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Community Outreach...A Success At Local Market

By Joshua Elliott, NRCS Soil Conservationist, Mobile/Washington Counties, Alabama

 

NRCS staff give out free watermelon slices.
NRCS District Conservationist Joyce Nicholas and Soil Conservation Technician Marshall Colburn (stripped shirts left and right) slice watermelon to pass out to patrons at the farmers market.

On a hot and muggy day in late June, Mobile and Washington Counties SWCD/NRCS Field Offices set out to capitalize on a prime outreach opportunity.

We arrived at the local farmers market smiling and roaring to go. In no time at all we had knives in hand and were slicing and dicing our way into the hearts (and mouths) of children, seniors, and those in between, all at the same time.

You see...when you pass out free watermelon slices on a 105 degree day in south Alabama, people can’t help but love you.

In the midst of all the excitement we made several key contacts with local minority, small scale, and limited resource fruit and vegetable producers. We passed out information on EQIP, WHIP, and many of the other programs that NRCS has to offer.

Two of the local news channels were present to provide the event with multiple county exposure.

This event was just one example of the great opportunities available to meet face-to-face with county’s producers and spread the good word about "Helping People Help the Land."

NRCS staff and others check-out local produce.

(l-r) Mobile County NRCS Soil Conservationist Josh Elliott , District Conservationist Joyce Nicholas, Mobile County Farmer
Blake Nicholas, and Soil Conservation Technician Marshall
Colburn observe the local produce for sale at the market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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