Thanks + Wednesday Night Market

From our market manager...

Peachtree Road Farmers Market is a special place

. Since its founding in 2007, we have become the state's largest producer-only farmers market, which means all items are sold by the farmer/maker with no reselling. The early leadership saw that Atlanta demanded farm-fresh produce, meats, and dairy, and the community supported their idea with open arms and shopping baskets!

The Market continues

eight years later

as a nonprofit organization housed at The Cathedral of St. Philip. Our farmers and vendors bring the best produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, pasta, prepared foods, and artisan goods from around Georgia to market Saturday mornings rain or shine. The relationship between the vendors and chefs and shoppers creates a sense of community that brings people together to laugh, share, and enjoy each other. We've seen couples come to the market on their first date, taken engagement photos here, and now their children race through the market to greet their farmer friends.

As our 9th season comes to a close, we are so grateful for another successful season. The market would not be possible without support from our sponsors,

Country Financial

,

Piedmont Healthcare

,

Wholesome Wave Georgia

,

Whole Foods Buckhead

, and

Beautiful Briny Sea

. We are grateful to our host, The Cathedral of St. Philip, our team of 29 volunteers, our farmers, vendors, and artisans. Most importantly, it is our shoppers who support the market in sun, rain, cold, and blistering heat. Without your commitment to the market and to buying local, none of this would be possible.

This year we have grown our outreach and programs thanks to your support. Please take a look at our

2015 Annual Report

for more details. We wish you a wonderful winter season and look forward to seeing you at our

Saturday Market from April 2-Dec 17, 2016,

and our new

Wednesday Evening Market from 

April 13-Oct 26, 2016

(see details below)

.

Sincerely,

Lauren Carey

Executive Director

Wednesday Night Market this spring!

Take a break from cooking and enjoy a locally sourced meal for you and your family at our new addition, the

Wednesday Evening Market!

On the run? "Grab & go" dinners will be available, too! You'll find familiar Market vendors and a few new ones serving up delicious whole meals, farm-fresh eggs, meats, and produce available for your midweek needs. 

April 13 through October 26

from

4:30 - 8:00 p.m.

See you on Wednesdays next spring!

This week at PRFM

This is the last week for peaches, y'all—come by and stock up!

Chef Demo - 8/15 at 10:00 a.m.
Jeremiah Weston of
Wrecking Bar Brewpub
Chef demos are sponsored by
Piedmont Hospital
Growing up in rural East Tennessee, Chef Jeremiah Weston was exposed to a wide range of local produce. Both his grandfathers grew tremendous gardens, which first gave him the exposure of what vegetables are supposed to taste like. Jeremiah was always by his grandmothers' sides in the kitchen helping out with culinary tasks. This background is what truly sparked his interest in cooking.

In 2003 Jeremiah attended Johnson and Wales University in Charleston and graduated with an associate's degree in Culinary Arts. After earning his bachelor's degree in Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales in 2011, he returned to Tennessee and worked for the prestigious Inn at Blackberry Farm and soon fell in love with the whole idea of farming. He raised a 3-acre garden and sold his produce to local restaurants around the Knoxville area. He next moved to Atlanta to join the Wrecking Bar Brewpub under mentor and Chef Terry Koval and was named Chef de Cuisine there in 2014. The gastropub serves up meals with local, seasonal ingredients accented by house-brewed craft beer.

Market Volunteer Project
Atlanta resident Ned Ellis is a frequent shopper at PRFM, so when he needed a project to become an Eagle Scout, the Market came foremost to his mind. Seeking a project that would both benefit the community and be used well into the future, he proposed building new picnic tables for the enjoyment of marketgoers now and in the future.

After at least 80 hours of work from conception and planning the tables to building them, Ned's tables were completed last Saturday. The two new tables and refurbished existing tables are a welcome addition to the Market landscape! Many thanks to Ned and his troop for volunteering their time and talents to enrich the Market experience! Come by on Saturday and enjoy one of our many ready-to-eat snacks at a shady picnic table!

Words of Thanks from Manager Lauren Carey

Hard to believe that our 8th season is ending. At this time of the year, we are so grateful for all the gifts 2014 has brought us. A few words of thanks...

First and foremost, thanks to our amazing shoppers! We've watched your families grow, adding new members (on two legs & four) and sending those we knew as children off to college. You shop with us in all weather and make local food part of your family values. The Market cannot happen without your support. We appreciate being a delicious part of your weekly routine, and we can't wait to see you on opening day, April 11, 2015.

I'm thrilled that we have been able to continue to serve a broader community this year through both our Wholesome Wave Georgia SNAP program and our new partnership with Meals on Wheels. Wholesome Wave allows us to double food stamp benefits at the Market, making fresh local foods more accessible. Our partnership with Meals on Wheels has been the perfect circle of giving. Amazing chefs like Thomas McKeown at The Grand Hyatt Buckhead, Jenn Robbins of Avalon Catering, and Nick Leahy of Saltyard did Chef Popups to raise funds for Meals on Wheels to buy veggies remaining at the end of Market. These purchases provide seniors with additional fresh vegetable servings.

The Market could not happen without the incredible hospitality of The Cathedral of St. Philip. While the Market is self-sustaining, the Cathedral offers a home to us indoors and out during the week and on Saturdays. The values of grace, hospitality and excellence are inherent in all we do. As Dean Sam Candler always says "we don't need a big Sunday coffee hour. We have one each Saturday!"

Our generous sponsor Country Financial has done so much more than provide a donation to the Market. They have become a part of our community through the high school bag contest, support of our Sunday Supper, and as a regular part of our Market. Whole Foods Market Buckhead has supported us for years by supplying staples for the chef demos unavailable at the Market as well as drinks at our information tent.

Huge thanks to all our chef demo chefs, who not only teach us how to cook each week, but support the farmers at their restaurants. I especially want to thank two chefs, who have personally and professionally gone above and beyond for the Market this year: Chef Thomas McKeown of The Grand Hyatt Buckhead and Chef Jenn Robbins of Avalon Catering. They've served at the Sunday Supper, done Chef Popups, served our vendor appreciation breakfast, and most of all bought out the occasional bumper crops from our farmers. Our gratitude to these chefs is measured in grit bowls served and veggies bought.

Your Market is special and unique because of the committed farmers, growers, food creators and artists that come rain or shine each week. All these incredible and talented small business owners fill our plates not just with food but with love. 

 
Appreciation goes to our volunteers that make the market shine. The weekly newsletter, blog, website, chef demo sound/videos and food assistance, tent and table setup, receipt-taking, garbage cleanup, and the friendly information tent services are all compliments of an incredible team that volunteers an estimated 100 hours a week. Bo, Sara, and I are so lucky to serve not just the vendors, but you our shoppers and the local food community!

I hope you count the Market among the things for which you are grateful as well. Please consider PRFM in your year-end giving. Donations can be made securely online through the Cathedral's website at https://stphilipscathedral.securegive.com. You need to create a quick account, select Donations, and then choose Farmers Market.

Eat local,
Your Market Manager
Lauren Carey

A Word of Thanks: Market Manager Lauren Carey

It's been quite a year! Over 5,500 Facebook fans, 2,296 Twitter fans, 70 vendors, 38 wonderful markets, 35 chef demos, 40 amazing volunteers, two Holiday Artist events, hundreds of dogs and one cat, baby goats, pigs, ponies, the Sunday Supper evening, a Halloween parade, and a Market Mash-Up! This season we saw our Wholesome Wave Program double yet again, processing nearly $30,000 in food stamp benefits at the Market.

We have also seen our farmers struggle with major health issues and the worst weather season in years. All along we have been grateful for your continued support. We are also grateful to our sponsors: Country Financial, Whole Foods, Wholesome Wave. Without the support of our sponsors, our chef demos and the food stamp matching program could never happen.

Peachtree Road Farmers Market is a special place because of the smiling faces we see each week—farmers, artists, food producers, volunteers, and most importantly you, our customers. We notice when you aren't in your usual chef demo seat, we are excited to meet your new baby, and we love to make you smile as we fill your shopping bags with delicious local foods.

Thank you so much for supporting the 2013 Peachtree Road Farmers Market! We can't wait to see you on April 5 for opening day 2014 as we launch our 8th season!

Sincerely,
Lauren Carey, Market Manager

A word of thanks

...from Market Manager Lauren Carey

As PRFM completes its 6th season, I'd like to say how much you mean to us.

To our shoppers:
Your farmers market continues to thrive because you show up in the rain, 8 months pregnant, with strollers filled with kids, when it's hot, with your dog, with out of town family, at a chef demo, kids activity or special Friday night Market. We are here each week because you are ready to try a new veggie or share a Swiss chard recipe while waiting to buy bread. Thank you for putting local food on your table each week. Our Saturday community is a place where kids grow up together and neighbors get to know each other. We thank you for supporting local!

To our sponsors:
Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation, Captain Planet  Foundation, Ellis Hotel, Whole Foods, Wholesome Wave, Les Dames d'Escoffier Atlanta Chapter, and Southeastern Horticultural Society.  It is through the generosity and community focus of sponsors like you that we help to save the planet, empower people to eat well, teach the next generation, and make local food accessible to all Georgians.

To our vendors:
It has been another wonderful year. We welcomed new friends and sent others on the next step in their journey. You make the market vibrant, seasonal and alive. Thank you for sharing your talents!

To the volunteers:
With grace, hospitality, and always humor you make the market a happy place. With over 2,500 volunteer hours given this season, the Market could never happen without you. We all thank you for giving so much of yourselves week after week and year after year.

Save the date! Opening day 2013: April 6, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

Final Market of the Year

Holiday Artist Market
December 17th, 9am-12pm
in the Cathedral of St. Philip
Join us for the last day of PRFM's 2011 season and plan to finish up your holiday shopping, too! The annual indoor Holiday Artist Market has something for every locavore on your list, with choices from fine foods like bacon, hot chocolate, and artisanal jams to crafts from 35 local artists (think handmade baskets, fabric art, glass, jewelry, wood creations, cutting boards, bird houses, candles, blooming bulbs, plants, glass beads and more). Just can’t decide? PRFM has gift cards available or our volunteers can help you create the perfect gift basket (hint: BioBags make great stocking stuffers). P.S. We won't tell anyone if that extra-special gift is for you to enjoy!

A word of thanks from
Market Manager, Lauren Carey:

As PRFM completes our 5th season, I’d like to say how much you mean to us.

To our shoppers:
PRFM continues to thrive because you show up in the rain, 8 months pregnant, with your 3 month old triplets, when it is hot & cold, with your dog, with out of town family, at a chef demo, kids activity or ice cream social. We are here each week because you are here ready to try kohlrabi or share a sun choke recipe while waiting in the bread line. Thank you for putting local food on your table each week.

To our sponsors:
Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation, Captain Planet Foundation, Ellis Hotel, Whole Foods, Wholesome Wave, & Cook’s Warehouse. It is through the generosity and community focus of businesses like you that we save the planet, empower people to eat well, teach the next generation and make local food accessible to all Georgians.

To our vendors:
It has been another wonderful year. We welcomed new friends and sent others on the next step in their journey. You make the market vibrant, seasonal and alive. Thank you for sharing your talents.

To our volunteers:
With grace, hospitality and always humor you make the market a happy place. With over 2,250 volunteer hours given this season, we all thank you for giving so much of yourselves.

See you in April!

Second Helpings

Ever wonder where the leftovers go after Saturday’s Peachtree Road Farmers Market? Don’t worry, none of those delicious market-fresh foods go to waste—each week, PRFM partners with Second Helpings to share the bounty of our farmers’ harvest. During our two year partnership, PRFM farmers and vendors have donated over 2,000 lbs of food to food pantries and shelters in metro Atlanta.

PRFM’s work with Second Helpings is the perfect complement to our partnership with the Wholesome Wave Program, which doubles EBT/SNAP (food stamp) and WIC benefits at the Peachtree Road Farmers Market. Making healthy local food accessible to all is part of PRFM’s mission and we are proud to see Second Helpings grow! With the addition of its first refrigerated truck, Second Helpings Atlanta greatly expands its perishable food pick up and distribution capabilities. Second Helpings volunteers deliver donated food every day of the week to food pantries and shelters in downtown Atlanta and the northern suburbs.

Please contact Myron Smith by phone at 404-256-4359 (h) / 404-358-6867 (c) or via email at donor@secondhelpings.info to learn more about Second Helpings Atlanta or to arrange for Second Helpings Atlanta to pick up food that you wish to donate.


- Jennifer Maley

Thank You & See You in April!

Dear Market Shoppers,

It has been quite a year! Over 1,720 facebook fans, 120 dogs, 65 vendors, 38 wonderful markets, 36 chef demos, 20 amazing volunteers, 2 Holiday Artist sales, 3 baby goats, a Halloween parade and a Market Mash-Up! We have celebrated being named the Number #1 Farmers Market in Georgia (#4 in the nation), Atlanta's Best Farmers Market by Creative Loafing and, most recently, the Best Farmers Market in Atlanta by Atlanta Magazine!

We have also struggled to be seen by the city of Atlanta for the amazing community that we are. We've worked tirelessly to raise the funds needed to pay for the police officers and new city permit fees. In 2011, we will continue to pay these fees as well as be required to have police officers at the market. We are so grateful to the Zyman Family Foundation for establishing the matching grant and to all of our shoppers who gave to support the market.

Peachtree Road Farmers Market is a special place because of the smiling faces we see each week - farmers, artists, food producers and most importantly YOU. We notice when you aren't in your usual chef demo seat, we are excited to meet your new baby, and we love to make you smile as we fill your shopping bags with delicious local foods.

Thank you so much for supporting the 2010 Peachtree Road Farmers Market. We can't wait to see you on April 9 for opening day 2011 as we launch our 5th season.

Sincerely,
Lauren Carey
Market Manager

From “Who’s your farmer?” to “Where’s your farmer?”

Peachtree Road Farmers Market and Love is Love Farm volunteer Emma Lacey-Bordeaux explores the unique situation today’s farmers face: small scale farming vs. increasing commitments. In this piece for CNN’s eatocracy, Emma talks with Judith Winfrey about our current generation of farmers.

Want to lend a hand to your local farmers? Take a look at what Crop Mob Atlanta is doing to help.





- Jennifer Maley