Chef Demos, Live Music and More at Thursday’s Farmers Market

The kids are back in school, but fans of local food still have nearly two months to enjoy the Maple Grove Farmers Market.

“Fall is one of the very best times to visit the Farmers Market,” a news release quoted Market Manager Kirsten Bansen Weigle. “Our minds turn back toward comfort foods, just as the harvest of local produce is at its peak. It’s such a pleasure to host cooking demonstrations that help our shoppers to dig in and think about new ways to use locally grown foods.”

The fall fun starts Thursday with a variety of activities for shoppers. The Maple Grove Whole Foods will host a chef demonstration from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Shoppers will learn how to select and prepare local fruits and vegetables to make apple, pear and cucumber salad.

Wayne Hamilton will perform live music from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Hennepin County Master Gardeners will answer lawn and garden questions. Country Financial will have free cloth market bags. Shoppers can also donate fresh produce at the CROSS food shelf booth.

The Maple Grove Farmers Market is open Thursdays through October 24. Hours are 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. through September and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in October. Credit, Debit, and EBT cards are welcome.  Shoppers can stop by the Market Information Booth to swipe their cards and receive Market tokens to spend on site. 

Other news you should know about:

• Allianz recognizes Maple Grove students: Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America announced that it has awarded scholarships to two Maple Grove natives. Carly Spindler, who grew up in Maple Grove and attends the University of St. Thomas, and Emily Schwen, a graduate of Maple Grove Senior High who attends the College of St. Benedict, both received $3,000 scholarships. The scholarships were part of $30,000 in scholarships awarded to local students for post-secondary educational costs through the company’s Legacy Scholarship Program.