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!
You're Gonna Make It After All!
Love is all around, no need to waste it…
You can have a town, why don’t you take it…
You’re gonna make it after all…
You’re gonna make it after all…
(Theme song from The Mary Tyler Moore Show)
So, I’m not going to lie…I hum this song, a lot. I grew up watching this show. I really wanted Rhoda’s apartment but the whole concept of the girls living the big city life really appealed to this girl.
And, this song popped into my head, today, as I was downtown, wearing one of my many hats, both figuratively, and literally. I am on several different downtown boards with offshoots of different committees that I head. Anyway, today, it was the downtown Holiday Open House I was about. Since I head up the promotions on that committee, I was around town handing out posters, rack cards, and answering questions.
One thing that I notice about the local downtown is the attention they give to customer satisfaction. When I am dining at a local restaurant, I love that one will know what wine I drink. One will know that I am a strict vegetarian but not vegan. One knows exactly how I like my coffee. One knows I won’t take dessert but I love a good cheese plate with my glass of wine.
Other businesses know that I am a busy girl and support all that I am doing or involved in. Most know my style of dress, and if I am in a funk or having an off day, and dress in a muted version of me, they are quick to ask if I am feeling okay or if I am sick.
My point is that in my adventures in town, this theme song playing in my head, it occurred to me…customer friendliness and satisfaction are alive and well!!
I began to reflect on this little local market of love. A little local market of customer service. Just like the downtown businesses, we strive to make each customer happy. We strive to get to know them, make them a part of the local family, anticipate their orders, their needs, their expectations.
We love to give love to our local customers!! We hope this is reflected in our actions, in our smiles, and in our total gratitude that you are choosing us, each week, to bring you the best of the best that we have to offer.
I cannot tell you how happy I was when I left town and had this local love fest going on.
You all are the best, you give us your best, and in turn, we hope that you see our best, each and every week.
You have until 10pm…get the love vibe going…we are hear, all evening, taking your orders…
Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam