Indoor Farm Market Planned At Nonnewaug High School

WOODBURY — Nonnewaug High School will host an indoor Master’s Table Farm Market on Saturday, March 1, from 11 am until 2 pm. The high school is at 5 Minortown Road in Woodbury; the farm market program, however, is based in Washington (Conn.).

The Master’s Table Farm Market (MTFM) is a pilot project creating a viable Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) for the Connecticut Department of Agriculture based on the dietary guidelines for Americans and the USDA nutrition program recommendations and nutritional requirements for seniors. MTFM is a pilot program building a farmers’ market specifically for senior citizens in three smaller towns including Morris, Washington Depot, and Woodbury.

The markets will be centered at the local senior center sites for 14 weeks, from July 1 to October 1, 2008. The project utilizes the USDA’s recommendations of behavioral economics and social marketing techniques to increase the purchasing and consumption of local fruits and vegetables while creating a senior nutrition program that can be replicated throughout the state of Connecticut.

Connecticut-grown products will be featured at the market. In addition to purchasing fresh food, visitors will be able to watch Connecticut chefs cooking with CT Grown foods. Special guest Colin McEnroe, from WTIC 1080 radio, will also be at the market.

Admission is $2 per person. Proceeds will be used to purchase Senior Farm Market Nutrition Vouchers, which will increase access to local foods regardless of income.

In addition to the farm market events, the program will create a Master’s Table Coalition (MTC) to invite established community organizations to cross-coordinate efforts to best reach the senior population and to ease their participation in this program. In addition, the MTC is a joint problem solving forum to address senior citizen community issues which will increase multi-factional team work within their jurisdictions to support aging populations and to best create a Buy Local Campaign that is directly tailored to these pilot project sites.

The Master’s Table Coalition will participate in joint marketing, joint transportation services, and collaborative social networking to ensure daily support of our market visitors.

For additional information about the farm market or Master’s Table Farm Market program, call 860-619-0075 or send an e-mail to ChefEmily@MastersTableFarmMarket.com. Additional info is also available online at MastersTableFarmMarket.com.