Sustainable Food Center

The Weekly Dirt

THIS WEEKEND AT THE MARKETS
Highlights, Vendors, Events and more. Downtown and Sunset Valley - Sat, June 27

Markets are open this weekend! To keep our vendors, staff and customers safe, we request everyone wear a face covering or mask while in the market area. Please visit our website to learn more about these and other safety measures to help you prepare for your visit.

SUNSET VALLEY: Connect A Shield is a 100% woman owned business helping people return to their everyday lives with an easy to use face shield that connects to most hats. The shield is made from 100% recycled material, making the product safe, upcycled, reusable and recyclable. Now that you are protected, you can make your way to Priverno Farm for heirloom squash, San Marzano tomatoes, potatoes, basil and more!

DOWNTOWN: If you visit one stall this weekend, make sure it’s Johnson’s Backyard Garden. Everything you want is in season now including heirloom, cherry, and red slicing tomatoes, watermelon, shishito peppers, pickling cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, green beans, okra and potatoes! Supplement this bountiful veggie haul with Wagyu beef from our newest vendor, Peeler Farm. This small, family owned cattle company has 300 grass fed Akaushi and Black Wagyu cattle - try the beef sausage for a quick grill or shortribs for a longer braise. And as a bonus we're welcoming back Sanford Sourdough Bakery and their freshly made sourdough creations… we feel a summer tomato sandwich coming on!

SFC Farmers' Market match SNAP, WIC and FMNP benefits with Double Up Food Bucks! Visit our website for more information on which vendors will be at market, what products are in season, and more.

SFC UPDATE
SFC events, news, blogs and more.

The Next Chapter in Quarantine Cooking
By Naomi Silverman and Molly Costigan. As we look ahead to the new normal, now more than ever we need to stay conscious of how we shop and cook so we can continue to support our local food economy. In that vein, we are wrapping up our Quarantine Cooking series, but we'll continue to share cooking tips and recipes throughout the year. Read more on our blog and get our recipe for Fruit Crisp!

Wholesale Readiness Webinar Series
June 16, July 14, August 18. In this 3-part webinar series, Ellen Polishuk will give farmers all the in's and out's of setting up a wholesale operation. Your $20 registration fee will get you access to all 3 webinars, plus a copy of Ellen's book, Start Your Farm: The Authoritative Guide to Becoming a Sustainable 21st Century Farmer.

Texas Mamma Jamma Ride
Sept 19. If the Covid-19 lockdown inspired you to dig your bike out of the garage to help you stay active, or has you daydreaming about fun community events, consider signing up for the Texas Mamma Jamma Ride!

WHAT WE'RE READING THIS WEEK
We've dug up the dirt so you don't have to.

"16 LGBTQ+ Farms and Organizations Celebrating Community Through Food and Agriculture"
By Gabby Lozano, Food Tank - In honor of Pride Month, Food Tank is highlighting 16 collectives, farms, and other organizations that are working to strengthen LGBTQ+ representation in the food system and give back to their communities.

"How the rise of supermarkets left out black America"
By Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Business - How decades of corporate strategies, white flight and stereotypes about Black Americans have made it significantly harder for many to access a supermarket than it is for most white people.

"During the pandemic, residential waste has increased significantly. So why are composting programs on hold?"
By Jodi Helmer, The Counter - Covid-19 has raised awareness among the public about food waste, while also stalling city and state efforts to build and expand composting programs.

THE WEEKLY
We'll be sharing recipes to cook, terms you should know, and more in our weekly selection!

Recipe: Farmers' Market Fennel Salad
This simple summer salad is fresh and flavorful and highlights the bounty of the SFC Farmers’ Markets. Serve it as a first course or for a light lunch, and swap it out with other seasonal ingredients to eat it throughout the year.

Recommendation: Reliant EcoShare
Are you a Reliant Energy® customer? You can support EarthShare of Texas members (including Sustainable Food Center!) AND offset your carbon footprint by signing up for Reliant's EcoShare Program.

Thanks: Whole Foods Market
This week, we'd like to send our deepest thanks to Whole Foods Market for their support! With a purpose to nourish people and the planet, Whole Foods Market is a purpose-driven company that deeply values giving back. They celebrate and strengthen each community through investment in local non-profits and champion nutritional education for children and food access in underserved areas. Thank you Whole Foods for supporting SFC!