Newsletter #23, August 28, 2020

August 28, 2020

Sat 8am-1pm / Tues 2pm-6pm suspended
3233 Alpine St, Dexter, MI 48130
(Vol. 1 Issue 23)

Organic Certification

   Building on previous learning in earlier newsletters, another question to discuss naturally leads to: what does it mean for a business to be organic certified?

   To start, the terms "organic" and "certified" should be disentangled. Organic, as defined in earlier issues, refers to methods of growing produce, raising livestock and creating other products that cut out synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, antibiotics, etc. Organic producers favor solving problems with solutions that mimic nature. Many Washtenaw county food producers use organic practices, but are not certified. When a farm or business wants to become certified organic, they must apply to the Food and Drug Administration and complete a number of steps to gain this distinction.
   First, they must submit an application and pay fees. In this application, a business plan is required to specify their methods. In the case of produce farms, they are required to adhere to their plan for three years, ensuring any residual unapproved substances have been cleared from the soil. Organic producers must be inspected and pay fees annually, as well as keep their business plans updated. Livestock farmers must feed their animals 100% organic feed and forage, administer no antibiotics or other drugs, and provide animals access to pasture. Only after this and more has been accumulated will the producer be evaluated to receive their certificate.
   What does this mean for the consumer? It means one must take organic certification with a grain of salt. When a customer is in a large grocery store, the FDA can perform as our watch dog, inspecting and testing farms the customer does not know personally. At the farmers market, the customer is lucky enough to know the producer personally; to ask and know how their food was created.
   While the certification process squeezes out the majority of small local food producers, it is invaluable for the environmental protection movement. Learning more about the FDA Organic Certification procedure allows farmers market enthusiasts a base to begin a conversation with vendors this weekend!

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Farmers markets are an essential part of the food industry and as such, we need to follow protocols similar to grocery stores:

Please only send one person from your household to shop,
wear a mask
wash your hands at our provided hand washing station (we also have hand sanitizer in the dispensers throughout the market).
please do not linger.

We will be allowing 20 customers into the market at a time, so please come with a patient mind, in case there will be a wait.
We also ask that you shop quickly to make space for the next customer.
The market is fenced and the traffic flow will be one-way running North to South. Please enter at the gate closest to the library and exit toward Main st.
Please only touch what you will buy. Vendors are more than happy to help you choose.

NOKA Homestead - Noelle has a breath taking array of produce. From radishes to greens to potatoes, all grown with respect and care for the earth and its creatures! They have a variety of CSA boxes this year, please visit their site to sign up for their wait-list. Follow their Facebook here. Sign up for their newsletter here *see vendor profile below!*

My Serenity, Creations by Rachel - lovely bath, body and home goods, soy candles, natural deodorants and bath bars.

Two Dogs Farms - perennials, annuals, veggie starts, berries, fruit, veggies, maple syrup and jellies and jams from Ray Sowers. And coming soon: Scottish Highlander grass fed Beef!!

Paper Cup Coffee Co - Isaac brings the freshest, fire-roasted coffee by the cup, whole bean and ground; plus hand-dipped chocolate cake donuts and date balls. Follow his Facebook here.

Hoppy Soaps - Stephanie fills the market with the fresh smells of bar soaps, bath bombs, shower fizzies, deodorant, lip balm, body butter, and herbal sachets. Some of these products are even made from her home-brewed beer! Follow her on Facebook here.

Owl Hollow Bakery - Anne will have delicious pies, breads, baked goods, granola, Amaizin' popcorn, free range eggs, maple syrup, and pure Greek olive oil.

Jacob's Fresh Farm Shares - chicken and duck eggs, as well as a wide variety of veggies and fruit grown with natural methods from heritage and non-GMO seed. They have several different types of CSAs depending on your family's needs, including boxes that have bakery and coffee items included. Visit his site and get signed up today!

Hives on the Hill Apiary - Jacob also runs a great honey business. Find honey in all sizes of jars, plus he will remove your swarms!

MaryAnn Simpkins - one of our founding members brings produce, baked goods, sewn and crocheted housewares, nuts, soaps, eggs, honey, too much to name! Please keep an eye here for her earliest harvests, there will be lettuce soon!

Jeff Peters - Jeff is a market staple in his 11th year at the DFM. He brings breathtaking cut flowers like Cosmos, Sunflowers, Zinnias, Cockscomb, and a rainbow of lilies. He will also have leeks, storage onions, kohlrabi and tomatillos.

Judy Welsh - charming hand cut cards, framed beach glass, driftwood art and notebooks.

Sweet and Salty Cookie Co - Jeff is back with the best cookies! Chocolate chip, double dip chocolate chip, M&M, peanut butter, snicker doodle chip, butterscotch, Special Dark, Reese's, sea salt caramel, dark chocolate pecan, maple oatmeal raisin, pecan raisin, milk chocolate raisin, molasses, caramel apple crisp, gluten-friendly chocolate chip and gluten-friendly dark chocolate pecan.

BB's Beauty Essentials - Brittney puts a new twist on bath products. She makes body sprays and rooms sprays, plus shaving cream, sugar scrubs and foot scrubs.

Ski's Sausage Co - this is Dan's first year, but he's a local from Pinckney! He offers a large variety of sausages; traditional Polish kielbasa and cheddar, jalapeno cheddar and traditional bratwurst.

Ruhlig's Produce - Janelle and Matthew come from the long time Dexter farming family, Ruhlig. After a few years off, they will be returning in July, to bring corn, beans, greens, squash, tomatoes, peppers and more!

Beakes Boys Woodwork - custom tables, lazy susans, wood epoxy clocks, live edge epoxy river tables, wood planter garden boxes, cutting boards, wood garden accessories.

Petz Glitz - Diane Fead shows your dog who the goodest boi really is. Pendants and charms for your furry best friend's collar and hand made dog themed greeting cards.

New Vendors Added Every Week!

Vendor Profile: NOKA Homestead

Noelle Dronen, the lead farmer at NOKA, has been farming for 12 years in both Michigan and Washington state. She and her family now carefully cultivate 6 acres of sandy soil at the woods' edge in Gregory.
They practice low till and natural methods in the fields. Their years of experience and their deep love for the environment and people shows in their work and kind personalities. Every week Noelle brings a rainbow of beautiful veggies and some fruit. Look for beets, bok choi, snap peas, cilantro, dill, mint, lettuces, radishes and more!
This year is providing a new and rarely anticipated challenge for everyone in the local food system. Noelle has just launched her email newsletter that you can sign up for by following this link. She has a wait-list growing for their CSA shares and is working hard to come up with a plan for getting food to the Dexter area this season.
This family is possibly the most friendly and kind a person could find. They each always have a smile and hug for others. Noelle will patiently answer questions, listen to concerns, share recipes and her cooking methods. Click the link below to learn more about these ecological champions!

Upcoming Events

At this time, the DFM has canceled all music and activities. We are following Governor Whitmer's Reopening Plan. We are in Phase 4 which allows crafters to return and our coffee vendor to sell hot coffee by the cup. Still, after purchase, please proceed to a place away from the market. Please be patient and know that we are working hard to provide free entertainment and educational events to Dexter as soon as is possible. Events will resume when all threat of community spread has been addressed.