December 18, 2009 by Sara Zoe.

Just a quick reminder that we’ll have over 40 farmers and food producers selling their amazing foods tomorrow, December 19th, from 10am-2pm at Wentworth Greenhouses in Rollinsford.

The variety of locally grown and locally produced foods that will be for sale is astonishing: 25 different fresh vegetables, including salad greens (!!), broccoli, beets, Swiss chard, kale,  carrots, onions and potatoes, ten different farmers selling their locally raised meats, eggs, milk, honey, maple syrup, goat cheese, cow cheeses, breads and pies, jams and jellies, wines, and seafood - native shrimp and fish.

This will be the last market of 2009, and there will be three weeks until the next market on January 9, 2010. So come buy food for yourself, buy gifts for others, and enjoy the fabulous atmosphere of the Wentworth Greenhouses - more information, including directions and a full list of participating farmers and food producers, at www.seacoasteatlocal.org/winterfarmersmarkets

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December 9, 2009 by Sara Zoe.

From the December 5, 2009 market at Wentworth Greenhouses!

Seacoast Eat Local Winter Farmers’ Market, Dec 5, 2009 from Seacoast Eat Local on Vimeo.

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November 27, 2009 by Sara Zoe.

As we’re looking forward to the next Winter Farmers’ Market on December 5th, 10-2 at Wentworth Greenhouses, I thought I’d share some write-ups around the web about the November 21st market -

Penny-wise people

What Did She Do Today?

 Living the Local Life

And here are our pictures from the market

On December 5, you can expect not only these wonderful foods, but also, Wentworth Greenhouses will have New Hampshire grown Christmas trees along with their own poinsettias, and kissing balls and a gorgeous assortment of greenery - a wonderful way to tackle the tasks of food buying and bringing in Christmas cheer, all in one fun day!

Directions and more information at www.seacoasteatlocal.org/winterfarmersmarkets

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November 16, 2009 by Sara Zoe.

This is an update to a post we originally published for our first Holiday Farmers’ Market, in 2007! We hope to see you all this Saturday, November 21, 2009, for our 3rd pre-Thanksgiving Market, 10am-2pm at Wentworth Greenhouses in Rollinsford. More details at www.seacoasteatlocal.org/winterfarmersmarkets!

This Saturday’s Holiday Farmers’ Market is going to be very very awesome. There will be 40+ vendors there, selling everything from cheese to pies to honey to milk, a lot of meats and a lot more vegetables. With all that in mind, here are 10 tips for Saturday’s market:

1. Come with an open mind.  I often arrive at a farmers’ market hoping to find a particular ingredient, and when I do, I feel blessed. And, with a terrific list of what will be available on the website, I can strategically plan for some items I don’t want to miss. But sometimes things do sell out. And when that happens, I let serendipity be my guide - what is at the market is more than pleasantly surprising. Amazingly buttery potatoes alongside heirloom varieties of poultry, winter greens, and more.
2. Don’t like crowds? Don’t feel like you have to come at 10am! The farmers’ markets are open until 2pm, and after 11:30am or so, you’ll find it easier to park and maneuver around. We’ve moved into much larger spaces this year so we can all have more elbow room, but if you’ve got strollers or just want a more relaxed experience, coming a little later in the day might be a smart choice. While we can’t promise an item or two won’t sell out, our vendors are well prepared for a large number of customers and would love to have your business at whatever time you make it!
3. Bring plenty of cash. There is so much good quality delicious food to be had, you might surprise yourself! In addition to food for yourself, you may wish to buy a pie for a neighbor, or a jar of maple syrup or honey as a gift for your kid’s teacher. Some foods naturally add up, like big, delicious turkeys.
4. Bring your checkbook. While farmers and food producers usually cannot accept credit or debit cards, almost every one does accept checks. This is not to say the food at the farmers’ market is very expensive, but the credit card back up isn’t there, so give yourself the checkbook as a back up.
5. Bring bags. Sturdy bags, and plenty of them. Those very inexpensive woven bags you see everywhere these days are awesome because they have flat bottoms, meaning you can get a lot of stuff in there without it crushing everything else. All the vendors will have plastic shopping bags, but a. it is hard to carry a lot of those and b. less plastic = better. I do a 1, 2 combo and bring a bunch of grocery store plastic bags into which I pile anything loose that needs to be weighed. That way, onto the scale goes my already pre-used plastic bag instead of a new one, and then it can quickly and simply go into my bigger totes.
6. Bring a cooler. Or two. There will be an amazing variety of locally caught fish and locally raised meat for sale, which means providing your family with a healthier, more humane product that you can feel safe serving. Since meat is so easy to stock up on (it is all pre-frozen because of the nature of small farms and small processing facilities in New England), I will be making certain I get my share. But there will also be plenty of delicious cheese from Silvery Moon Creamery - cheddar, cheddar curd, maybe some mozzarella, Brie and Camembert, and much more as well as fresh Jersey milk from Brookford Farm. Frozen meat turns into the ice cubes for the milk and cheese, et voila!
7. Take trips to the car. The foods of fall can be heavy. Potatoes, onions, and squashes, frozen cuts of meat, jars of honey. You can make as many trips to the car to drop off heavy things as you want.
8. Give yourself time to scope everything out. This is a big market! There is a lot to see and a lot to buy. Very special and particularly coveted things you might want to snap up on sight, but allow yourself time to make sure you didn’t miss anything on the first pass.
9. Give yourself time to relax. We have live music and a kids table where your youngsters can do a free craft, so grab a hot drink and a snack, and stick around for awhile.
10. Give yourself a pat on the back. Yes, -you- know the food at farmers’ markets is more delicious, more flavorful, and much much fresher, so if those are the only reasons you shop at farmers’ markets that’s more than ok. But buying local food is also a political act, an environmental statement, and a social contract - it’s saying that you care about your neighbors, your community, the health of your family and the environment alike. You are doing great things when you shop at farmers’ markets, take credit for it!

For directions, a list of vendors, and a list of products, visit Seacoast Eat Local’s Holiday Farmers’ Market webpage.

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November 15, 2009 by Sara Zoe.

In the Portsmouth Herald, Eating local in winter

Wentworth Greenhouses in Rollinsford will host a winter farmers market for the first time the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Nov. 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The farmer’s market will be held in the greenhouse, albeit one kept relatively cool for the sale of Christmas trees and wreaths. It’s organized in collaboration with seacoasteatlocal.org, said co-owner Bryan Wentworth.

“This being the first one, I don’t know what to expect,” he said. “I have a feeling it’s going to be pretty popular.”

An estimated 50 vendors will sell fresh salad greens, seafood, meat, pork, poultry, eggs, beets and winter squashes, he said.

There will also be prepared foods such as honey, cheeses and maple syrup.

“A big part of it, too, is supporting local businesses,” said Wentworth, whose family grows the local plants. “It offers the public more options. I think the more farmer’s markets the better, to get people in the habit of buying on a weekly or daily basis.

“Winter markets are really catching on this year.”

Read the full article at seacoastonline.com

and visit our website at www.seacoasteatlocal.org to view a full list of participating vendors, the products they’ll be selling, and directions to Wentworth Greenhouses for this coming Saturday!

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November 11, 2009 by Debra.

Shop for local food all winter long! In addition to our own Winter Farmers’ Markets in Exeter and Rollinsford, a number of different Winter Farmers’ Markets have joined us in extending the season. Locations include Newburyport, Newmarket, Northwood, and Rye, which kicks things off this coming weekend:

Rye Winter Farmer’s Market

Saturday, November 14th, 11 am – 2 pm

Rye Congregational Church, 580 Washington Rd, Rye, NH

Shoppers will enjoy a delicious lunch as well as a variety of local produce, fish, meats, poultry, fresh baked sweets & breads, cheeses, teas, jams & jellies, herbs, maple syrup, and dried beans. Our vendors include: Yellow House Farm, Back River Farm, Stone Wall Farm-Osprey Cove Organic Farm, Ramsbotham’s Riverview Farm, Shagbark Farm, Seaview Farm, White Heron Tea, Rye Harbor Lobster, Seaport Fish, Arbor Inn Bakery, Hickory Nut Farm, Silvery Moon Creamery, Jammed NH, and the Rye Bakers & Egg Co-op. This is a great time to prepare for the holidays with foods grown, raised, and prepared by our local farmers, bakers, and fishermen! For information regarding the Rye Farmer’s Market, please contact Jaci Grote at ojgrote@mac.com or Tracy Ritzo at tritzo@comcast.net.

You may find more information on individual markets, including listings by date at our website.

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December 18, 2008 by Sara Zoe.

We hope you’ll join us on Saturday, but of course, do what is best for your safety!

The market will be open until 2pm, and there will be plenty of food available - so if you don’t want to venture out first thing, feel free to come by later!

more information, directions, and foods that will be for sale >

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December 15, 2008 by Sara Zoe.

We’ve updated the list of farmers who will be at McIntosh Atlantic Culinary School in Dover this Saturday from 9am-2pm - in addition to the best local food for the holidays, there will be plenty of items for stocking stuffers, last minute gifts, and of course, 2009 Seacoast Eat Local calendars!

Directions, and the complete list of farmers and their products >

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November 18, 2008 by Sara Zoe.

Join us this weekend, Saturday November 22 from 9am-2pm as almost 40 farmers and food producers sell their wares at McIntosh Atlantic Culinary School in Dover!

More information, product lists, vendors, directions >

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October 31, 2008 by Sara Zoe.

Allison has a great post over at the UNH Sustainability Blog about the food baskets program we’re working on for the Holiday Farmers’ Markets:

Perhaps you’ve read the headlines:
Food Bank Inventories at an All-time Low
Demand is up - Donations are Down at NH Food Banks

Unfortunately, these are not from last week’s papers but illustrate an issue that has been ongoing for the last two years here in NH. Increased cost of heating and transportation leave many families without enough money to pay their bills and buy food for the table. Thus an increase in demand and a decrease in people’s ability to donate, have strained food banks in NH and the rest of the country.

It is now the time of year - with holidays’ approaching - that many food drives begin and food banks and food pantry’s are hoping to restock their shelves before winter. At UNH, the Cornucopia Food Pantry serves the local community and perhaps you have seen information about the “basket of hope” program where individuals or UNH Departments come together to donate an entire basket of food for a family. This has been an incredible successful program and much appreciated by the families who receive the baskets.

I’m a local food supporter and one of those who mostly shops the perimeter of the supermarket. Okay - there is the occasional foray into the snack food aisle for cheese puffs - but other than that, I just don’t eat a lot of canned or processed food. Looking into the food donation bins at the supermarket exit, they are usually loaded with boxes of potato buds or cans of creamed corn. I’m not likely to buy that sort of item so what can I do to support local families in need?

This year there is a great alternative! Cornucopia has partnered with Seacoast Eat Local to donate baskets that are full of locally grown food. On November 22 and December 20, Seacoast Eat Local is hosting Holiday Farmers’ Markets at the McIntosh Atlantic Culinary Academy in Dover. A group of UNH students and other volunteers will be there accepting monetary donations from market shoppers on behalf of Cornucopia. They will then take those dollars and purchase food directly from farmers at the market and deliver the food to Cornucopia in time for distribution before the holidays. I can’t think of a better way to support both local families and local farmers!

Kudos to the minds and hearts that came together to make this happen! To me, its a perfect example of how to creating a healthy and supportive food community. If you want to add to the success of this fantastic program, here’s how you can do it.

• Shop at the market, take home some local holiday food and donate a few dollars for baskets.
• Sign up to donate a fresh produce basket to Cornucopia directly. http://www.cornucopia.unh.edu
• Volunteer to help Seacoast Eat Local work at the market or help assemble the baskets. http://www.seacoasteatlocal.org
• Go to the Slow Food Seacoast annual 100-mile Thanksgiving potluck on November 14 at 6:00. Your donation at the door will directly benefit this program and you’ll enjoy an evening of great fun, food and community friendship. More info at http://www.slowfoodseacoast.org

What Allison may not know is that it was a connection made by the Office of Sustainability that brought this collaboration together and sent Sarah T., the UNH student in charge of the program, our way!

Visit UNH’s Discover(ing) Sustainability blog  >

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