Ellie P. Campbell Photography

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Yesterday I went to the just-launched farmers market at the New Medicine Community in Bradenton (info here), and while it was pretty small with not more than 10 vendors, the vibe was great, and I met some really nice people. The idea behind it is to bring customers together not only with the farmers who grow their foods but with local chefs and restaurants who use ingredients that are grown locally and/or with organic practices. Chef Cheryl does cooking demonstrations and offers free samples, Vertori’s Pizza‘s owner Christine Harman is there with baked-on-site, entirely gluten-free goodies like the absolutely delicious pizza, stuffed shells, ravioli, and homemade packaged products (bread, treats, etc.), and NMC offers free hot coffee and tea, which was very needed during yesterday’s chilly afternoon. Dawn of Sensible Soaps is also a vendor, selling many handcrafted soap products. I sampled the citrus from King Farm Myakka, doled out by the Kings’ very friendly – and knowledgeable – retired-doctor father. I took his advice and purchased some of his favorite citrus, the Orlando tangelo, a juicy, sweet, unique citrus that will only be around for a few more weeks. Other regular vendors include Bob’s Veggie Patch, Greens on the Gro, Therapeutic Massage by Don, and Hack Urban Garden; check the New Medicine community Produce This Week list before you go to see what’s currently available.

Here are some shots I took of the spread:

And then some photos of this little one who quickly became a friend. The 20-month-old was absolutely adorable and loved her time at the market, collecting soap, running around, and munching on the broccoli-garlic pizza sample from Vertori’s. Sadly, I didn’t capture her white-blond hair due to the cold temperatures, but her eyes are ridiculously gorgeous, too: