Week of June 27 & 30

Last week, we were excited to have our first cooking demonstration and samples of the season! 

Thanks to IRMC's Food and Nutrition Department, who provided samples and recipes for two fresh salsas, using ingredients you can find at the market. 

On Saturday, we welcomed WIC, as well as the Power Up Nutrition Program, who provided another recipe for dilly dip that is delicious with many of your favorite fresh market veggies! 

This week, we continue the trend at our Wednesday market. 

WIC staff will be on hand to assist clients in receiving and redeeming vouchers for the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), which are accepted by many of our vendors.

They share the space with the Power Up Nutrition Education Program.  Power-up provides no-cost nutrition education, recipes, and food demonstrations and tastings to highlight local produce.

Remember, even though we do not accept credit, debit, and EBT cards on Wednesdays, you can still spend market tokens at participating vendors if you have them!

Save the Date
Our annual Kids' Day event will be Saturday, July 7th.  Mark your calendars and keep an eye on our Facebook page for more information!

Planned booths include:
* Art with SQUAD Jr.
* Crafts with the Girl Scouts
* Games and photo booth with the Children's Advisory Commission
* Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
* Live music by Dan Stonerook

See you at the market!

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Remember to like us on Facebook for the most up-to-date market information.

Week of June 20 & 23

The market is in full swing.  If you haven't made it out yet this season, what are you waiting for?!?!  Spring produce is at it's peak and more summer fruits and veggies are coming into season each week. 

Not to mention an assortment of locally-raised meats, eggs, baked goods, flour, raw and pasteurized milk, canned and fermented foods, honey, maple syrup, hot coffee, and bath and beauty products!

Last week, we had a gorgeous Saturday and enjoyed the musical stylings of Joe Dinwiddie on the banjo and mandolin.  He was a big hit with shoppers and vendors alike!  We also learned about efforts at transparent, impartial, and fair redistricting with Fair Districts PA. 

Wednesday
This week, we bring a little extra excitement to our Wednesday market, including our first cooking demonstration of the season!  Chefs from IRMC's Food and Nutrition Department will be on hand chopping up fresh salsa, using ingredients that can be purchased at the market!  Be sure to stop by for a sample.

We also welcome the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.  They will provide information on SNAP, as well as tasty (and nutritious) recipes.

Saturday
Saturday, you can find double the action in our community booth.  WIC staff will be on hand to assist clients in receiving and redeeming vouchers for the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), which are accepted by many of our vendors. 

They share the space with the Power Up Nutrition Education Program.  Power-up provides no-cost nutrition education, recipes, and food demonstrations and tastings to highlight local produce.

As always, you can swipe your credit, debit, or EBT card for market tokens in the market information booth.  Vendors who accept tokens will have a sign posted in their booths.

Save the Date
Our annual Kids' Day event will be Saturday, July 7th.  Mark your calendars and keep an eye on our Facebook page for more information!

Interested in setting up a booth with kids' activities for this event?  E-mail indianafarmmarket@gmail.com for more information.

See you at the market!

Want our weekly blog posts sent straight to your inbox?  E-mail indianafarmmarket@gmail.com to be added to our mailing list.

Remember to like us on Facebook for the most up-to-date market information.

The mission of IRMC is to improve the health and well-being of our community through the coordinated delivery of high-quality, cost-effective and compassionate care.

The mission of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is to feed people in need and mobilize our community to eliminate hunger.

Week of June 13 & 16

The sun has finally returned (at least for the moment I'm writing this)!  More and more produce items are coming into season, including a big favorite - STRAWBERRIES!!  They won't last long, so get them while you can!

Our Wednesday market is up and running, including a few new vendors.  Stop by and see what's new!

Did you know you can find everything you need for a tasty local breakfast right here at the market?  If you're eating on the go, pick up a freshly-baked rolls or a cinnamon bun, berries, and a hot cup of coffee with flavored creamer.  Or pick up a dozen farm-fresh eggs and some sausage or bacon to cook up later at home.  What a great way to start the day!

This week we will have more live music, this time by Joe Dinwiddie on the banjo and mandolin. 

We also host Fair Districts PA in the community booth.  Fair Districts PA is a nonpartisan, citizen-led, statewide coalition working to create a process for redistricting that is transparent, impartial, and fair.

As always, you can swipe your credit, debit, or EBT card for market tokens in the market information booth.  Vendors who accept tokens will have a sign posted in their booths.

See you at the market!

Want our weekly blog posts send straight to your inbox?  E-mail indianafarmmarket@gmail.com to be added to our mailing list.

Remember to like us on Facebook for the most up-to-date market information.

Week of June 9

Huge thanks to everyone who came out for opening day!  We were lucky to have nice weather, a full lot of vendors, live music, artists, and a great turn-out of customers...and we're only getting started!

We were thrilled to have 16 local farmers and producers selling in our very first week of the season!  There will be more to come, as well as greater variety and quantity of produce, as the summer goes on.

We also enjoyed live music by Country Blue and artistic creations by Ruth Barkey and Color to Dye For.

This week, we once again put the spotlight on our new

Card Swipe Booth

Saturday shoppers can now use credit, debit, and EBT cards to shop the market!!  How?  I'm glad you asked...

SNAP Customers

1. Stop by the card swipe booth and swipe your card for the amount of your choosing
2. Receive tokens in $0.50 increments for the amount you requested
3. Receive Foodbucks equal to the amount you got in tokens - DOUBLING your market dollars!
4. Shop at participating vendors and enjoy the freshest local produce around!

Notes:  SNAP customers may not receive change from vendors when using tokens.  SNAP tokens may only be used to purchase food items that fit requirements of the SNAP program (i.e. fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, vegetable plant starts, etc.)

Credit/Debit Customers

1. Stop by the card swipe booth and swipe  your card for the amount of your choosing
2. Receive tokens in $1.00 increments for the amount you requested
3. Shop at participating vendors

Notes:  Credit/debit transactions carry a small transaction fee, listed at the booth.  Credit/debit customers do receive change back from vendors as needed when using tokens.

Participating vendors (which includes most booths) will post a sign stating that they accept tokens.  Tokens do not expire, so if you have some left, you can spend them next week (or any week after that)!

What are Foodbucks?

Foodbucks are an incentive for SNAP customers to shop the market.  For each dollar in tokens you receive from swiping your EBT card, you receive an additional dollar in Foodbucks.  We hope this program will draw more SNAP shoppers to the market and increase their buying power, helping to make fresh, local foods more accessible to everyone.

Thank you to the Center for Community Growth for sponsoring our Foodbucks program!  

The Center actively engages people of diverse philosophies, faiths, and backgrounds to work together to form a more equitable and sustainable community.

We Need You!

The market and our card swipe booth are run entirely by volunteers.  

Can you commit one Saturday morning per month to staff our booth?  The equipment is simple to use, and training is provided.  If you are interested in helping out with the card swipe booth or any other aspect of the market, e-mail us at indianafarmmarket@gmail.com

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See you at the Market!