Well, the weather folks got the better of us last week so for the first time in the Market’s history we were forced to cancel a Market day…and, as you now know, the weather folks’ timing was a wee bit off. It was a beautiful day at the non-Market! Seriously, I hope everyone that had damage from the storms is recovering quickly.

 

As for the Market, better safe than sorry. If you’re a Market regular then you know how windy it can be at Charles Pointe on a normal day. Add in the threat of a tornado? Trust me, a flying canopy tent is an extremely dangerous object. So, we’re back at it this week safe and sound.

 

Of course the cancelation also caused the postponement of our Country Roads Cook-Off. I am happy to report that it has been rescheduled for the August 24 Market.

 

The picture above shows three happy diners at Mia Margherita during last week’s Bridgeport Restaurant Week and Jazz Expo. The Market would like to thank everyone who went out to eat at one of the participating restaurants.

 

Originally developed as a promotional tool for the Market thru the idea of linking Market vendors up with local restaurateurs, the Week then morphed into a three-headed monster of Local Foods, Local Restaurants, and Local as well as International Jazz. With a good cross-section of vendors represented and jazz musicians from West Virginia, New York City, Washington, DC, Richmond, VA, Nova Scotia, Canada, and Stockholm, Sweden, the Week was a huge success by any measure. Plans are already underway for a possible return next year. Let us know what you think on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BridgeportRestaurantWeek

 

Today the Market will be celebrating the start of National Farmers Market Week. There will be special events going on around the Market so stop by the Market Info tent and say HI. Also in recognition of the Week, the Market will be hosting WV Secretary of Agriculture Walt Helmick who will be stopping by to see the great things going on in Bridgeport, agriculturally speaking of course. Commissioner Helmick has been a strong advocate for farmers markets since taking office.

 

One of the previously mentioned special events will be a Chef’s Demo by Chef Robert Tiano of the Bridgeport Conference Center. You’ve been eating Robert’s Brunch items at the Market all season so now it’s time to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at what goes into their preparation. The demo starts at noon in the tent beside our music tent. Oh, and that tent will see the return of our starving guitarist, Rus Reppert.

 

Finally, P.U.R.R. West Virginia will be under the Market’s non-profit organization tent today. P.U.R.R. is a cat rescue and rehab shelter located in Grafton. They will have info and kitty merchandise for sale in support of their mission. Who knows, they may even have a kitten or two up for adoption. Stop by and check out the great work these folks are doing. Also see: https://www.facebook.com/purrwv

 

If you too have a non-profit organization and are looking for a free place to promote it then stop by the Market Info tent and inquire about setting up in our non-profit tent some Sunday.

 

Until next week, Stay Fresh!

 

The Bridgeport Farmers Market Association is the seven member all volunteer board of directors that governs the Bridgeport Farmers Market. It is supported by a wonderful group of community volunteers who help in the setup and maintenance of the market. For more information on the Farmers Market or to see how you can help please e-mail us at bridgeportfarmersmarket@yahoo.comor, better yet, LIKE us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. You can also check out the Market’s own YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/BridgeportFarmersMktor for more BFM video content you can now go to http://vimeo.com/bridgeportfarmersmarket/videos