I always come into our post-Thanksgiving season with a deep feeling of gratitude – for our team, our customers, and the many, many partners it takes to pull it off together. As I often remind our crew here, we almost certainly do more than we’re equipped to do each November, but we manage to make it happen without tumbling off the rails. It’s turkey season, after all! I know I speak for everyone here in offering a sincere thank you for the kindness and support you show us each Thanksgiving season. We know so many of our customers make an extra effort to seek us out, and we appreciate that you believe in our Ferndale difference.

And, now for something completely different!  I want to share a quick and not-so-flattering story, because it drives home the merits of local food. A couple months back, our local school district was serving our turkey hot dogs. Unfortunately, they didn’t turn out well, and we were contacted to figure out what may have happened. Within a day or two, we were standing together with the school cooks, the school superintendent, and a friend from our local smokehouse to get to the bottom of it. There we were, eating early morning turkey hot dogs together in the school lunchroom. We got to the bottom of the issue, but more importantly, we were collaborating over true Cannon Falls food; grown, processed, and served right here. It struck me as the essence of what we’re all about, with a true connection to the people and places behind our food and farming.

Back at the market, we’ve now flipped the switch fully to Christmas.  The tree is up, the lights are strung, and the local foods gift boxes are being assembled daily. We’ll hope to see you here again in the holidays ahead!