May 2008 Seacoast Growers’ Association newsletter
hardy annuals, perennials & transplants for your kitchen garden
fresh & local produce, meats & cheeses
gourmet foods & spices
fine crafts
Welcome
to the first edition of Seacoast Growers’ Association’s monthly
e-newsletter, keeping you informed about our six weekly farmers’
markets, special events, and local agricultural news.
in this issue …
1.) NOW OPEN: Portsmouth’s Saturday farmers’ market
2.) OPEN IN JUNE: weekly markets in Durham, Dover (new location!), Exeter, Hampton & Kingston
3.) the forecast: what’s in season
4.) news from Seacoast Growers’ Association
5.) your link to the local food chain
6.) Seacoast Growers’ Association is …
7.) contact us
1.) NOW OPEN: Portsmouth’s Saturday farmers’ market
Join us every Saturday in Portsmouth, at
the City Hall lot on Junkins Avenue from 8:00 to 1:00. Rain or shine,
SGA vendors will be there bright and early to bring you fresh &
local produce, meats, dairy, breads & pastries, gourmet foods, fine
crafts and more. Most
important at this early stage of the season: hanging flower baskets,
hardy annuals & perrennials, and a variety of vegetable and herb
seedlings for your own kitchen garden. Get it all from the people who
grow it and make it themselves.
LIVE MUSIC & SPECIAL EVENTS
May 3, Random Acts of Harmony
May 10, American Flyer for our official ribbon-cutting with Mayor Ferrini
May 17, Taylor River Band for SGA’s own version of Earth Day
May 24, Penhallow
May 31, The Reef Band
2.) OPEN IN JUNE: Weekly markets in Durham, Dover, Exeter, Hampton & Kingston
Weekly markets, with
all the same fresh produce, gourmet foods and fine crafts as Saturday’s
Portsmouth market, are also open from the first week of June through
mid-October. Enjoy the slower weekday pace, and have more time to chat and learn about what you’re getting – or how to use it!
The Dover market has moved, and is better than ever! SGA
is teaming up with the Atlantic Culinary Academy at McIntosh College
(181 Silver St.) to bring you more vendors than ever, as well as
special demonstrations by faculty and student chefs at the ACA. The new location offers plenty of parking, and easy access from the Spaulding Turnpike. Come check out Seacoast farmers growing new roots in Dover.
Taste Tours: This season, Slow Food Seacoast will be hosting “Taste Tours” at each of our weekday markets. There
may be a tasting table, a self-guided tour, or even a tasting guide to
tour you through the market and the myriad varieties of garlic,
tomatoes, squash, greens, and more. These events will be free and open to the public. Stay tuned for dates and details.
WEEKDAY MARKETS OPEN IN JUNE
Monday 2:15 – 5:30
DURHAM Main Street loop
Tuesday 2:15 – 5:30
KINGSTON Main Street
Tuesday 3:00 – 6:00
HAMPTON Route 1 (by the P.O.)
Wednesday 2:30 – 6:00
DOVER 181 Silver St., MACA lot
* new location *
Thursday 2:15 – 6:00
EXETER Swasey Parkway
3.) the forecast: what’s in season
Even early in the season in this cold climate, there is plenty to be found at the farmers’ market. Take
advantage of the quieter crowd, get to know your growers, and take your
pick from a variety of herbs and spring greens, as well as annual &
perennial bedding plants, veggie & herb transplants for your own
kitchen garden, hanging flower baskets (hint: Mother’s Day), and even hanging cherry tomato plants!
Of course, meat & cheese is always in season for omnivores, and
we are lucky here in the Seacoast to have a number of reputable local
farms providing dairy, eggs, and all kinds of meats for our
nourishment. Knowing where your food comes from is its own version of
food security, and all of SGA’s farms pass our own inspection to ensure
that we are bringing you food that is raised on-site.
Our juried artisans bring an element of refinement to our farmers’ markets – without
losing the agrarian aesthetic or utilitarian purpose that we New
Englanders are famous for. From hand-sculpted tea cups and landscape
photography to leather dog collars, naturally dyed wool products and
more, our farmers’ markets are made all the more special by our crafts
people and the beautiful products they create. Prices vary, so there’s something for just about everyone.
4.) news from Seacoast Growers’ Association
We’ve grown! This
year we welcome 14 new vendors, bringing SGA to a grand total of 56
independent businesses from Rockingham, Strafford and York counties. This
represents a whopping 33% increase from an already strong membership,
and this growth demonstrates the burgeoning movement toward localism –
especially local food – taking place throughout our country and around
the world. SGA is proud to be at the forefront of this movement, and we are proud of our history in it, as well: 2008 marks the 32nd year that we have been bringing farmers’ markets to the Seacoast.
Dover has moved! Well,
the town’s still where it was the last time you checked, but this
year’s market will be held at 181 Silver St., in the parking area of
the Atlantic Culinary Academy at McIntosh College. We
are very pleased to be partnering with the ACA to bring you an improved
and expanded market this year, with more vendors than ever before. Faculty and student chefs from the Academy will also be offering special cooking demonstrations. Stay tuned for more details. The weekday markets open in June.
SGA is working closely this season with Seacoast Local, Seacoast Eat Local, and Slow Food Seacoast, three
organizations that go above & beyond in bringing quality local food
options to us here on the Seacoast. You’ll be able to find all four
organizations sharing a booth this season every Saturday at the
Portsmouth farmers’ market, and at least once at each of the five
weekday markets. And
will we have treats for you … special demonstrations such as canning
and yogurt making, and our brand new canvas “community” tote bags, a
limited edition available for only $6. Come pick up your market bag, and see all that we’re up to!
A new food blog has started at www.seacoasteats.com, where local food writer Rachel Forrest will be featuring updates, recipes and photos from SGA markets all season long.
5.) Your link to the local food chain …
Now, you can be more than just a food consumer. Be a link in the local food chain by volunteering for the farmers’ markets! It’s
a great way to get to know your local growers, and to be more a part of
the cycle of life, food and community that nourishes us. Volunteer
opportunities abound, such as helping to coordinate special at-market
demonstrations, photographing the markets, or researching grants to
help SGA bring even stronger, more vibrant farmers’ markets to the
region. Whether
you’re looking for a one-time task or an ongoing responsibility, or if
you’d just like some more information, contact SGA’s Public Relations
Director, Hilary Niles, at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or 603.969.8004.
6.) Seacoast Growers’ Association is …
- a NH-registered nonprofit organization
coordinating six farmers' markets in the Seacoast region. For over 31
years, SGA farmers' markets have featured 100% locally grown fruits,
vegetables, meats and other agricultural products, prepared foods, and
juried fine arts and crafts.
- online at www.seacoastgrowers.org, where you can find:
- harvest updates
- a way for your friends to sign-up for this newsletter
- a calendar of weekly market music and special events
- contact for any of our 56 member vendors
- recipes to borrow and inspire!
- pictures from our farmers’ markets throughout the Seacoast
- community partners and friends with:
7.) contact us
See you at the market!
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