National Farmers’ Market Week Celebration!

National Farmers’ Market Week Celebration

From upper left clockwise:

Institute Board Member Nathaniel Earls helps set tables as the Pavilion was transformed from the Market to the Luncheon in under an hour! Table decorations and thank you flyer; Institute Board Member Chris Castro sets out the souvenir glasses; Volunteer Marsha Jones distributes Taos Cow Ice Cream coupons to Marie Carter of El Jardin De Flores and her friends; Board Member Val Wilson of Lotus Farms, LLC Welcomes Guests; Rosa Maria Alacantar, of Rocio Produce, enjoys a Taos Cow Ice Cream cone as her mother and Wagner Farmer employee, Javier, look on; Matt Romero, known for his chile roasting at the Market, adds some green chile to his Cowgirl BBQ lunch; Lynne Faulkner of Crumpackers enjoys luncheon conversation; Annie’s Herb Farm owner Annie Krahl and daughter Mabel enjoy lunch alongside Kristen Davenport of Yucca Bird Farm and Astrid Yankosky of The Vagabond Farmers; Santa Fe Farmers’ Market employees Hailey Earp and Jason Martinez at lunch; Lotus Farms’ big sister Cadence takes charge of the Piñata for the Farmers’ Market children; Program Development Director David Sundberg has a reputation for multi-tasking, now we know how he does his juggling! Pictured here with Paul Adams of Adams Family Gardens; Pilar Abadia of Anna Maria’s Farm and Chencho Ochoa of El Jardin Chile de Chimayo dance to the music of Lone Piñon; Trilogy Beef Community proprietor Manny Encinias enjoys a daddy-daughter dance.

The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market consistently places in the top ten listings of farmers’ markets nationwide. One travel site recently named it the fourth best in the country, following markets in substantially larger cities such as Seattle, New York City and Chicago. Of course, for those of us in New Mexico, it is number one in size, variety of offerings, and well, in our hearts.

This past Saturday, the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute celebrated the farmers, vendors, and staff of the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market in commemoration of National Farmers’ Market Week. More than 125 farmers and vendors gathered in the Market Pavilion to enjoy food and beverages catered by our South Guadalupe Street neighbor, Cowgirl BBQ. Lone Piñon, the popular New Mexican string band, or “orquesta típica” provided the music, and guests enjoyed nearly 100 cones of all-natural Taos Cow ice cream.

A crew of Institute Board members and volunteers transformed the Pavilion from the market to the luncheon in less than an hour. We thank Board Chair Michael Knight and Development Chair Robert Jones who led the set-up teams. Board Members Chris Castro, Mary Dixon, Nathaniel Earls, Brenda Fresquez, Lisa Kantor, Diane Sandoval-Griego, Pam Walker , and Gail Wadsworth all provided essential support. Volunteers Marsha Jones and Jonni Lu Pool completed the “A Team.”

In her welcoming remarks, Institute Board Member Val Wilson of Lotus Farms, LLC expressed the Institute’s appreciation of all of the hard work that the Santa Fe Farmers Market staff, farmers, and vendors do every day to assure that healthy, locally-grown food is easily accessible to the community of Northern New Mexico. The luncheon is a way for us to bring the community together and show our sincere appreciation.” She also thanked the small, but mighty, Institute Staff for their planning and on-the-ground execution of the successful event. In closing, Val initiated a moment of silence in remembrance of the farmers who passed away this past year.

We offer a special shout-out to Market Manager Nery Martinez and Café Fresh Manger Janet MacPherson for their pre-planning assistance, and Market colleagues Beth Bell and Anna Belian for their additional on-site assistance.

We also want to thank our dedicated Microloan Partner, Diane Sandoval-Griego, Chief of Financial Empowerment at Guadalupe Credit Union, for staffing an information table.

We’re grateful for the collaboration of Nicole and Patrick and the Cowgirl BBQ team, which worked with us to incorporate many locally produced ingredients and to thank the farmers who provided them: El Guique Farm, Ground Stone Farm, Las Milpas Farm, Orozco Farms, Rocio Produce, The Vagabond Farmers, and Tony’s Farm

Sandra Brice, Director/Events & Marketing for the Santa Fe Railyard Community Corporation made it possible for our vendors to leave their vehicles parked for extended hours so they could enjoy the event. Gilbert Archuleta and his team at Phoenix Security provided complimentary security for the event and safe-guarded the vendors’ vehicles.

We think the pictures tell the story of a joyful community reunion and an atmosphere of gratitude all-around.

Click here for Seed the Future tickets

Pictured at our May Blood Drive: Heidi Chase, Blood Drive Account Manager for Vitalant, Jennifer Fresquez, President of Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Board and a Blood Donor, and Janice L. Mayer Development and Communication Director for the Institute.

As reported in the Albuquerque Journal earlier this summer, all types of blood are needed to reverse the blood supply shortage in New Mexico, which is down by 12% over the previous year. In April and May, Vitalant (New Mexico’s nonprofit blood donation organization) collected 13,000 fewer blood donations compared to the prior year, the nonprofit said. In particular, there is a need for Type O, the most transfused blood type, which is at about half of the desired four-day supply

In response to this critical need, the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute is once again holding a blood drive at the Saturday Santa Fe Farmers’ Market. Please sign up to donate here, and join us at the Railyard on September 10, 2022 from 9am-1pm. Walk-ups will also be accepted on a space-available basis.

How You Can Help

Make a Donation

Visit the Market

Volunteer

MISSION STATEMENT

The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute’s mission is to advocate for farmers, ranchers and other land-based producers; provide equitable access to fresh, local food; own and operate a year-round venue for the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market; and manage programs to help sustain a profitable, locally-based agricultural community.

THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS!

These lead sponsors help ensure the sustainability of the northern New Mexico food system as well as nurture the agricultural community and the customers that make the Santa Fe Farmers' Market so successful.