LITTLE FALLS-Sprout announced the dates for all 2017 markets and monthly cultural activities at the Sprout Growers and Makers Marketplace as it enters the next phase of its intentional creative placemaking strategy.
Sprout Growers and Makers Marketplace is located at 609 13th Ave. NE, Door 8, Little Falls.
Visitors are invited to shop the market vendors selling local food and art on six Saturdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Jan. 28, Feb. 25, March 25, Oct. 28, Nov. 18 and Dec. 9. At these markets, through visual and performing art performances, culinary demonstrations, educational events and more, Sprout will showcase the community's assets and talents found among the variety of cultures across the region, a news release stated. In the months of May, June, July and August, the marketplace will host cultural cooking classes, educational opportunities for growers and dinner events to showcase local nonprofit organizations.
The monthly cultural activities kick off with the first market on Jan. 28, where young people under age 25 of all cultures will be featured and recognized as artists, musicians, growers and makers. Guests can sample youth-inspired foods created by chef Matt Annand of Prairie Bay. Sprout is inviting talented folks in our community under the age of 25 to demonstrate their craft (e.g., music, dance, visual art), be a vendor to sell their food or art, and attend the market to see and support growers and makers their age.
The educational focus for January is growers of all cultures. Sprout will host the Sustainable Farming Association-Central Chapter for its event "Wellness from the Ground Up: How to Market the True Value of your Farm's Products." The event will include a chef demonstration and panel discussion to teach farmers about marketing the full value of their products. Topics include explaining to consumers the important connection between soil health and nutrient density of the food produced in it, how to cook with whole foods, and what consumers are hearing from nutritionists and health managers within area healthcare facilities. Chef Tom Zimmerman from A.T. The Black and White restaurant in Little Falls will demonstrate how to store and cook whole foods in Minnesota winters to help farmers explain to consumers easy meal planning strategies that go hand in hand with cooking whole foods.
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February's cultural focus will be Latino food and artists. The public is encouraged to suggest potential demos, chefs, artists, etc.
The activities are funded through a grant awarded to the Region Five Development Commission by ArtPlace, America's National Creative Placemaking Fund.
"The ArtPlace funds will offer the Sprout Growers and Makers Marketplace and our partners the support needed to host the expansion of economic opportunities, social cohesion and learning for local growers, artists, makers, producers, chefs and the public," said Arlene Jones, general manager of Sprout, in the release. "Through a collection of culturally specific activities, we will establish Sprout as a destination where food, art and culture meet."
Additionally, as part of its placemaking strategy, Sprout and partners will build out the Marketplace's physical space over the next three years using commissioned functional art from local artists, with priority granted to Latino, Somali, Amish, grower, youth and tribal communities.
Immediately, Sprout is seeking requests for quotations from photographers and videographers interested in storytelling who will document the process of creation, marketplace evolution, community reaction and overall impact of the marketplace activities. Interested artists are encouraged to contact Dawn Espe at despe@regionfive.org .
Interested shoppers, growers, artists, chefs, and educators who want to learn more, visit www.SproutMN.com and follow the Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace on Facebook.
