Longleaf Market

Suncoast News Article on Market’s Return

The Suncoast News published a nice article last week on the market’s third season, starting this Thursday, October 22. The article generated great interest from both vendors and shoppers, so we expect a good start to the season.

It mentioned site improvements that have been done since last season and extended hours and lighting being put in place. One item that didn’t get picked up in the article is that the anchor of the past two seasons, Market on Main, will also be coordinating the market with other community volunteers, like Brenda Tobey, helping out in areas like vendor recruitment, school sponsorships and kids activities.

Watch this site for more information on each of those areas and our vendors over the next couple days. See you on Thursday!

The Market Returns Oct 22!!

The market is starting again on Thursday, Oct. 22! We’ll be back every Thursday downtown Longleaf from 3-7 pm. That extra hour was in response to many requests to stay open just a bit more for folks on their way home from work.  There have been a number of parking and landscaping improvements and we expect the market to be growing once again. We have a new vendor information packet being posted this weekend or you can write to longleafmarket@gmail.com for a copy now. Check back soon for more information on the 2009-2010 market.

An End to a Season

This Thursday, will be the last week of this seasons Longleaf Farmers Market. That will be Wedenesday April 2, the time schedule will remain the same, 3 PM - 6 PM, and the regular vendors will be there.

We all hope, that you can spare the time to come down, and experience, or re-experience, to the fun atmosphere of the Longleaf Farmers Market! And remember, eat your Veggies!

Warm Weather Means Planting, Lots of Fresh Florida Veggies and Italian Ice

The warm weather is setting in which means landscape planting, more grilling out and Florida’s harvests are really coming in. If you’re like us, you’ll need to get some new plants for spring and probably replace a few that got frosted, so the plant selection from Natalie’s Jungle will be popular.

We grilled grouper last night from Boat Direct Seafood and it was great. I recommend any of their selections and Jeannine has easy recipes to get you started.

Jim, our Village Garderner, is back from his permaculture symposium with more fresh vegetables available for harvest every week. His broccoli is outrageously good, and always sells out. Get there early for the good stuff. Anything that Jim doesn’t have, like ridiculously sweet grapes, Market on Main can provide for your veggie basket. Their breads sell out early and you can’t go wrong with the handmade pieorgies.

For those with a sweet tooth, Gail’s Organic cookies are great or you can try out fresh italian ice from Taste of Parad-Ice. On a warm day that might make a nice Italian dessert after your pizza from Lonzalo’s. Don’t forget the Jam Ladies. The apricot is gone (I got the last one) and the others are going quick, so stop by and stock up for the summer.

You may have heard about the community garden starting at the market and it will be kicked off this weekend! If you’re interested please send an email to longleaf-market-garden@googlegroups.com or come ask us questions at the market.

Finally, for those who don’t know what the market looks like, check out this great video done by Longleaf’s own George Albright. Longleaf Market Promo Video. It’s excellent and we’re really lucky to have help like his promoting the market. George, thanks for your effort.

Eat your veggies!

Kids Sponsors

Our market is a community event. We expect people to come for the vegetables, but also to hang out with their neighbors. In a young community like ours, making space and activities for children really helps that sense of “neighbordhood.” We carve out some space for the kids to play and try to schedule different activities to make the market something the kids and parents look forward to each week.

This is where our kids sponsors play a vital role. We offer the opportunity for your business or group to help direct those kids activities. You get a free tent and space, highlight in our promotions material in exchange for playing with kids. That’s a great deal!

We feel the children’s activities are so important that the Kids Sponsorship is the only no-charge sponsorship opportunity that we have. That’s because we expect you to earn your place on market day. If your business works with kids we encourage you to have some activity in line with that. For businesses that want to reach out to the groups our market attracts, we can suggest a variety of appropriate activities you can engage the kids with such as a bounce house rental (and supervision, you have to earn it remember;), arts & crafts, or even just structured play.

To hold your place in our calendar, simply contact the market managers with a description of your business/group, the type of activity you’re interested in providing and requested dates. Many of these spaces are already filled, so contact us soon to reserve your spot.

Eat your veggies!

The Longleaf Farmers Market Team

Smoked Mullet & Scuppernongs from New Vendors

One of the great parts of running a market is recruiting vendors. Farmers markets allow you to get access to a few things that might not normally be found at the grocery store. That’s why I’m sitting here eating scuppernongs and smoked mullet, a true Florida combination, because I just had to sample the wares of some potential vendors. Scuppernong’s are semi-wild grapes that grow in Florida, Alabama and south Georgia. They have a tough bitter skin and seeds, but a really sweet interior. Smoked mullet needs no explanation and both of them should be available when the market is targeted to open on October 23rd.

If you know of someone with a local food or green related business, please have them check out the vendors page. In the meantime, I’ll get back to the samples;).

Coming Back for Its Second Year on October 23rd!

The Longleaf Farmers Market is coming back on Thursday, October 23rd! Every Thursday from 3-6 pm, through next May, the Farmers Market will be a great place for fresh veggies, community and fun.

With new and returning vendors the Longleaf Market will be even stronger than last year. Fresh veggies, food, kids activities, and music all make Longleaf the place to be on Thursday afternoons. Each week our kids sponsors will provide directed activities for children. Come for the fresh veggies and food, stay for the live music and community.

The Longleaf Farmers Market is open every Thursday, October 23rd through May, from 3-6 pm, on the corner of Starkey Blvd. and Town Avenue, one block north of SR 54 and one light west of Little Rd. If you are interested in becoming a vendor, sponsorships, or would like to recommend a vendor, please contact the market managers.

Coming Back!!

The Longleaf Farmers’ Market is coming back to downtown Thursdays, this fall. Our first year was a bit of a learning experience but grew well during spring and we look forward to opening strong.

Last year Longleaf’s market operated under a conditional permit from the county but we expect approval of standard permit to be issued soon. That allowed the market to open in early November. Florida grows most of the nation’s winter vegetables so that’s perfect timing for local produce.

With the Thursday afternoon schedule and new cafe, we want families to come down after school for fresh food and activities then stick around for a bite to eat. In addition to fresh vegetables and other food items this year’s market will have a stronger focus on events and community. Kids activities will be available every week and we will have a rotating schedule of community groups and schools in attendance. Occasionally, market days will be added to coincide with community events such as the passed event on Nov. 1, the Longleaf Homes on Parade.

Market management will be shifting this year with Brenda and Bret Tobey running the market on a weekly basis. The big push will be more aggressive marketing and vendor recruitment. If you have any requests or recommendations for vendors, please send an email to longleafmarket@gmail.com, or call Rose at (727)808-2440. A revamped website, www.longleafmarket.com, will have vendor applications, directions and market information. After the market opens, we’ll post the weekly list of participating vendors and community groups.

Finally, In the interest of being “green” we’ll recycle your campaign yardisgns for use promoting the market. Send an email to longleafmarket@gmail.com and we’ll come by after the primary to pick them up.