[FMC] Activities & educational programming for kids at markets

[Zachary Lyons]

What kind of health issues do you encounter with regards to a cider  
press?  From my experience, health departments here in Washington are  
rather hostile to cider presses.

-Zach Lyons

On Jun 25, 2008, at 12:24 PM, Cynthia Price wrote:

> A very simple educational piece that we've used at our South East Area
> Farmers' Market and elsewhere is to get a cider press from someone and
> make apple cider. The kids can turn the handle and most are amazed at
> what comes out the other end.
>
> They're heavy but it's just the one thing, and usually farmers don't
> mind loaning them out.
>
> Plus, if you're servicing lower-income folks as we are (or even if
> you're not) it's nice to give people the free, healthy beverage.
>
> Cynthia Price
> Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council
>
> On Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 2:46 PM, Deb Connors <dconnors at cwbkc.com>  
> wrote:
>> We had some success developing some partnerships with area  
>> organizations
>> during our 150th Anniversary in 2007. The National Agricultural  
>> Center and
>> Hall of Fame put together a nice display of agricultural equipment  
>> around
>> the market and this year they have a booth on site once a month  
>> during our
>> food festivals to discuss the history of agriculture and the  
>> future of
>> farming.  They bring a trivia wheel and prizes for kids and  
>> promote their
>> own special programming calendar.
>>
>>
>>
>> We have also established a partnership with our local University  
>> Extension
>> Office.  Their staff has committed to weekly recipe sampling  
>> opportunities
>> during the Saturday Farmers' Market.  They have also organized a  
>> walking map
>> and actively distribute to interested shoppers.
>>
>>
>>
>> The scavenger hunt sounds like a great idea as long as you can  
>> keep it
>> simple.  We have found adding kids activities as been a great way  
>> to enhance
>> what we call the "market experience".  It may not drive specific  
>> traffic to
>> your market but those who are shopping will likely enjoy the  
>> addition,
>> resulting in more loyal shoppers. Especially if it helps parents to
>> encourage their kids to try new vegetables.   If you find it to be
>> successful, do share. It sounds like fun and we are always looking  
>> for new
>> ideas.
>>
>>
>>
>> Good Luck!
>>
>>
>>
>> Stephanie A. Spatz-Ornburn
>>
>> Director of Marketing & Events
>>
>> The City Market
>>
>> 20 E. 5th Street, Suite 201
>>
>> Kansas City, MO  64106
>>
>> p: 816-842-1271  f: 816-471-6168
>>
>> sspatzornburn at cwbkc.com
>>
>> a copaken white blitt managed property
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> From: fmc-bounces at lists.farmersmarketcoalition.org
>> [mailto:fmc-bounces at lists.farmersmarketcoalition.org] On Behalf Of  
>> Bralts
>> Lisa
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 9:21 AM
>> To: fmc at lists.farmersmarketcoalition.org
>> Subject: [FMC] Activities & educational programming for kids at  
>> markets
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi, all:
>>
>> I'm interested in developing some educational activities for kids  
>> at our
>> market. In the past there have been a couple of special events  
>> each season
>> geared toward young folks, but they've had nothing to do with food or
>> nutrition, and I'd like to change that.
>>
>> Unfortunately, I don't have as much time as I'd like to develop  
>> something
>> permanent/ongoing, so I'm working with a dietetics/nutrition  
>> student from
>> our local giant university who approached me about doing a one- 
>> time special
>> event around nutrition and kids at the market as an unpaid  
>> internship. So
>> we're in the planning stages… and I'm a little stumped in terms of  
>> getting
>> started (probably doesn't help that Tuesdays are my Mondays in  
>> terms of work
>> week).
>>
>> She would like to do a tasting-as-scavenger hunt - kids come to  
>> the market,
>> get cards where they have to try certain fruits and vegetables  
>> listed (as
>> distributed by participating vendors), get them checked off as  
>> they travel
>> the Market, and return the cards for a prize. Pretty simple,  
>> though it could
>> be a bit of a logistical hassle due to the size/setup of our market.
>>
>> Has anyone ever tried something like this before? How much time/ 
>> space is
>> devoted at your market toward programming for kids?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Lisa
>>
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>
>> Lisa Bralts
>> Economic Development Specialist
>> Director, Market at the Square
>> City of Urbana
>> 400 South Vine Street
>> Urbana, IL  61801
>>
>> p: (217) 384-2319
>> f:  (217) 384-0200
>>
>> email: ljbralts at city.urbana.il.us
>>
>> www.city.urbana.il.us/market
>>
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>>
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