Receive a Free Growhio T-Shirt!

Survey Market Shoppers

Receive a FREE Growhio t-shirt!

Growhio and its partner markets seek volunteers to conduct very brief in-person surveys of shoppers at 8 area farmers' markets. The surveys are designed to gauge the impact of our collaborative marketing campaign on first time and returning market visitors.

We are seeking 1 volunteer per market to conduct surveys on 5 separate market days. Volunteers who survey 6 visitors (at least 3 of which must be new visitors) per market day on 5 separate survey days will receive a free Growhio t-shirt! Volunteers are not required to stay for the the entire market - only long enough to collect the 6 surveys.

Farmers' Market	Dates	Volunteer
Broadway	Mondays 4-7p July 16, 23, 30 August 20, 27	Sign up
Coit Road	Saturdays 8a-1p July 14, 21, 28 August 18, 25	Sign up
Downtown	Fridays 11a-2p July 13, 20, 27 August 17, 24	Sign up
Gateway 105	Fridays 3-7p July 13, 20, 27 August 17, 24	Sign up
Gordon Square	Saturdays 10a-2p July 14, 21, 28 August 18, 25	Sign up
Kamm's Corners	Sundays 10a-2p July 15, 22, 29 August 19, 26	Sign up
Lakewood	Saturdays 10a-1p July 14, 21, 28 August 18, 25	Sign up
Tremont	Tuesdays 4-7p July 17, 24, 31 August 14, 21	Sign up

Alternative dates can be arranged. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Happenings at Tremont Farmers' Market Today

Diggin' it! at the Tremont Farmers' Market! There's a lot to dig in to this week at the TfM!         TFM: INDOOR/OUTDOOR SPRING MARKET    Tuesday April 3rd from 4-7pm     HHoly Ghost Greek Catholic Church and Cultural Center  2420 W. 14th Street, Cleveland, OH 44113    Stop down and get everything you need for a healthy Easter or Passover dinner!    Vendors: Abby's Kitchen, Blaze Gourmet, J&R Farms, Lucky Penny Creamery, Godmother's Pizza, Morning DEW Orchards, Morningside Farms, Ohio Farm Direct, Plant Kingdom Bakery, Por-Bar Farms, t by Sara & Valley City Fungi   Highlights: Morning DEW Orchards Fresh Crisp & Juicy Apples Buy one basket and get two dollars off the second basket!    Por-Bar Farms Spring Mix Salad, Asian Greens, Spinach, Carrots & Beets MorningSide Farm Spinach, Kale, Chard, Arugula, Salad Mix & Beet Greens  Blaze Gourmet Answer Cowboy George's TRIVIA questions to save $1.00 on every item purchased   EBT Proudly accepted. EBT Incentive Program: Participants who use more than $5 from their Ohio Direction Cards receive an extra $5 to spend at the market.          Make it a Great Day and see you at the Market! Jim Votava   SPONSOR TfM! 2012 Summer Market Sponsor Applications are now available! Support our mission! Learn More... Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Fundraiser Sale on April 3rd! TfM will be offering seeds for sale at the market beginning April 3rd from 4-7pm for $2.50 each!   Learn More...

Growhio's Winter Newsletter

Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Announcing 2012 Market Vendor Program Now accepting applications Are you a start-up farmer? Are you interested in selling at a farmers' market? Want to reduce your risks and costs? Sign up for Growhio's community vendor assistance program!   Learn more about our program - in person: The Year of Local Food - A First Taste, E4S Cleveland Network Event Date: Tuesday, February 21 - 5:30pm Location: Great Lakes Brewing Company Tasting Room Register. This year's Celebration Point for the Sustainable Cleveland 2019 initiative is Local Food.  Consistently ranked at the top of national surveys reporting on local food initiatives, Cleveland has become a leading voice in the urban agriculture movement.  Learn what is in store for our community in 2012 as the Year of Local Food kicks off including Growhio's efforts and vendor assistance program. Let's Grow Cleveland! EcoTuesday February Meet-Up - Delving Deeper - Growhio drives local food success! Date: Tuesday, February 28 - 5:30pm Location: Gardens Under Glass at the Galleria; 1301 East Ninth Street Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Price: Events are $5 in advance, $10 at the door.  Register. In-depth follow up to E4S snapshot presentation on Growhio's efforts and vendor assistance program. Call for Nominations Growhio's Inaugural Restaurant Awards It's time recognize those restaurants that go above and beyond to incorporate sustainability and source local food at their restaurants!  We are seeking nominations for restaurants that are outstanding stewards of our local food community. Winners will be selected by committee and receive a host of benefits such as: Participation in VIP awards event Inclusion in Growhio's online and print Local Food Guide (published each fall) Promotion on Growhio's website Receipt of self-promotional materials package Help us celebrate our local food culinary champions. Self-nominate or nominate your favorite restaurant now! Market Ready Training By OSU Extension The Market Ready Training program is an opportunity for agricultural producers and entrepreneurs to learn more about reaching new markets, improving profitability, and developing better relationships with buyers.  Led by experts at The Ohio State University and ACEnet with panels of local producers, buyers, and practitioners, this training will help food producers and food businesses better prepare for both retail and wholesale markets.  Market Ready Workshop Tuesday, February 28, 2012 from 9:00 – 4:30 pm Location: Mustard Seed Market and Café, 3885 West Market Street in Akron Cost: $75 per person and $25 for each additional person from the same business.  Breakfast and lunch provided. Registration:  Contact Julie Moose at moose.14@osu.edu or by phone at 740.289.2071 ext. 223 This workshop is presented in partnership with the following; ACEnet, Center for Integrated Food Technology, Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition, Countryside Conservancy, Growhio, Ohio Ecological Food and Farming Association, Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio Produce Growers and Marketers Association, Ohio Proud, The Ohio State University, and the Ohio Wine Association. Downtown Farmers' Market Survey Help Plan the 2012 Season Take the survey! Downtown Farmers Market at Public Square needs your help in determining what’s best for the 2012 farmers market season. We want to learn a little bit about you and also want you to share your ideas about the timing and location of this year’s farmers market as well as vendors and food items you’d like to see at the market. Your opinion is very important to us as your feedback and suggestions will help to improve the market as we continue to grow in our third season. Participation in the survey is voluntary and your responses will be kept private. Tremont Farmers Market Winter Thaw and Spring Awakening Benefit Friday, March 9, 2012 6:30-9:30pm at Lava Lounge, 1307 Auburn Avenue As the winter thaw gives way to a spring awakening, join Ricardo Sandoval of Lava Lounge, Fat Cats & Felice for cocktails, savory food & fun times to directly benefit Tremont Farmers Market. $35 advance / $40 door - includes 2 drink tickets & savory food: wine or beer, crispy shrimp with herb lemon butter, lamb meatballs, lasagna, stuffed eggplant, roasted yukon gold potatoes, hummus & ziti in fresh tomato sauce with herbs and olives Purchase tickets online or contact Jim Votava or Kristen Trolio at 216-575-0920 for other payment options. GardenWalk 2012 Applications Available GardenWalk Cleveland is a free, self-guided tour of gardens, urban farms, vineyards and orchards in select Cleveland area neighborhoods takingplace July 21-22, 2012. Tour at your own pace in each designated neighborhood, which will have a headquarters with car parking, bike parking, restrooms, water and maps. If you are interested in having your garden on the tour, please apply online today!  follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © *2011 Growhio, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Growhio c/o KCDC, 17407 Lorain Avenue, Suite 200, Cleveland, Ohio 44111   unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

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EcoTuesday February: Delving Deeper - Growhio drives local food success!

Join us Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 5:30 PM

Galleria at Erieview

1301 East Ninth St., Cleveland, OH

Price: $5.00/per person in advance ($10 at the door)

Register

Come one, come all and hear a nice In-Depth follow up to a snapshot presentation from Growhio, one of several new but essential local food initiatives emerging from the Sustainable Cleveland 2019 (first year summit) and going strong three years later.  We were happy the folks at Growhio reached out to us and requested the opportunity to share with everyone a deep dive: a great history of progress, the latest developments brewing, and current key projects to benefit those who want to get involved in growing and specifically - marketing their produce with special benefits and incentives.  We'll also hear great perspectives from local market managers, current vendors, and other key stakeholders who will share firsthand their perspectives from being involved.  We'll also have YOU who attend the opportunity to offer your best ideas, suggestions, and hopes to get plugged in to the local food movement and programs that Growhio is driving forward.

It is important stuff, and I've enjoyed tracking this group's progress since engaging with this group three years ago and helping contribute to its development.   Join us for a special session with Growhio on Feb 28th!  Fresh, free local food and drink for all.   Call 216-849-8651 with any questions!  BY: SUDHIR KADE RAGHUPATHY

Happenings at Tremont Farmers' Market

Dear Market Folks, We are ready to stretch our 2012 market legs!  Hope you have Feb 7 on your calendar, because we will be setting up at Holy Ghost (Byzantine) Catholic Church and Community from 4-7pm.  More details will follow in an upcoming email. We would also like to invite you to our really fun annual benefit! RSVP HERE to reserve tickets. More about this upcoming season:        Farmers' Market Vendor ProgramAvailable at our 8 participating markets for start-up vendors to help reduce the risk involved in trying out selling at a farmers' market. The program is open to farmers who have not vended at a farmers' market before and will sell specialty crops (i.e. fruits, vegetables, herbs, honey and maple syrup). If you are interested in participating, please email us at info@growhio.org by March 1, 2012 to let us know! Peace and good eats! Jody Lathwell, Market Manager tremontmarket@yahoo.com www.tremontfarmersmarket.com 216-575-0920

ODA Grant Kick-off May 3rd

In March 2010, six farmers’ market managers and the organizers of one soon-to-be farmers’ market eyed the 2010 Ohio Specialty Crop Promotion Program request for proposals (RFP) from the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). Their hopes were to use the grant funding to bolster their individual markets and improve the experience of their customers. Their individual grant prospects, however, were challenged by the ODA’s desire to see more regionally focused projects apply, coupled with difficult questions like: How much impact can one farmers’ market really have on the Ohio specialty crop (OSC) industry? Would it be enough to warrant a grant award? Who from the market would have the time to write the grant proposal on the eve of spring market season? Who would do all the planning and grant program management, not to mention track expenses and fulfill all grant reporting requirements? These difficult questions, and the ODA’s desire for a regionally focused application, encouraged the individual farmers’ market managers to team up with Growhio to increase their chances for funding. The result was something that otherwise would have been impossible – an award of funding for all seven farmers’ markets. Under Growhio’s leadership, the group developed and submitted to the ODA a collaborative grant proposal with shared programming, promotion and deliverables aimed at shared outcomes, and ODA responded with a $65,000 grant award. Read the full article. Learn about our new programs developed pursuant to this grant at our kick-off event.

Event registration for Growhio and the Cleveland Farmer's Market Guild ODA Grant Kick-Off Event

ODA Specialty Crop Grant - Graphic Design

In addition to the promotional video discussed in the previous post, Growhio's Ohio Department of Agriculture specialty crop grant covers the graphic design and production of promotional materials for the marketing campaign, educational program, and new vendor start-up program--such as RTA bus ads, postcards, and signage. Growhio will be issuing an RFP in early December soliciting proposals from graphic design professionals to design these pieces. If you or any designers you know are interested in submitting a proposal, please send the contact name and email address to gforte@growhio.org to be added to the distribution list.