Last Sunday I had the pleasure of volunteering with the Power of Produce Club here at the market. As some of you may have read in your newsletter, POP Club “engages kids in the full market experience, trying new foods, having conversations with farmers, and buying local produce”. I’d like to share a bit of what it was like to be behind the table for this wonderful event.
Kale, coloring, a scavenger hunt, and $5 to spend at the market brought over 100 kids to the POP Club table this past Sunday!
This past Sunday we served kale two different ways. Fiddlehead Farm supplied us with a curly variety, which we cut into tiny little pieces to be eaten raw. We also served up small bites of Baked Kale, which was prepared for us by FarmCart. The first time I tried kale chips was at a farmers market and I was not impressed. However, these were prepared with just a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper – a recipe that was simple, crispy and delicious! Kids were encouraged to try a bite of each, and were then given a $5 coupon to spend on any fruits or vegetables that they wanted to take home. This was definitely another fine example of a market opportunity where Everybody Wins! To add to the fun, we also held a scavenger hunt and took a few photos of some of the kids who came back to show us their purchases.
$5 to buy a bagful of their favorite fruits & veggies brought on many smiles!
During my time at the table I had the pleasure of meeting kids of all ages – from the tiny toddlers who enthusiastically chewed up the raw kale to the teens who weren’t totally sold on eating veggies in any form. My very informal poll results showed a definite preference for the raw kale, which was an altogether pleasant surprise. My favorite way to eat kale is by first braising it with some tasty stock (recipe to come next week!) although I do confess to enjoying the Highway to Kale salad that is served at Laughing Planet. I also heard from many parents that they currently have kale growing in their gardens at home, which their kids love to pick and eat fresh. I’m so impressed that parents in our urban community take the time to offer their children these types of life experiences. Whether it’s growing food at home, or coming to the market and supporting our local farmers – please keep up the good work!
If you would like to bring some kids to the market to experience a Two-Bite Challenge, it’s not too late. The final POP Club event will be held next Sunday, September 27th, starting at 10:00 am. And if you enjoy the market as much as I do, then please consider being a market volunteer for at least one day. Every hour donated is an hour that helps keep our market open for business. I can’t think of a better way to invest in the healthy future of my grandchildren’s generation.