Table Local Market and Community Supported Agriculture
I wanted to tell you about a very unique food market that has just celebrated its grand opening. Table Local Market, located in Bedford Hills, New York, has a mission to sell artisanal quality goods from the regional area. The produce, meat and poultry, cheeses, dairy products, and breads are all from sources as local as possible and as organic as possible. Founder and CEO, Cynthia Brennan is passionate about this project. She and her management team, including Jonathan Pratt - Executive Chef, Eileen Zidi - Manager, and Jennifer Anderson - CFO have set this market up as a food co-op, where customers can become members. It's a wonderful concept of Community Supported Agriculture where a community is working with regional and sustainable farmers, encouraging them to provide the healthiest foods possible.
WOW!!! What a fantastic tour you gave us of the fabulous grand opening of the Table Local Market. All of the produce and other products look so fresh and delicious. The menu items look absolutely scrumptious. I just love the milk that looks like it's in glass bottles, the Meyer lemons, the biodegradable cups & utensils, the counter tops, the palm leaf dishes, etc. What a great place to get fresh, organic food! Oh, how I wish I was there and could sample lots of that food! Yummy!!! The fridge door reminds me of those in the old time meat markets. Do you think you will ever take some of your wonderful farm products to sell in that market? I'm sure they would fly off the shelves the minute you brought them there! Thanks again for sharing such a wonderful blog. It seems that every thing you do is fun. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | April 23rd, 2009 at 1:14 am
One of the most unique markets I have ever seen. It does give the feeling of old time markets from days gone by. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Posted by: Mona C | April 23rd, 2009 at 1:38 am
hei martha, my name is daniel,and i'm 17 years old i going on a coking shoole and i coming from Norway, ned to say that you'r tv is amazing.
i look on the tv every day to se on you'r programs, and it's so cool to look on you ther, i lurning so match of you'r coking shool.
i hope you maybe some day will come to Norway in tromsø, then i have been very happy to meat you.
from Daniel-Berg
Posted by: daniel berg gundersen | April 23rd, 2009 at 3:53 am
--Thank you for sharing this story. Another huge supermkt. will be opening soon in my neck of the woods. Alas, it won't have personality & character like Table Local Market. Already TLM is a success. I wish I had the business acumen of the young people responsible for bringing TLM to fruition. It's gorgeous.--
Posted by: Mina Isham | April 23rd, 2009 at 7:55 am
CSAs are the way things are going. It works. You buy locally and support local farmers. I get grass-fed meat from a CSA farm here in the Boston area, and there are many farms here that have vegetable CSAs. Martha, your readers can find CSAs near them at http://www.eatwild.com/ or http://www.localharvest.org/csa/
Posted by: Rhea | April 23rd, 2009 at 9:40 am
Hi Martha,
Thanks for the detailed tour of Table Local Market. I would say they went beyond possible to being organic – even the spoons are made from potato starch and the cups are compostable. I love the shelving idea using wine crates. I’m always looking for those when I’m at Costco. Everything looks so good and there’s some unusual dishes too like the Israeli Couscous beet salad. I’m just not that imaginative, that’s all. I love beets though. If you managed to get a recipe or two, I can’t wait for you to share them because all of those salads are enticing. Thanks again for your pictures; I have to fix me something to eat now. I wish I had some of that bread and those tomatoes! Trish
Posted by: Trish | April 23rd, 2009 at 10:12 am
Hi Martha!
This is a very good post!
These types of community-based efforts are successful ONLY in certain areas of the country. It's like...if the country were a garden, there's always sections that don't do as well as others. And just like our country...there are areas where communities exist with the majority of citizens having little to no desire to change, do better, go greener, or even give a rat's tahoonie about global warming!
So my point is, Martha, that it's so great how your company will 'lead the flock'(so-to-speak), in launching the very best information, planting it like a seed so it can spread. And one day, one day!, EVERY community will have this kind of vision and act accordingly.
It is time...ALL ABOARD!!!
Posted by: tinay | April 23rd, 2009 at 10:13 am
What a wonderful enterprise...mmm...the produce and some of the salads look so good. Wishing the Table Local Market every success as i am sure it will be. Such a movement going on now to eat locally and well!
Posted by: sherey | April 23rd, 2009 at 10:41 am
What a grand Farmers Market!
I love radish tops and radishes.
The Lentil, Barley Salad I'll have
to give it a try. I've been sprouting
my lentils. So yummy that way.
I would love to know the process of how
they make those Pressed Palm Leave Trays.
It is funny to me the packaging on the
Eggs From Stress-Free Chickens.
Is the Potato Starch Untensils
Bio-degreeadeable?
Do they pick the wild arugala in the woods?
One of my sil's and brothers have gathered
wild morel mushrooms out in the woods.
I've been trying to figure out the name of
a weed that I had seen by the pond I told you about. I want to find out if it is edible or
not.
If you get a chance click Flassie and take a
look at the weed. JoyceAnn told me to wait
for a bloom to appear and I might be able
to identify it that way.
God Bless You and Yours!!!
Posted by: Flassie | April 23rd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
These are the same containers used by University of Phoenix where I work! A company that is also serious about becoming more green.
Posted by: Heather | April 23rd, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Not everyone is able to grow their own vegetables, make cheese, etc. This store is a blessing for those of us who want to eat healthy, support local farms and artisans and get value for our money. Thanks for featuring this wonderful new venture.
Posted by: Louise | April 23rd, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Thanks Martha. It is always a treat when you discuss agriculture.
Posted by: Margie | April 23rd, 2009 at 9:50 pm
What a wonderful post. Thank you so much for inspiring us to do the right things.
I just got my book about Desert Gardening and looking into starting a raised garden of all sorts of vegetables and flowers.
The heat and winds here in Las Vegas will be a challenge but I am willing to give it a try.
Your blog is just amazing. The future of MSO is NOW.
Norbie
Posted by: Norbie Kamantigue | April 23rd, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Liked the show about planting trees. Did so myself when my children were born, planted several hundred 17 years ago. Now the trees we have planted need to be moved for several reasons. We cannot afford to move them, and would hate to have to start them again. We are looking for you to be interested in showing people how these trees can be moved. Maybe you could shot a show showing someone moving large trees from one spot to another. You know how much these things cost. I guess we could always cut them down and start again, that just seems like a waste of these beautiful trees. Thank you for listening.
Posted by: Tom Pike | April 24th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Bravo! I'm always happy to find markets like this. Thanks for sharing. Maybe the idea will catch on!
I live in a community with a large Hispanic population, and our similar local market is full of all kinds of foods that used to be foreign to me. I love talking with the owner about exotic produce and what one might make with it. With the broad selection -- local eggs, cheese, jams, honey, dried fruits and nuts, and fresh herbs mixed in among the fruits and veggies -- and the fantastic prices, I skip over the produce section of the chain grocery stores anymore.
Posted by: Kim Wylie | April 25th, 2009 at 8:13 am
well... i've never visited Table, but i definitely will now!!! I love shady tree farms... from the eggs to all the beautiful wood work beginning with the simple and beautiful bread/cheese boards to the hand-crafted furniture!!! if you haven't checked out shady tree farms yet, it's worth the trip... right off rte 129 in yorktown. you can even contact the owner/artist, ron at 914.522.4488, he'd be so happy to hear from you!!!
Posted by: Deirdre Munna | April 26th, 2009 at 9:35 am
martha!
thank you so much for the amazing report and photo eassy of Table!
the response has been tremendous- our membership is now close to 100 and we just opened two weeks ago!
sorry i missed you when you came into Table for your lunches to go.
i had a lovely visit with laura and randy...and lenore webly came in- too.
lots of fun sharing fond memories of our msl beginning years!.
hope to see you soon.
love, shelley
Posted by: shelley lewis Waln | April 28th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Ms. Stewart..
Thank you so much for featuring Table.. your generous commentary and photos have had a very positive impact on our operation.
We look forward to continued communications with you and welcome your input as we find it to be of great value,
Jen Anderson, TLM Team Member
Posted by: Jen Anderson | April 29th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Martha,
Thank You for featuring the Local Table in your blog with extensive photo coverage. A lot of hard work goes into making something like this happen. One of the previous comments about some of your produce or products in the store, resounded as I have heard from my sister Eileen Zidi that you have the most amazing eggs. You must have some pretty special chickens, although I don't know if you have enough eggs to bring to market.
What a nice way to celebrate Earth Day with this topic of sustainability.
Best of Luck to Local Table. Job well done.
Jenny A. Donohue
Chicago, Illinois
Posted by: Jenny Donohue | May 1st, 2009 at 4:20 pm