Crisp Autumn Vibes
Welcome September!
I hope everyone is recovering from the severe weather last week! We got really lucky and Thursday was absolutely lovely! This week is looking nice and warm.
Last week’s hurricane affected many areas south of the Macon area, so we can expect to see crop delays in some areas. This shouldn’t really affect you, but availability of some fruits and vegetables may be more or less than we are typically used to.
This week we are starting a new season with Macon Mental Health Matters! We are proud and honored to be able to provide a point of food access across the city of Macon at these events! Please join us Thursdays each week at the market, and then every second Saturday for a pop-up gym that includes mental health services, drum circles, and more including free food! Last week you saw the schedule for this weekend’s activities that start Friday evening, this week I have the entire line-up of where we will be each month on Saturday.
This month is Food Safety Awareness Month. We are always striving to make sure the food you get at the market is safe to eat, but what happens when it goes home? If you are unsure how to store your produce, it can make you sick. We have provided a handy digital resource that shows you how to store your fruits and vegetables when you get them home.
Food Safety Awareness Month: Ensuring Safe and Wholesome Meals for All
September marks the Food Safety Awareness Month, a significant occasion dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of safe and hygienic food practices. In recent years, the world has witnessed several foodborne illness outbreaks and contamination incidents, underscoring the need for heightened vigilance and better education regarding food safety practices.
Understanding the Significance of Food Safety
Food safety encompasses the measures and precautions taken to prevent foodborne illnesses, ensuring the protection of public health. Whether we are dining at restaurants or cooking at home, the safety of our meals depends on proper handling, storage, and preparation techniques. By observing food safety guidelines, we can prevent diseases caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Spreading Knowledge and Empowering Individuals
Food Safety Awareness Month focuses on spreading knowledge and empowering individuals with the necessary tools to handle food safely. It encourages everyone, from consumers to food industry professionals, to take responsibility for implementing effective food safety practices.
Key Aspects of Food Safety
1. Cleanliness: Properly washing hands, utensils, and surfaces is the foundation of food safety. Encouraging regular hand hygiene and maintaining clean cooking environments helps prevent cross-contamination and the spread of harmful bacteria.
2. Temperature Control: Understanding the importance of temperature control is vital. Refrigeration at appropriate temperatures inhibits bacterial growth, while thorough cooking ensures elimination of harmful microorganisms. Additionally, maintaining hot foods hot and cold foods cold prevents the growth of pathogens.
3. Safe Food Storage: Proper storage of food prevents spoilage and contamination. Labels, dates, and the use of air-tight containers all play crucial roles in maintaining food quality and safety. Educating individuals about the correct storage techniques can significantly reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses.
4. Knowledgeable Consumers: Educating consumers about safe food practices is paramount. Raising awareness about reading food labels, understanding expiration dates, and practicing good hygiene habits when handling groceries empowers individuals to make informed choices and safeguard their health.
5. Hygienic Food Preparation: Encouraging safe food preparation practices, such as avoiding cross-contamination of raw and cooked foods, promotes food safety. Properly sanitizing food contact surfaces, cutting boards, and knives further decreases the risk of contamination.
Embracing Food Safety Every Day
While Food Safety Awareness Month serves as a reminder, it is crucial that we apply these principles year-round. Implementing food safety measures ensures that every meal we consume is wholesome and free from potential dangers. By equipping ourselves with knowledge, practicing good habits, and demanding accountability from food establishments, we can safeguard our health and the well-being of those around us.
So, let's embrace the spirit of Food Safety Awareness Month not just this September, but every day, and create a world where safe and healthy food is a priority for all.
Loy is bringing peaches, plums (five different varieties!), watermelon (these could be some of the last ones, so be sure to come get them!), tomatoes, onions, muscadines and scuppernongs, mangoes, and peppers. He likes to surprise us with a few extras, too, so be sure to come on out and see what he has!
Don’t forget your jams, jellies, and breads; cakes and cookies! Rosa Ray’s, Ms. Shirley, Marie’s Baked Goodies, and Bon Bon Bakery all have a wonderful selection of baked goods!
We are steadily growing, so if you would like to be a part of our community of vendors, let’s talk! We would love to have you! Our goal is to provide food for the body and the soul, so if you are a gardener or farmer or an artist or crafter or baker, you are welcome at our market! Click here for the vendor application link.
Muscadines are an acquired taste, but I personally love them! They aren’t really grape flavored and I think that throws people. I prefer to think of them as a cross between a berry and a grape when I’m figuring out what to make with them. They aren’t that, but it helps to think of them as different from grapes that we are used to seeing and eating. This recipe is like a berry crisp, but with muscadines instead. I’ll be using Ms Eva’s Chai Spice blend to season it!
We are a partner market with Wholesome Wave Georgia to help make your dollars go further at our market!
Bring your SNAP/EBT card to the market tent to double your spending power!
Where to find us:
We are always looking for more people to join our fun! If you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a vendor at our market, follow the link below for our vendor application!
Just a hint of all the fun we have to offer! Come join us!