Important Local Food News

As many of you know, I am on the board of Tulsa's Cherry Street Farmer's Market and on the steering committee of Buy Fresh Buy Local Green County. Local food, organic & sustainable farming and our thriving area farmer's markets are very important to me personally, and I know these topics are of interest to most of you who read my blog, as well.

The Cherry Street Farmer's Market, Tulsa most well established, largest and diverse market, has been making plans to make a small move to roomier quarters, as we have completely run out of space for new vendors (and even our established vendors!) at the Lincon Plaza site - in our new location there will be more room for local veggies, fruit, herbs, plants, breads, meat & eggs, dairy goods, body care, and local arts and crafts for our 2010 market season. The plan is to close a two block section of 15th (Cherry) Street between Rockford and Quaker, so we will be just one block East of our old location, making the market just as easy to find and in the same great neighborhood as always. this proposed street closing would only happen on Saturday mornings during market hours. We have broad based support from the market vendors, local merchants, local City Councilor Maria Barnes, the Tulsa Police Department Special Events Committee, and the Swan Lake Neighborhood Association. There are arrangements that have been made to supply ample parking for all market customers!

On Thursday, February 25th, 6PM, in the City Council Meeting Room located in the One Technology Center, 100 S. Cincinnati, in downtown Tulsa, the Tulsa City Council will vote to approve or deny the application for the street closing. This is where you come in - if you would like to see the market continue to grow (and we have some very exciting new vendors who would like to join our ranks but will be unable to in our old location) please attend this meeting to voice your support for the Cherry Street Farmers' Market in our new location. Let the Council know how much high quality local food means to you. If you can't make the meeting, please phone or email your Council Member (check out this link if you are not sure who your Councilor is and for their contact information) and encourage them to support our street closing initiative.

This is one time and place where you personally can make a difference in our city, support fabulous local food (and more!) and the people who have invested their lives in bringing it to you. I hope to see you there!