http://orcityfarmersmarket.com/2011/10/30/the-market-goes-to-school/

The Market goes to school!

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Oregon City Farmers Market

King Elementary School invited the Market to their Farm to Table activities on Wednesday October 26th. Teacher and Green Team Coach Jamie Semrad and her volunteer’s set up a wonderful replica of a Farmers Market in the gym with a shopping area, an apple tasting table and a fun activity. We set up the Kid’s POP Club table with pictures and information, and spoke about the Power of Produce Club offered at the Oregon City Farmers Market to each class as they rotated through the gym.

Each class stopped first at the POP Club table to learn about the club including the great news that it will be continuing through the Winter Market starting November 5th. (Thanks to Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District!) Each student received a bookmark with all the OC Farmers Winter Market info in their shopping bags.

Next the students rotated over to the activity table where they could write down their guesses for the weight of a giant head of cabbage. Rumor has it the cabbage weighted 13 pounds!!! Then the kids went over to shop at the “market”.

Second grade teacher Jamie Semrad and her team of volunteers had arranged fresh local produce from the Oregon City Farmers Market and the school garden in attractive displays. The tables were filled with both orange and purple carrots, radishes, rhubarb, apples, both red and golden beets, purple peppers, green beans, kohlrabi, brussles sprouts, potatoes and turnips. Another table held fragrant produce; garlic, cilantro and a small herb pot containing thyme, rosemary and sage. Each student was encouraged to choose two pieces of produce, hopefully ones they had not tried before, to put in their bags and take home.  Popular early choices included purple carrots, kohlrabi, and purple peppers!

Students were then encouraged to smell the herbs and garlic as they passed the fragrant table on their way to the tasting station. At tasting station students were able to sample slices of fresh Tsugaru apples and a variety of crisp Asian pear. Big smiles filled their faces as they munched away on the sweet healthy treats.

Congratulations go out to Jamie and her crew of volunteers….great Job!!! And thanks to Oregon City Farmers Market vendors Kiyokawa Orchards, Three Brothers Nursery, Spring Creek Nursery, Gardenripe, Green Acres Farm, Parsons Farms, Hansen Family Farm, Family Table Farm and May’s Produce and Flowers for providing the fresh produce and decorations for the first Farm to Table day at the school.