Hello Friends and Neighbors,

The market will be open this Saturday as usual. We should have a full compliment of farmers and other vendors on Saturday.

The Fire- Full Circle

One thing you will notice when you visit the market is that we have successfully demolished the temporary building in the parking lot. This is a seminal event for the market as the building was not very attractive and took up a large part of the parking lot.

Many of you may remember that the temporary building was erected when a fire gutted the market in February of 2007. This is a remarkable story because the fire was on a Monday night, and the farmers quickly pulled together and worked to get the temporary building up in 5 days. The market opened on Saturday as usual. The market did not miss a single Saturday of business!

Check out some newspaper coverage from back then.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_494151.html

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_494612.html

In addition to opening up the lot for more parking, tearing down the temporary building reveals a really nice mural is was painted on the side of the building.

So please come to the market this Saturday and support your local farmers.

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Also, please see information below on a really cool upcoming food event- The Local Food Showcase- March 10th at Chatham University. Please check it out.

See you at the market. David Lagnese

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The Local Food Showcase

When: Thursday March 10, 2011

Where: Chatham University

1 Woodland Road, Shadyside

Time: 1-4 pm

This event showcases the finest, freshest local food western PA has to offer. Farmers and food purchasers will interact to find new business connections for the upcoming growing season and beyond. Come join other producers at the premier grower/buyer networking event in the SW Pennsylvania region.

Find customers for your farm products by registering as a vendor!

Schedule of Events

Morning Workshop: 10:00-11:30 am - $15

"Pricing Techniques and Marketing Strategies to Increase Sales."

Learn about different pricing techniques adopted by the food industry. A lecture and discussion of marketing strategies used to increase sales via direct and indirect channels rounds out this workshop.

Includes light continental breakfast

Lunch: 12:00 pm

Purchase optional brown bag -$9 (vegetarian option available), or on your own

Local Food Showcase:

A Grower/Buyer Event 1:00-4:00 pm

This networking event is the heart of the program. Register to represent your farm or food business at a table. Information and samples of your products will show buyers looking to do business what is available to showcase in restaurants, stores, farmers markets, etc. Over 300 buyers attended in 2010.

Vendor Table Registration:

Early Bird Deadline February 1, 2011, $40

Regular Deadline: February 27, 2011, $55

(Scholarships are available)

For registration, make check payable to:

Mail to:

Penn State Extension of Allegheny County

Heather Mikulas

Penn State Extension of Allegheny County

400 N. Lexington Street - 3rd Floor

Pittsburgh, PA 15208

e mail Heather Mikulas hem12@psu.edu

Why Buy Local?

Purchasing locally produced food keeps dollars circulating in our region,

benefitting more of our neighbors and their businesses.

Consumers are making purchases based on concerns about food safety, nutrition, environmental sustainability and local economies. Additional benefits include a reduction in the amount of miles food travels, thereby reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions.

Demand for locally grown food in Western Pennsylvania has been

growing steadily over the past decade.