FARMERS MARKETS

Valerie,

My name is Kim Zarkin and I am the Marketing Chair for the Sugar House Farmers Market. The market opens for its second season on July 8th and I’d love to speak with you, as the Food Editor, about the potential for a story in the Des News.

If you didn’t get a chance to visit our market last summer, we are smaller than the Downtown market, with just 37 booths this year. But our market has great charm and an emphasis on the Sugar House neighborhood. Several of our growers actually farm in Sugar House. Some of our prepared and packaged food vendors and crafters make their products within blocks of the market.

This year, we are beginning a program that I think will be of particular interest to your family-oriented readers called the Junior Farmers Passport Program. It’s a cross between a scavenger hunt and a nutrition lesson. Kids will get a passport that will guide them from booth to booth. Growers will talk to the kids about how they grow the food and the best ways to eat it. For each grower the kids meet, they will get a sticker. Once their passports are filled up, they get a goodie bag. This will be a great opportunity for parents and kids to talk about food in positive, healthy ways.

On an unrelated note, I’ve wanted to thank you for the wonderful article you wrote in May about living gluten free in Utah. My husband is gluten intolerant and we eliminated gluten from our household about five years ago. Not only is this process difficult, the news media often covers the issue poorly. I deeply appreciate the quality writing and reporting that you did for that piece.

I’ve attached a press release with all the information about the market and its opening. And I’d be happy to schedule a time for us to talk or for me to put you in touch with some of our wonderful vendors.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Kim Zarkin
Marketing Chair
Sugar House Farmers Market

Kim Zarkin, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Communication & MPC Programs
Chair, Gender Studies
Advisor, The Forum
Westminster College
1840 South 1300 East
Salt Lake City, UT  84105
kzarkin@westminstercollege.edu
801-832-2823