 | | CUESA's Weekly E-Letter | March 11, 2016 |
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| FEATURE Decoding Animal Welfare Labels
| Pasture raised. Hormone free. All natural. With so many buzzwords, it's hard to decipher labels on meat, eggs, and dairy products. Which ones are just greenwashing, and which ones can you trust?
Liberally used terms like "free-range" paint a bucolic picture that is far from the reality of today's industrial farming system. Raising animals in crowded confinement is the standard practice in America because it's efficient and profitable, but it's also inhumane. As consumer demand for humane and sustainable animal products grows, labels featuring bold claims and happy animals frolicking in lush pasture have proliferated in the meat and dairy aisles, most without federal regulation.
For CUESA, humane practices mean a lot of things, including allowing animals to engage in the natural behaviors that are important to their wellbeing, and minimizing stress to the animals, from birth to slaughter. We've detailed specific practices in our Sustainability Frameworks, and we endeavor to partner with producers whose practices align with these values. To help you decode the language in the farmers market or at the butcher counter, here's a quick primer on some of the labels and terms you'll see. Stop by CUESA's Food Shed tent for our "Decoding Food Labels" exhibit on Saturdays this month to learn more. |
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| | MARKET FLAVORS This Week's Picks
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| | | GUEST VENDOR La Cocina Spotlight:
Aedan Fermented
| Saturdays | Try handmade miso, koji, and other traditional Japanese foods made locally by Mariko Grady. La Cocina, a nonprofit food business incubator for low-income culinary entrepreneurs, is showcasing Aedan Fermented Foods at their Ferry Plaza Farmers Market booth on Saturdays this month. | | |
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| | FREE VENDOR WORKSHOP Food Safety Seminar for Small Food Producers
| | Tomorrow | Are you a producer wondering if the new Food Safety Modernization Act (FMSA) rules apply to you? Tomorrow in the CUESA Classroom at 12:00 pm, FSMA expert Michael Kalish of Food Safety Guides will lead a free seminar for market vendors and anyone else in the food manufacturing, processing, distributing, or co-packing business.
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| | BLOOM WITH A VIEW Spring Farm Frolic
| Sunday, March 20 | Celebrate the first day of spring with a day trip to two Central Coast organic farms. See beautiful blooms, lush vegetables, and goats at Lonely Mountain Farm and Lil Milkers Valley in Corralitos, then enjoy lunch and a hands-on flower arranging class at Four Sisters Farm in Aromas. Hello, spring! | | |
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| | HOT TICKET Fizz & Pop: Spring Cocktails of the Farmers Market
| Wednesday, April 27 | Shake off those winter blues and start spring with a spark! Taste the changing seasons with CUESA and the United States Bartenders Guild in an evening of pop tunes and fizzy craft cocktails infused with the bright flavors and colors of the spring farmers market. Buy your tickets now to take advantage of early-bird pricing! | | |
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| | SEASONAL RECIPE Harvest Table Salad
| | Pickled spaghetti squash, carrot, fennel, goat cheese, and sorghum popcorn come together in this colorful salad celebrating the winter-spring cusp, from chef Levi Mezick of The Harvest Table in St. Helena.
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| | FROM OUR PARTNER Get Gone "Travel Bite" Contest Winner Announced
| Congratulations to the winner of our Get Gone "Travel Bite" contest, Peter Ruddock! Peter wins a $200 Ferry Plaza Farmers Market gift basket, courtesy of Get Gone. Thank you to the 100+ contestants who participated, including these runners-up! Stay tuned to Get Gone for future contests. | | |
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Market Update
This is the most up-to-date information about sellers attending the market as of today. Please stop by the Info Booth for a market map or check online for any last-minute changes. Saturday, March 12New location: Zuckerman's Farm (south driveway during asparagus season)
Returning: Blossom Bluff Orchards, The Farmer's Wife, Flatland Flower Farm, G.L. Alfieri Farms, Hayes Street Grill, Hodo Soy Beanery, Mountain Ranch Organically Grown, Namu Noodle, Nicasio Valley Cheese Company, Thistle Meats, Tomales Farmstead Creamery, Tout Sweet Patisserie, Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen
Out: Baia Pasta, Devoto Gardens & Orchards, Happy Quail Farms, June Taylor Company, Swanton Berry Farm Tuesday, March 15
Out: Snyders Honey
Thursday, March 17Returning: Dirty Girl Produce, The Farmer's Wife
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