Harvest for the Hungry is Saturday!

Happy Fall everyone!  As the weather cools (maybe?), colors turn, and the season continues on, there is still plenty to enjoy at the market.  While it may be sad to say goodbye to the warmth, and fresh bounty of summertime, autumn brings crisp air and many other market favorites to enjoy.  Think apples, winter squash, pumpkins, and much more on the way.  And who doesn't love a freshly baked loaf of bread or a gooey cinnamon roll on a cool day?

We still have TWO Wednesday markets remaining (correction from last week).  Our final Wednesday market of the year is October 4th.  Our Saturday markets will continue through the month of October.

As mentioned in one of our previous posts, September is recognized as Hunger Action Month.  Started by Feeding America, this is a month where people all over America stand together to fight hunger.  It is a month to spread the word and take action on the hunger crisis, and dedicate ourselves to a solution.

Earlier this month, we partnered with the Center for Community Growth to introduce our new Market Card Swipe Booth, where customers can use SNAP/EBT cards, in addition to credit and debit cards, to shop the market.  For the remainder of the season we will also offer a Foodbucks incentive for SNAP shoppers, essentially doubling your money (up to $5 per customer).  We hope this new program will help make fresh, local foods available to even more individuals and families in our community.

This weekend, we hold our Harvest for the Hungry event.

At the Saturday market, you can purchase additional produce or other food items to donate at the Market Booth.  All donations will be delivered to the Food Pantry at Zion Lutheran Church following the market.

Items that are particularly helpful to the Food Pantry are foods that will store well, including apples, potatoes, winter squash, root vegetables, onions, cabbage, kale, and collard greens.  However, all donations are welcome and appreciated!

In addition to helping fight hunger right here in our local community, you can enjoy a full lineup of special tents, including...

Food samples by IUP Dietetics Interns, in partnership with IRMC's Institute for Healthy Living.  Planned recipes include pumpkin parfait and corn & vegetable chowder - Yum!

Information about SNAP benefits, as well as nutrition tips and recipes, from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

Kids activities with students from IUP's Family and Consumer Science Education program.

Live music by Dan Stonerook, playing a unique blend of classic rock, country, and Americana - a market favorite!

We hope you will bring the whole family for what is sure to be an amazing morning to have fun and give back to our neighbors in need!

See you at the market!

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Week of September 20 & 23

Fall is nearly here, but the market is still going strong!  Come get the freshest in local produce, baked goods, meats, eggs, and all of your other favorites before it's too late!

The last day of our Wednesday market will be next week, September 27th.  Our Saturday market will continue through the month of October.

This week, we have even more exciting news for our SNAP/EBT customers!  For every SNAP dollar you use, we will give you an additional dollar in Foodbucks, up to a $5 match.  This means that if you swipe your EBT card for $5 in tokens, you will actually have $10 to spend at the market!  Huge thanks to our partners at the Center for Community Growth for funding the Foodbucks incentive!

Be sure to visit the Artisan Tent Saturday to shop tie dye, jewelry, and seasonal pillows by Jennifer Braughler.

Of course, please also remember to...

SAVE THE DATE

Harvest for the Hungry
Saturday, September 30th 

On this day, customers can purchase extra produce and donate it at the Market Booth.  Donations will be delivered to the food bank at Zion Lutheran Church.  Help us fight hunger in our community!

VOLUNTEERS are needed for this event!  Please e-mail indianafarmmarket@gmail.com if you can help.  Assistance is needed with setup, cleanup, and staffing the booth.  You can volunteer 1 hour or all morning!

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.

Week of September 13 & 16

There is a whole lot going on at the market this week (and all month), so I'm going to get right to it!

We had an exciting day last Saturday with the launch of our new Market booth accepting credit, debit, and SNAP/EBT.  We are excited to make shopping easier for our customers and to help increase access to fresh, local foods!  Thank you to our friends at the Center for Community Growth for being our partners in this effort and providing volunteers to staff the booth!  Read on for more details.

This week, there is more excitement on the way with a FULL lineup of special tents!  Bring the whole family - there will be something for everyone!

First, we welcome back Zepchild Barefoot Sandals to the Artisan Booth.  Stop by to shop handmade barefoot sandals, jewelry, and more!

The Community Tent features another chef demonstration from Josh Truitt of CH Fields Craft Kitchen (inside the Hilton Garden Inn).  CH Fields "believes in real food, grown and harvested by the good folks in our community who take care of their land for future generations."  Josh is a market favorite and is always cooking up something new and delicious!

Our Kids' Tent this week will be filled with students from IUP's Family and Consumer Sciences Program and some fun children's activities.

Finally, we welcome a new musician to the market!  Adam Fitz plays and sings soulful songs.  Hailing from Chicago, Fitz recently brought his rootsy originals and uniquely spun covers (known and unknown) to the Laurel Highlands of Western PA.  Today, Fitz is a father of two and works in a local school.  His life experiences have merged with the years on stage to produce an engaging performance filled with authenticity, depth, and an energetic, passionate performance.

Finally, S&T Bank will join us again to promote and sell tickets for The Best Slice of Indiana, a fundraiser benefiting the ICCAP Power Pack Program.

Whew, that's a lot of action for one Saturday!  We also hope you will...

SAVE THE DATE

Harvest for the Hungry
Saturday, September 30th 

On this day, customers can purchase extra produce and donate it at the Market Booth.  Donations will be delivered to the food bank at Zion Lutheran Church.  Help us fight hunger in our community!

VOLUNTEERS are needed for this event!  Please e-mail indianafarmmarket@gmail.com if you can help.  Assistance is needed with setup, cleanup, and staffing the booth.  You can volunteer 1 hour or all morning!

Finally, if you are as excited as we are about being able to use credit, debit, and EBT cards at the market, here is what you need to know:

• Cards will be accepted at Saturday morning markets ONLY.
• Participating vendors will post a sign in their booths stating that they accept market tokens.
• When you arrive, visit the Market Information booth.  A volunteer will swipe your card and give you tokens.  
• You can choose how much market money you want.  Credit/debit tokens are $1 each; SNAP tokens are $0.50 each.  
• Credit/debit transactions include a small transaction fee to help us cover the cost of this service.  There are no fees for SNAP transactions
• Spend your tokens like cash with participating vendors.  Note: Change cannot be given for purchases made with SNAP tokens.
• Tokens do not expire.  If you do not spend your market money, you can use it next week, next month, or even next season!

While we hope that many shoppers will take advantage of this system, please remember that cash (especially in small bills) is still the preferred payment method for many of our market vendors!

See you at the market!

We are still scheduling for our special tents through the end of September.  If you are an artist, musician, or are involved with a community organization or kids' group, e-mail us at indianafarmmarket@gmail.com if you'd like to participate!

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

Now Accepting Credit, Debit, and SNAP/EBT!

BIG NEWS!!  This Saturday, we will begin accepting credit, debit, and SNAP/EBT cards at our Saturday markets!  This is such an exciting time for the market, and we are looking forward to make shopping easier for our customers while helping increase access to fresh, local foods!

Here is what you need to know about using cards at the Market:

• Cards will be accepted at Saturday morning markets ONLY.
• Participating vendors will post a sign in their booths stating that they accept market tokens.
• When you arrive, visit the Market Information booth.  A volunteer will swipe your card and give you tokens.  
• You can choose how much market money you want.  Credit/debit tokens are $1 each; SNAP tokens are $0.50 each.
• Spend your tokens like cash with participating vendors.  Note: Change cannot be given for purchases made with SNAP tokens.
• Tokens do not expire.  If you do not spend your market money, you can use it next week, next month, or even next season!

While we hope that many shoppers will take advantage of this system, please remember that cash (especially in small bills) is still the preferred payment method for many of our market vendors!

This program is made possible by a partnership with the Center for Community Growth.  The Center actively engages people of diverse philosophies, faiths, and backgrounds to work together to form a more fair, equitable, and sustainable community.

The Market has also received support from Fresh Access.  Thank you!

This Saturday, we welcome Ruth Barkey to the Artisan Tent.  She creates figurines and other items from Sculpey clay.  Many of her newest pieces have a harvest or Halloween theme, so be sure to check them out!

We also welcome S&T Bank to the market.  For the next 3 weeks, they will be selling tickets to The Best Slice of Indiana, a fundraiser benefiting the ICCAP Power Pack Program.

Finally, when you finish shopping the Market Saturday, be sure to stop by the Northern Applachian Folk Festival,  happening in downtown Indiana all weekend!

See you at the market!

We are still scheduling for our special tents through the end of September.  If you are an artist, musician, or are involved with a community organization or kids' group, e-mail us at indianafarmmarket@gmail.com if you'd like to participate!

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