ARE YOU ON CalFresh?

LEARN about healthy food & lifestyle and EARN $15 coupon for Butte County Farmer’s Markets*

LEARN & EARN!

Participate in a designated Butte County Healthy Food Event & EARN extra EBT farmers’ market promotion tokens for veggies, fruit, nuts and/or seeds/starts to grow your own.

*At this time of year, EBT promo coupons are only accepted at these Certified Farmer’s Markets.

GRIDLEY FARMERS MARKET: Tuesdays May-August 5:00 – 8:00 pm, Gridley in Daddow Park at Virginia Street between Hazel and Sycamore Street

OROVILLE HOSPITAL FARMERS MARKET: Wednesdays June-September 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, Oroville Hospital at Medical Office Building Parking Lot

CHAPMAN FARMERS MARKET – Fridays Year-round 2:00 – 5:30pm, Chico in Chapmantown at 1010 Cleveland Avenue next to the Chapman Elementary School in MLK Community Park

There are some great documentaries and movies out there on our food system. Some are viewable online, others can be picked up on Netflix, or at your local video store. These are some I have found.

1. Dirt: The Movie (2009)

A funny, thoughtful, and, um grounded look at the fundamental ingredient vital to everything that feeds us.

2. Food Fight (2008)

An amusing account of modern American ag policy and food culture that sprouted a counter-revolution among veggie-obsessed Californians.

3. Food, Inc. (2008)

The rock stars of the ethical eating movement — Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser — weigh in on all that is wrong in America’s industrialized food system. Methinks my son summed up this film best: “Sometimes the scariest films are the ones that are real.”

4. Fresh (2009)

Down with the corporate behemoths of the American food economy who threaten the country’s food security, livelihood of small farmers, and our choices as consumers. This doco features fresh thinking from urban farming activist Will Allen and sustainable farmer Joel Salatin.

5. Killer at Large (2008)

This film tackles the giant-sized topic of America’s obesity epidemic with talking heads and the story of a 12-year-old who undergoes liposuction.

6. King Corn (2007)

Two friends head to the heartland to learn a thing or two about how food is farmed and where food comes from.

7. Super Size Me (2004)

Cult classic with Morgan Spurlock eating his way to bad health on a month’s worth of Maccas. Required viewing for fast food fans.

8. The Garden (2008)

A group of mostly working class, Latino South Central Farmers fought the good fight — and they’re still at it — for the basic human need to grow food, in this Academy Award nominated film.

9. The Future of Food (2004)

Deborah Koons Garcia reveals the unappetizing truth about genetically modified foods: Do you really know what you’re dishing up for dinner?

10. The Real Dirt on Farmer John (2006)

A flamboyant farmer turns his family’s dying farm into a thriving CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Bonus: He flaunts a feather boa while driving his tractor.

11. Food Stamped (2010?)

Special mention to a work-in-progress: A film-and-food couple reveal how hard it is to eat well on a really tight budget.

12. Leap of Faith: Fast Lane to Farmstead

And some more:

• Forks over Knives
• Food Matters
• Fat Head
• Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead
• Vegucated
• The Last Heart Attack (CNN Special) watch online
• The Cove
• Earthlings
• Eating: The Rave Diet
• Supercharge Me
• City Farmers — Watch Online – 30 minutes: which lets us know what’s happening in the urban New York City community gardens.
• The Apple Pushers, which tell us about the Green Carts in New York City.
• Food Matters
• Dive
• Hungry for Change
• The Beautiful Truth (although I hated the VO choice);Watch full movie online
• Genetically Modified Food: Panacea or Poison;
• Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 3o Days
• Sexy, Crazy, Cancer;
• May I Be Frank
• The Gerson Miracle
• Cooking History
• Semi-Sweet” (Viewable in countries outside the USA on Youtube: Here.) A documentary that follows many perspectives on the use of Chocolate. Weaving stories from children in West Africa, to raw foodies in Canada, French chef and the deformed town of Hershey, PA.
• Mad City Chickens

Farmer/Rancher Evaluation of Certified Farmers Markets.

Results gathered from this survey will be examined and discussed at the workshop outlined below.

We will be adding additional surveys shortly. Topic focus of next survey will be Farm/Ranch Succession and Mentorship/Internship of New & Beginning Farmers & Ranchers.

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Farmers Markets

The Change is Here

Workshop Presentations

When:

Wednesday February 20th,

1 to 6 PM

Where:

The Chico Grange Hall

2775 Old Nord Avenue

Presenters:

1. Richard Price, Ag Commissioner Butte County

   the state and issues of Farmers Markets

2. Environmental Health

   Food Preparation and Presenation at Community Events, AB1616 the Cottage Food Bill

3. Marc Nemenic – 3CORE – Small Loan Program

4. and much more.

Farmer Rancher Survey (link to survey at top of page)  results will be presented and discussed at the event.

Next week we will be moved to a brand new location next to Chapman School.

Look for us in the parking lot of Community Park next to the picnic tables and play ground.

Park in the parking lot in front of Chapman School or walk or ride your bike into Community Park, we are between the picnic tables and Chapman School.

See you there!

Same time : 2 – 5:30 PM every Friday. Please let your neighbors know! Come celebrate our great local farmers and beautiful new location.

For more information call the market manager (Richard)

at (530)624-8844

This Map is updated regularly. Click on any location for market details.

View Sac Valley Rural Area Certified Farmers Markets in a larger map

Below is a draft being considered by Chico Grange Hall # 486.

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Wellness Policy of the Chico Grange #486

Chico Grange #486 recognizes the devastating impact of low quality industrial convenience foods on the health of America, exemplified by the pandemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes and other lifestyle related diseases.

Therefore, in line with the founding principles of the Grange, its history and tradition:

1. Chico Grange #486 dedicates this kitchen and facilities to the health of our community.
2. Chico Grange #486 recognizes, encourages, commends, and supports the community impact of other charitable, religious, and social service organizations who  in addition to their stated purpose, adopt, display and activate their own wellness policies, such as these, within their own organization.
3. Chico Grange #486 encourages the elimination or significant reduction in preparation, use and/or consumption of highly processed and packaged foods and food products which contain GMOs, hydrogenated oils, white flour, sweeteners, salt, and artificial coloring and flavoring.
4. Chico Grange #486 endorses and encourages the use of this kitchen, these halls, and these grounds to the education and practice of resource stewardship, proper hygiene, and development of those culinary art skills which integrate the preparation and consumption of locally grown whole fruits and vegetables, grains, seeds and nuts, herbs and spices, and quality free-range produced and humanely harvested animals and products.

This is a great introduction to New and Begining Farmers/Ranchers interested in exploring the potential of Farmers Markets. And for the experienced Farmers Markets Participants – it provides some real handy tips on how to make improvements and increase sales and customer satisfaction.

“Davis Farmers Market partnered with UC Davis Sustainable Agriculture, Research and Education Program to research, market and open a farmers market at the entrance to Sutter Davis Hospital. The grant also funded work to implement institutional changes in how the hospital purchases food and promotes local food and farmers to hospital staff and patients. That grant included a training component for new farmers and this guide reveals the information, experience and knowledge Davis Farmers Market staff gained while opening and managing the Sutter Davis Hospital Farmers Market. What we learned about emerging farmers markets is this: new small farmers are key to building new farmers markets. Cultivating those new farmers in small or emerging farmers markets can help those farmers advance to larger, more successful markets. Emerging farmers markets are the training ground and the proving ground for new farmers market sellers.”

Here is the Table of contents:

Introduction 1
About the authors 2
Why farmers markets are good for farmers 4
Traits of successful farmers market sellers 5
Readiness: Is selling at a farmers market right for you? 6
Preparing to sell at farmers markets 7
Pricing and pricing strategies 8
Setting goals 9
Researching prospective markets 10
Getting your documents together 11
Estimating your costs 12
Building relationships with market managers 12
Pitching your farm to a market manager 13
Follow-through builds trust 13
Your farmers market retail stand 14
Displaying your products 14
Creating signs that help you sell 15
Dressing for sales success 15
Staffing your farmers market stand 16
Welcoming customers 16
Offering samples 17
Creating effective customer handouts 17
Expanding your marketing 18
Staying in touch with market managers 20
Tracking and evaluating results 21
Bibliography 22
Readiness checklist 23
Farmers market visit evaluation form 24
Budgeting farmers market costs 26
Farmers market advice from Davis Farmers Market sellers 27

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