The litany of fresh fruits and vegetables is still singing about what it takes to keep us in good health.  Processed foods are the enemy of healthy living.  Local agriculture is doing its best to provide us all with a healthful menu.
Longview’s Historic Farmers’ Market intended to spend last Saturday selling the kind of edibles that lead to good health, but after opening at 8:00 a.m. it took just one hour for the luscious produce to sell out.  One farmer drove all the way back to New Diana generic cialis best price for more tomatoes.  When he returned he found a line of customers, including State Representative David Simpson, waiting for his red, ripe crop.
“I am excited to see online pharmacy without a prescription locally grown food,” Simpson said. “This is free market at work.”
He then pointed out how the Farmers’ Market helps the community:

Your know the local farmers who are bringing food to your table.
You are buying local and thus keeping the dollars where they belong.
He hopes that it will multiply by bringing farmers and non-farming citizens together.

Honorable Gregg County Judge Stoudt thinks this is a great concept for Longview’s downtown.  It brings local residents (and others) to the downtown for a wholesome purpose–fresh fruits and vegetables.  It is also a delightful social occasion in which people can re-connect with old friends or make new ones.
One of the Farmers’ Market board officers, President Lowell Tanksley, is one of the farmers peddling his wares at the market.  He owns Tanksley’s Farm in Mineola, and was delighted with the great turnout on an opening day.
“It shows you that people are hungry for real food,” he said.
The Go Texan Restaurant organization is part of the state Department of Agriculture.  It recognizes and promotes restaurant owners and chefs who are dedicated to using fresh, local ingredients.  Cathy Cace, owner of Johnny Cace’s Seafood and Steak House, is secretary of the organization.  She says the board’s efforts will pay off by insuring local citizens receive more fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers. Their restaurant is a Go Texan Restaurant instituted by the state Department of Agriculture.  It recognizes and promotes restaurant owners and chefs who are dedicated to using fresh, local ingredients.
Danielle Heard is founder of Artemis in the City, LLC.  She is a holistic health counsellor and natural whole foods chef.  She is also vice-president of the board for the Historic Longview Farmers’ Market.  She assists persons who must make lifestyle changes to deal with health problems.  This is mainly diet changes to counteract the effects of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, obesity and auto-immune system disorders.  She sees most peoples’ food choices as a major cause of these problems.
Heard says she became involved in this movement because she saw the need to provide the community with fresh, nourishing food.  A Longview native, she returned in 2008 after a 20-year absence, the last ten of which were spent in New York City.  She was saddened at the lack of fresh, organically grown food available locally despite Texas being a leading agricultural state.  She is a strong believer in the notion that quality food is critical for good health.
“Each time one of my clients recovers their health by making dietary changes I am reminded of how very important the local, organic and sustainable movement is, and how it helps me keep going with my mission of educating and empowering people to take control of their health,” she said.
The opening of the Historic Longview Farmers’ Market is the beginning of a movement to provide fresh, local and sustainable food to the people of Longview–a city whose people seriously need better quality food.  The market will provide East Texas’ vital  growers and producers a central location to showcase their healthful produce along with other, non-edible wares, and sell directly to the community.
The Texas Department of Agriculture reports that 98.5% of the state’s farms and ranches are family-owned.  Therefore the Farmers’ Market will also support the local economy as well as give the consumers the reassurance of knowing where their food comes from and the conditions under which it was grown.  The Historic Farmers’ Market is thus starting a movement to improve both local citizens’ health.
The market is a project of Preservation Longview, which is directed by its President Lynette Goodson and its founder Victoria Wilson.  Presently there are three market managers, with plans to expand to eight managers.  The managers maintain quality control and oversee the operation of the market every day it is open.
The market’s operating board needs volunteers to help operate this 501 c3 organization.  Help is needed to operate the information booth, opening and closing the market daily, and entertainers, lecturers and persons to make demonstrations.  Although presently the market is open only on Saturdays the goal is to eventually have it open three or four days weekly.
For more information on the market please visit www.historiclongviewfarmersmarket.com.  For more information on Artemis in the City visit www.artemisinthecity.com.