallery hosted an artist reception on August 6^th. Patrons were able to either attend the reception or cool off with a walk through the gallery after shopping at the Market to see how many of the farmers and producers portraits they recognized. The exhibit will remain throughout the month of August.

On August 6^th and 8^th, Lindsey Hardin, Chef and Certified Food-for-Life Instructor for the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine, a non-profit organization focusing on plant-based nutrition research, demoed recipes at the market using peak season veggies. Patrons were able to learn something fun and new as well as pick Lindsey’s expert brain about cooking plant-based meals. Recipes were also provided.

BENTONVILLE FARMERS MARKET

The theme for Bentonville Farmers Market (BFM) festivities was “A Touch of Appreciation.”

BFM wanted to bring awareness to the community about living healthy life styles, which includes appreciating and integrating the mind, body and soul. With that in mind, BFM provided their farmers and patrons with free massage, yoga and cooking demos. One such cooking demo taught children and parents how to use corn in the best possible way.

Other highlights focusing on children included two watermelon-eating contests for up to 20 kids in each contest; face painting; an animal balloon maker; and, Disney characters from Once Upon a Party NWA.

BVILLE WM CONTEST

SARACEN LANDING FARMERS MARKET (Pine Bluff)

Saracen Landing Farmers Market focused their attention on the abundance of watermelon at the market and hosted a watermelon tasting, with patrons enjoying the refreshing taste of watermelon while visiting and shopping at the market!

Great job, winners…and, thanks for participating!
We look forward to celebrating again next year!

Shape of AR saying AR is among top 10 states for growth in farmers markets