The Market is Open and Memorial Day Updates!

Good Morning Locavores,

The market is open and loaded with local goodness! There’s still plenty of time to stock your Memorial Day grill-out with an array of quality meats, veggies, breads, and cheeses from small, Arkansas producers. Speaking of which, for those that are leaving town for the holiday, we will be moving our normal Monday pick-up next week to Tuesday, May 27th from 4:30-6pm. So if you place an order this week and select Monday as your pick-up location, you’re actually going to come pick it up on Tuesday. Fear not, if you ordered for Monday last week, we’ll still be there tomorrow! We hope this makes it easier on y’all to have a nice, relaxing holiday without fear or worry of how you’ll get your local groceries. Here’s just some of the quality products you can grill next week:

• First on the grill menu: Meat. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of grassfed, humanely-raised animals to choose from. Whether it’s beef bratwurst from Bluebird Hill Berry Farm, a T-bone steak from MeatWorks Butchery & Market, chicken wings from Falling Sky Farm, pork baby-back ribs from Farm Girl Meats, lamb chops from McSwain Ranch, and heck, even ground elk, buffalo, and wild boar from Ratchford Farms, there’s simply no excuse not to have a grill full of local next weekend.

• When it comes to topping that meat, there’s an incredible variety of cheeses to choose from. That raw milk jalapeno cheddar from Daley Dairy would go perfect on any burger. Same goes for Kent Walker’s habanero cheddar. In fact, just give me any of his gourmet cheeses, or one of the marinated fetas from White River Creamery, and a good loaf of Arkansas Fresh sourdough, and I’ll be good to go.

• Non-carnivores should note that the grill makes just about anything taste better. Just this week I grilled local radicchio and it was hand’s-down the greatest side salad I’ve ever had. With fresh squash and zucchini back from Barnhill Orchards, bok choy from Kellogg Valley Farms, and shiitake mushrooms from Arkansas Natural Produce, even vegetarians can have a veritable feast from the grill next weekend.

• Lots of new products from the creative minds at Maison Terre. Their reduction for triglyceride levels is a handmade concoction of organic flax seed oil and pure essential oils of lemongrass, turmeric, clove, and ginger. A teaspoon a day keeps the doctor at bay! They’ve also got 3 new body and baby powders: chaparral white sage, lavender mint, and marshmallow plaintain, the last of which was formulated especially for babies. All of these are antimicrobial, antibacterial, talc- and grain-free, and soothing for any irritated skin.

• We’re excited to premiere our very own ALFN Eat Local: Grow Local bumper stickers. Promote local food by adorning one of these on your vehicle, guitar case, baby stroller, or just about anything! We’re asking for a $1 suggested donation to re-coup printing costs, but any donations beyond that are greatly appreciated and go to supporting your Arkansas Local Food Network.

We’ve happy to announce that our friends at the North Little Rock Community Farm are finalists in the Regions Bank: What a Difference a Day Makes grant contest. For those that haven’t heard, the NLR Community Farm was established in the Fall of 2013, and only one year later, it is growing vegetables and raising animals to feed the 651 homeless students in the North Little Rock School District. Help support this awesome project by voting for them once per day between May 19th and June 13th here. They’ll even send you daily vote reminders if you e-mail announcements@nlrcommunityfarm.com. As always, thanks for supporting a healthier local food system!

- Alex Handfinger
Director of Operations

Do you have questions or comments about this, or any, weblog? Thoughts on local food, goods, or events? Reply to this email and let us know what’s on your mind. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!

Market Reminder!

Notes From the Field:

I had the privilege of taking home a pre-sale sample of Garden Works’ nabak kimchi this weekend, and it was indeed a privilege. This fantastic addition to The Market, made with a wide assortment of synthetic chemical free and certified organic veggies from farmers you already know and love, is an intriguing condiment that complements most any savory dish.

This variety of kimchi is milder and watery compared to what most Americans know. It’s traditionally made in the spring and early summer, and Garden Works really knows how to let that early season freshness shine. Less spicy and less “funky” than similar products, nabak kimchi provides a stellar stepping stone for anyone hesitant about trying fermented foods. So far, I’ve tried it over fried duck eggs and next to seared tuna (with delightful results!) but I imagine nearly endless possibilities.

Stocked and Restocked:

Haven’t looked at The Market since Sunday? Boy are you missing out! The fabulous array of all your favorite fetas and fromages blanc (it’s like culs de sac) from White River Creamery are available once again, and they have something new to offer: chevre! This creamy, earthy goat cheese is as versatile as it is delicious. It can take breakfast, lunch, or dinner to new heights, but is just as tasty on a spoon.

Yellow squash and zucchini have officially arrived and are coming in strong from Barnhill Orchards. It’ll be a couple of months before the bounty begins to be a burden, so I like to take these first few weeks to indulge in the classics, before I start thinking outside the box.

Whether it’s your first order for the week or the third, be sure to get it in before The Market closes tomorrow morning at 7:30, or, come Saturday, you’ll have nothing to eat but regret.

-Rebecca Wild
Program Manager

Do you have questions or comments about this, or any, weblog? Thoughts on local food, goods, or events? Reply to this email and let us know what’s on your mind. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!

Market Reminder!

Notes From the Field:

I had the privilege of taking home a pre-sale sample of Garden Works’ nabak kimchi this weekend, and it was indeed a privilege. This fantastic addition to The Market, made with a wide assortment of synthetic chemical free and certified organic veggies from farmers you already know and love, is an intriguing condiment that complements most any savory dish.

This variety of kimchi is milder and watery compared to what most Americans know. It’s traditionally made in the spring and early summer, and Garden Works really knows how to let that early season freshness shine. Less spicy and less “funky” than similar products, nabak kimchi provides a stellar stepping stone for anyone hesitant about trying fermented foods. So far, I’ve tried it over fried duck eggs and next to seared tuna (with delightful results!) but I imagine nearly endless possibilities.

Stocked and Restocked:

Haven’t looked at The Market since Sunday? Boy are you missing out! The fabulous array of all your favorite fetas and fromages blanc (it’s like culs de sac) from White River Creamery are available once again, and they have something new to offer: chevre! This creamy, earthy goat cheese is as versatile as it is delicious. It can take breakfast, lunch, or dinner to new heights, but is just as tasty on a spoon.

Yellow squash and zucchini have officially arrived and are coming in strong from Barnhill Orchards. It’ll be a couple of months before the bounty begins to be a burden, so I like to take these first few weeks to indulge in the classics, before I start thinking outside the box.

Whether it’s your first order for the week or the third, be sure to get it in before The Market closes tomorrow morning at 7:30, or, come Saturday, you’ll have nothing to eat but regret.

-Rebecca Wild
Program Manager

Do you have questions or comments about this, or any, weblog? Thoughts on local food, goods, or events? Reply to this email and let us know what’s on your mind. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!

The Market is Open!

Good Sunday, Foodies,

And a happy Mother’s Day to all of the wonderful mamas in our lives. Personally, I owe just about everything to my mom, and though I could never thank her enough, a brunch full of local food at The Root is not a bad place to start. Thanks so much to all of our mothers for instilling a love of good food and community in supporting small, diversified farms like the ones in our market. Speaking of good food, in the market this week…

• I’m so excited that my pork: farmer’s choice bundle from Farm Girl Meats arrived this week. This is an incredible deal for a variety of cuts from their animal welfare approved, woodland raised hogs, and thanks to Farm Girl, we’ll be having pork for weeks to come!

• We’re so lucky to have artisan breads from Bryant-based bakery Arkansas Fresh. Their Arkansas sourdough, birdseed multigrain, ciabatta, and honey flax seed sourdough are all absolutely gourmet, and make sure to check out the extras list at Food Club pick-up to seek out some of their even more creative loaves.

• Enjoy some Skyphos red lettuce from the ALFN-sponsored Victory Garden Project. This beautiful dark red butterhead has a velvety texture and sweet taste. Expect to see many more great things in the near future from the Victory Garden, as they just received $500 from the ALFN Community Fund to complete their ongoing hoophouse project!

• Loads of wonderful beet greens, be they ruby red from Barnhill Orchards or chioggia and bull’s blood from Crimmins Family Farm. Whether eaten raw in a salad or sauteed with garlic and oil, there’s no wrong way to enjoy these wonderful greens.

• Nabak kimchi from Garden Works. Kimchi is a tasty, fermented condiment similar to sauerkraut loaded with healthy, alive bacteria that’s good for your gut, and I’m super excited to try Garden Works’ take on it.

• Order some custom embroidery from Bluebird Hill Berry Farm. Those talented folks can place names, pictures, or symbols of your choice on just about anything!

Thanks to the Arkansas Times for their coverage of our Green Groceries fresh, local food pantry program. Through a partnership with our wonderful hosts at Christ Episcopal Church, Green Groceries gets low-income families healthy, fresh food from all local growers, providing much-needed nutrition and support to small farmers. You can support many of these same families and farmers by adding donation greens to your cart in the market. Thanks to Christ Episcopal and to our local farmers for supporting this really wonderful and unique program.

Enjoy the day, especially you mothers out there!

- Alex Handfinger

So Many Berries; So Little Time!

“We do not rejoice in victories. We rejoice when a new kind of cotton is grown and when strawberries bloom in Israel.” ~ Golda Meir

If Israel were Arkansas, that would be my personal motto. I love strawberries, and it’s a true love. I love them for the awesome things they are and not for some vague potential they may have. Call me a purist, but I don’t do a darn thing to my beloved berries except eat them, and maybe refrigerate them to eat them later. No capping. No coring. No blending. No washing. And definitely no adding sugar!

That said, I hear some folks like a little variety. Lucky for them, strawberries are versatile enough to star in every course of even the fanciest dinner. Begin the evening with this brightly flavored bruschetta, paired with an elegant no-cook soup. Keep the flavor coming with a simple seasonal salad, served on the side of your favorite roast beast topped with a generous portion of savory strawberry salsa. End the evening on a high note with a tempting twist on a classic, and don’t skimp on the refills.

Doesn’t that sounds delicious? I may have even tempted myself into tiptoeing into the world of enhanced berry indulgences. Is there anything these little flavor bombs can’t do? Well, they can’t stay in season forever! Be sure to order a few more before The Market closes tomorrow morning.

-Rebecca Wild
Program Manager

Do you have questions or comments about this, or any, weblog? Thoughts on local food, goods, or events? Reply to this email and let us know what’s on your mind. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!

The Market is Open with Gifts for Mom!

Good Morning Food Clubbers,

The market is open and lucky for you, we’ve got fresh, local food options aplenty! With delicious local strawberries back in full force, yesterday’s Food Club was by far the most colorful I’ve seen in quite some time. With each passing week, an array of amazing new products come back to the market, including plenty of options for the local-loving mothers out there. Give the gift of local food with an ALFN Food Club Gift Certificate or any of the fabulous products from our incredible Arkansas producers, including…

• Beautiful gift baskets from Tammy Sue’s Critters. Choose from all sorts of combinations of goat’s milk soaps, lotions, body butters, hair bars, and naturally-made lip balms. Just head over to the gift baskets and sets category, select a combination, and leave a comment for Tammy with your desired colors and scents.

• MeatWorks Butchery & Market looks to make Mother’s Day easy with this week’s Butcher’s Buy, Mom’s Day Meatloaf. Just order it, pop it in the oven, and impress mom (and a few others) with a delicious meatloaf full of grassfed beef and pastured pork. It’ll make you wish every day was Mother’s Day!

• Arkansas Natural Produce wants to help you celebrate Mother’s Day by giving an extra special price on their edible flowers, which add such a beautiful touch to any meal in honor of the beautiful woman that gave birth to you.

• Nutritious new vegetables such as goosefoot and crimson clover blossoms, and roots for homemade remedies such as soloman’s seal or yellow dock from Food For Thought Farm, who’s expanding our food vocabulary with each passing week.

• A plethora of essential oils from Maison Terre Natural Products. Essential oils carry the properties of the plant in a concentrated form, which can be used in aromatherapy, perfumes, cooking, soap making, remedies, and other products. Varieties include cajeput, cedarwood, lemongrass, pink grapefruit, and ylang ylang III, just to name a few.

We’re really excited that the Arkansas History Commission is going to be hosting the Arkansas Foodways Seminar on May 17th. Titled Everything Old is New Again: The Arkansas Foodways Movement, this half-day seminar will have a variety or great speakers teaching about the history of Arkansas food traditions and an awesome Arkansas lunch prepared by up-and-coming area chefs. Registration is only $10 but space is limited so call (501)682-6891 or e-mail state.archives@arkansas.gov to sign up.

Happy Eating!

- Alex Handfinger

How do I "go local?" - The Final Chapter

We’ve discussed a lot of important aspects of eating local. Where to find great local food. How to store it. How to surround yourself with like-minded locavores. What to do if you can’t find enough of something you love. And how to cope when something you want simply doesn’t grow here. Armed with this information, anyone can eat delicious, Arkansas farmed food all year long, and make informed choices when they do splurge on something shipped. Yet there’s something missing. If you truly want to “go local” you have to look at more than just the things you put in your mouth.

Consider other mouths. If you have children or pets, what are they eating? Have you thought about making your own baby food, or even pet food? Human, scaled, finned, feathered, or furred, everyone can benefit from a diet of wholesome local foods.

There’s also a wide variety of goods that all count towards your “going local” karma. In each room of your house, there’s at least half a dozen things that someone in Arkansas makes. Need an example? Look in your bathroom. Locally made soap, lotion, lip balm, body butter, deodorant, facial soap and moisturizer, shampoo bars, hair rinse, hand sanitizer, and shaving bars are all available on The Market. Most of them even star fabulous locally grown ingredients. How many do you use?

The cornucopia doesn’t end there. You can find locally made candles, jewelry, T-shirts, bug repellent, cleaning supplies, cutting boards, laundry soap, rain barrels, wash cloths, gardening supplies, medicinal tinctures, quilts, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! If it’s not available through us and you don’t know where to find it, just ask! I’m always up for tracking down something that helps support a local producer.

However, Arkansas is only one state, and we can’t produce everything. Luckily, where there’s not a local producer there’s still a local vendor. Small, independent shops ought not to be overlooked. If you really need an imported good, be it clothes, coffee, or Claritin, you can still support a local business. Choose The Box Turtle over Target, River City Coffee over Starbucks, Rhea Drug over Walgreens, and you’ll be supporting Arkansas’ business owners and get great customer service to boot.

Don’t forget about the less tangible things that Arkansas has to offer. Services fill out a very important portion of the local economy, and are utilized by everyone at some time or another. Choosing Hillcrest Animal Hospital, The Local, and Maddie’s Place over Banfield, Supercuts, and Applebee’s goes a long way towards balancing out your chocolate and avocado indulgences.

As it turns out, there are a lot of ways to “go local.” There’s no need to strive for 100%, but you can always try to do just a little bit more. Above all, enjoy whatever amount of going local you’re able to achieve. Every little bit really does counts, and the more you revel in what you are able to do, the more likely you’ll want to do even more.

-Rebecca Wild
Program Manager

Do you have questions or comments about this, or any, weblog? Thoughts on local food, goods, or events? Reply to this email and let us know what’s on your mind. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!

The Market is Open!

Good Storming Locavores,

The market is open and boy, is it booming with freshness! It’s not hard not to tell Spring has sprung with all of the wonderful food and events going on – Just in the past week, we celebrated Earth Day three times, talked about local food on radio station KABF, and our sponsored project CANAS hosted their first ever Spring Conference! We’ve made plenty of great new friends along the way, and we welcome you to our market and the greater local food network.

This week in the market:

• Now that grilling season is really picking up, we’ve got just about any cut of meat your heart could desire. Heck, we’ve even got locally-made, all-natural hot dogs, made with 100% grassfed, angus cattle beef raised at Ratchford Farms. Mr. Ratchford promises all of your money back if you don’t love them!

• As I talk up our market, it’s hard not to mention our incredible dairy section. You’d think we’re in Wisconsin or Vermont with our wide selection that includes locally-made gouda from Kent Walker Artisan Cheese, raw milk jalapeno cheddar from Daley Dairy, and of course raspberry fig fromage blanc from White River Creamery, just to name a few!

• Can you say FRESH STRAWBERRIES!?!?! In my humble opinion, this is the most wonderful time of the year. There’s just not much that beats a fresh and local Arkansas strawberry, folks. Whether by the quart, the flat, or the case, Barnhill Orchards and Arkansas Natural Produce have got all of your fresh strawberry needs covered.

• Welcome to certified organic kohlrabi from Crimmins Family Farm. For those unfamiliar with this nutritious vegetable, it has a long and storied history of being a European favorite. Full of delicately sweet flavor and crispy moist texture, these are great raw, steamed, or sauteed, so try one today!

• Certified organic kale and kale plants from Green Acres Atkins. Whether you like making chips, a great salad, or a Portuguese soup, the possibilities are literally endless!

This week has again reminded me of why I love Little Rock so much, and how lucky we are to have such a robust local food system. We are blessed with some truly genius growers that are brave enough to take back the way food is produced for a reason. In the words of Brenda Schoepp, My grandfather used to say that once in your life you need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, and a preacher, but every day, three times a day, you need a farmer. So thank you to all of our farmers, and thank you for continuing to support them!

- Alex Handfinger