The Weblog
The local foods movement is alive and well in Champaign County! Here are some updates on other projects while we finalize our virtual market:
Local Producers Map:
Our local producers map is ready for publication and you will soon be able to find it on gochampaign.com. Copies will be distributed around the community, in the local telephone book, and other “hangouts”. The guide lists the location and contact information for nearly 50 local producers within our county. The map was a project of the Local Food Council and printed with the help of some local sponsors including the Monument Square District, Champaign Bank, the Community Improvement Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Bureau and others. It is a great start to finding a local source for Champaign County’s finest!
The Sound of Silence
What an odd entry, you might say, but for me, tonight, after a totally crazy couple of weeks with my businesses, tonight is nice to hear nothing, listen to nothing, and to plan my soon to be meet up with my pillows…
I did want to give a big shout out to vendors and customers, alike, for attending Champaign County Empty Bowls event, this evening!!
Your market manager was the bread baker, and together with your other market manager, we offered soups from our Hippie and the Farmer!! It was amazing to mix and mingle with so many familiar faces!!
I also need to send a quick housekeeping note…if, as a customer, you place an order, but forget to pick it up, even after your reminder call, it’s cool, we understand that life happens. When I return, each week, to find the same orders, not picked up, it makes me have to send a reminder about what this does to our market.
The customer places the order. The vendors get the order ready, and to the market, and deliver on order pick up day. We pay that vendors. You forget to show. You keep forgetting. We go months and months…crickets. Ok, so then we have to delve into bookkeeping…we either then have to ask for vendor money back because the sale was not picked up, or paid for, and therefore it sucks the money out of our account, our grant money. Or, we let it slide, and have no money to show at all. Once again, depleting little pockets of our grant money.
We are entering into our sixth year, and for some reason, have just started having this problem in the past six months. Let’s explore this, let’s prevent this, and let’s all take a minute to….think about the market, our love for you, and love for our products, and our love for your happiness, and our happiness…
Ok…everyone feel the love? Good. Because we really do love you…now, let’s get some ordering action…
Happy Thursday…let’s make this week count!
And, now, your manager if off to enjoy the sounds of silence…
XOXO,
Cosmic Pam