Sustainable Food Center

The Weekly Dirt

THIS WEEKEND AT THE MARKETS
Highlights, Vendors, Events and more. Downtown and Sunset Valley - Sat. May 1

Welcome and please enjoy either of our two markets this Saturday, 9AM to 1PM: Sunset Valley, located just across from the Toney Burger Center, at Sunset Valley Elementary, and Downtown Austin at Republic Square.

Downtown: We are very excited about two new farming communities joining us this week. They each do very important sustainable work that benefits our entire community. First, stop by Farmshare Austin for an assortment of their veggies including green onions, kale, collards, spinach, and others. Their veggies are grown by their Farmer Starter students, all adults who are training to be sustainable farmers. Come by the booth to hear their stories! Then head over to Growtopia Farms, a new addition to our farmers row this week. In addition to their delicious mushroom specialties, they will have other assorted veggies including basil, beets, and chard to name just a few. Growtopia is focused on providing outstanding quality produce from Austin to New Braunfels and is focused on creating a sustainable community through education by teaching people all about agriculture and more importantly, how to grow their own food.

Sunset Valley: EDG Coffee has locations at both Sunset Valley and Republic Square. They get their assortment of beans and specialty-grade coffees that are ethically sourced. Enjoy the aromatic and delicious variety of beans offered directly from Nicaraguan farmers who EDG treats as part of their family. And what better to accompany that coffee than some of the unique and delicious pastries from Bradshaw Farms. Although farmers at heart, they have supplemented their farming of crops with their love for baking including double chocolate brownies with chocolate and raspberry chipotle sauce, a variety of scones, and other artisan bread. Worth checking out and as part of your Sunday coffee and pastries morning relaxation!

To keep our vendors, staff and customers safe, we request everyone wear a face covering or mask while in the market area. Click here to learn more about our safety measures. 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.

Score a Luxurious Austin Staycation in our Garden Party* Silent Auction!
April 29 - May 6. Need a night away? Ready for restaurants again? Look no further than our online silent auction for Downtown Staycations, Hill Country Getaways, indulgent spa packages and more! Bid once and get text reminders when you’ve been outbid! The auction closes May 6, so start bidding today! *You don't need to attend the Garden Party to participate in the silent auction.

We're Hiring!
We are looking for part-time associates to assist at our Double Up Food Bucks booth on Saturday's at our SFC Farmers' Markets, as well as a paid intern to assist with a National Organic Program standards research and planning project with our Farm Viability staff.

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

"Mark Bittman’s warning: the true costs of our cheap food and the American diet"
By Oliver Milman, The Guardian - From Mesopotamian irrigation to McDonalds, the bestselling food writer tells Oliver Milman that his new history of food is his most important work

"The Senate appears poised to pass a bipartisan bill to help farmers sell carbon credits. Not everyone is happy."
By H. Claire Brown, The Counter - The Growing Climate Solutions Act is billed as a certification program that helps farmers make money for implementing carbon sequestration techniques.

"Why Is Fashion Talking About Regenerative Farming?"
By Dana Thomas, The New York Times - Brands like North Face, Allbirds and Patagonia, as well as the Kering luxury group, are all about agriculture these days. Here’s the dirt.

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

Recipe: 15 Fresh Beet Recipes
Don't underestimate beets! They might be a humble root veggie, but these fresh beet recipes from Love and Lemons prove just how versatile and delicious they can be.