The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is proud to launch its new Farmers Market on December 1, 2014. Made possible with a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and expert guidance from The Market Company, the Arsht Center’s Farmers Market will feature Florida-grown produce and prepared foods on the Parker and Vann Thomson Plaza for the Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., every Monday, 4 p.m.- 8 p.m. Attendees will be able to purchase fresh food from stands overflowing with local harvest – seasonal fruits, vegetables, meats, prepared food and beverages – while enjoying periodic workshops with food writers and chefs, live music and cooking demonstrations.
Parking with PayByPhone will be available in Lot C, located just south of the Center’s Ziff Ballet Opera House between Northeast 12th and 13th streets.
The Arsht Center’s inaugural Farmers Market on December 1 will feature an appearance and chat with Feeding the Hungry Ghost cookbook author Ellen Kanner, and a cooking demonstration focused on Kanner’s vegan recipes by local chef Paulette Bilsky. Both culinarians are members of Les Dames d’Escoffier International Miami, an educational and philanthropic organization. In addition, patrons will enjoy live music provided by the Café at Books & Books, which will also open to the public that day.
Selections at the Farmers Market include: a variety of dips and sourdough breads from Zak the Baker; Keez Beez’s honeys which include surprising flavors, such as Brazilian pepper, black mangrove and seagrape – all harvested in Marathon Key; arugula from the Little Haiti Community Garden; Laura’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetables from the Redland; mozzarella and burrata from Mozaritta in Pompano; and more. The market is authorized to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps) to increase access in our community to fresh produce.
Upcoming Farmers Market appearances include Jen Karetnik, food critic and cookbook author of MANGO, on December 8; and Linda Gassenheimer, WLRN radio host and award-winning author of 16 cookbooks, on December 15.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded over $27 million in competitive grants to expand marketing and promotion activities for local food enterprises that enable farmers to reach consumers, strengthen ties between urban and rural communities, and help meet the growing demand for locally and regionally produced food. The Arsht Center was the only performing arts center in the country to receive a USDA grant for a farmers market this fall.
For more information, please visit www.arshtcenter.org/en/Visit/