ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JULY 30, 2009

FARMER MARKET SLATED ON STATE CAPITOL GROUNDS

BISMARCK – Fresh, locally grown produce will be marketed in the parking loop, just south of the State Capitol, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 4, during the fifth annual Farmers Market Day at the Capitol.

“It will be a great day to celebrate National Farmers Market Week,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Doug Goehring. “You can buy your lunch at the Capitol Café or bring your own, enjoy it out on the lawn and then shop the farmers market, where about a half dozen vendors will be on hand with a wide variety of fresh vegetables.”

A’viands Capitol Café will offer a “green bag lunch” that includes a pasta primavera chicken wrap or sauteed vegetable wrap, served with baby carrots, a piece of fruit and a box of raisins. The number of green bag lunches is limited to 250. The first 100 people buying the lunch will receive a free, re-usable market shopping bag from North Dakota Farmers Market and Growers Association.

Chuck Waibel, Milan, MN, co-author of The Northlands Winter Greenhouse Manual, will take part in the farmers market, signing copies of his new book and answering questions.

The book describes the horticultural practices Waibel and his wife, Carol Ford, employ at their Garden Goddess Farm to produce fresh vegetables, using very little energy, through the harsh Minnesota winter. The couple produces vegetables, including more than 25 varieties of greens, for 18 families, from October to April, in a 16 by 24-foot greenhouse.

North Dakota balladeer Chuck Suchy will provide live music during the lunch hour.

The public event is sponsored by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, the Council of State Employees, North Dakota Cancer Coalition and A’viands.

-30-

MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 or plahlum@nd.gov.