THIS WEEK AT THE MARKET:
The market is closed for the 2011 season. Check back for information of farmers selling while we are closed.
Sad news:
This past week we lost an important member of our community. Dr. Mary Ann Goodwyn died last Friday after battling cancer. We can't express strongly enough how important Mary Ann was to this community. Any one who spent any time with Mary Ann couldn't help but be touched by her compassion and her desire to better the world. She was instrumental in helping found the Ruston Farmers Market, and continued to help in any way she could with her knowledge, insight, and time, volunteering on every Saturday she was in town. There will be a memorial on Saturday, January 21 at 3 p.m. at Lincoln Parish Park (pavilion L-6). Mary Ann was a strong supporter of Heifer International, and her family has requested any honorarium be submitted as a donation to that organization (heifer.org). We will miss you, Maggie, you made our world better.
Closed for 2011
The Ruston Farmers Market will be closed until further notice (sometime in the early Spring; we'll let you know). This was a great season and we want to thank all of our vendors and customers form making our Saturdays rewarding and fun. See you next year.
If you would like to sign up for the RFM Newsletter, please complete the form below:
NLFF Board Elections
North Louisiana Farm Fresh has elected another board member: we'd like to welcome Mary Louise Carter to our board. North Louisiana Farm Fresh is the umbrella nonprofit for the Ruston Farmers Market.
You can always help us "grow" our market by putting your talents and ideas to "fruitful" use by becoming a member of NLFF.
For more information about NLFF we are available to talk with you at each and every market at our Welcome tent. You can also email us at rustonfarmersmarket@gmail.com or call John Benschoter (255-0478) or Karen Pittman (251-3479).
Sponsors
Support Your Local Businesses Supporting RFM
Many thanks to Crescent City for using RFM produce and to 102 A Bistro for supporting our farmers! Please help us say "Thank You" by visiting them
Are you interested in featuring local produce on your restaurant's menu? Please contact us at the Welcome Tent or call 251-3479.
Vendors
We are always looking for new farmers and vendors. If you know of any interested parties, please contact John Benschoter at 318-255-0478 or Karen Pittman at 318-251-3479 or email us at rustonfarmersmarket@gmail.com. You can also keep informed by signing up for our newsletter using the same email address.
North Louisiana Farm Fresh (NLFF)
North Louisiana Farm Fresh (NLFF) is a new umbrella for the Ruston Farmers Market recently incorporated by the State of Louisiana. NLFF will be involved with growing the farmers market, expanding agricultural opportunities in the region, assisting farmers and growers, nutritional and educational outreach, community gardens, and more. You can email us at rustonfarmersmarket@gmail.com for more information.
Anyone interested in donating to NLFF or becoming a sponsor of the market should contact John Benschoter at 318-255-0478 or Karen Pittman at 318-251-3479 or email us at rustonfarmersmarket@gmail.com.
Our desire is to provide high quality, fresh, locally grown produce; plants; flowers; and value-added goods to Lincoln Parish residents. Want to know more about Ruston Farmers Market? Sign up for the RFM Newsletter by sending your email to: rustonfarmersmarket@gmail.com.
Why Buy Local?
- The food is delicious.
- Spending your money where you live keeps your community thriving.
- North Louisiana is particularly blessed with a booming community of small farms and food producers.
- Locally-grown food obviously does not cause as much pollution due to less travel time.
- Keeping family farms alive keeps rural landscape alive, supporting less sprawl.
- As a tourist looking for local flavor makes your visit more authentic. Folks don't travel to Italy looking for a good burrito. If you come to Ruston, taste what we grow.
And if all of this is not reason enough, think of the health and safety of you and your family. Small, local farms are less likely to use hormones and more likely to raise grass fed or free-range animals and organically or naturally grown vegetables.
If you know your farmer, you know where to ask questions; the shorter the route from the farm to your table (at home or in a restaurant), the more knowledge you have at hand and the more flavor you have on your plate.
A very special thanks to our Friends of the Market. Please take a moment to go to our Contact page and note our sponsors.
Where We Are Located.
