Old Towne Orange Farmers & Artisans Market Celebrates One Year Anniversary on Sat., May 5, 9am-1pm

April 30, 2012 - PRLog -- OLD TOWNE ORANGE, CALIF. - Orange Home Grown, Inc. announced today the one-year anniversary celebration of the Old Towne Orange Farmers and Artisans Market on Saturday, May 5, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., located at Chapman University's Historic Villa Park Orchards Packinghouse parking lot situated at the northwest corner of Cypress and Palm Avenue. Special events for adults and children have been planned throughout the day.

There will be special giveaways, while supplies last, such as Orange Home Grown T-shirts to the first 200 people and market gift bags full of farmers market goodies. A face painter will be on site to paint both children and adult faces from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

A special chef demonstration will take place between 9:00 am and 10:00 am, featuring certified RAW food chef Kirsten Gum. Kirsten Gum attended the Living Light Culinary Art Institute and is now a Gourmet RAW Food Chef and a Certified RAW food Instructor. Gum teaches RAW food classes in the Los Angeles area. Currently she is developing a television show that will incorporate the RAW food lifestyle. She has been part of television for many years and her latest appearance was as show host for “Treasure Hunter: Kirsten Gum,”  where she takes treasure hunting to the extreme by diving with sharks, climbing mountains and rappelling down cliffs in search of valuable treasures.

A very special music presentation by artists Exene Cervenka and Michelle Mangione is planned from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A true renaissance woman, Cervenka is a singer, artist and poet whose work traverses virtually every aspect of those disciplines. She is known for her work as a singer for the legendary punk band "X" as well as "The Knitters" and "The Original Sinners." Cervenka has been an Old Towne Orange resident for nearly three years and is very happy living here. She says, “Hey Orange! More music, more poetry, more books, more records, more art!"  

Mangione is an acclaimed guitarist drummer and songwriter. She is well-known in the rock world as the drummer and driving force behind the band "Sideswipe." Sideswipe was named one of the "10 Greatest Orange County Bands Ever," by OC Weekly and winner of two Orange County Music Awards. Mangione co-wrote several songs on her latest CD with the legendary Grace Slick of "Jefferson Airplane" band fame.

Old Towne Orange Farmers and Artisans Market will have special anniversary treats provided by Sodexo and Chapman University. Specialty food trucks will also be on hand to help Old Towne Orange Farmers and Artisans Market celebrate this special anniversary event.

"Chapman University is delighted to offer Orange Home Grown the space to hold its weekly farmers’ market, and we have been thrilled to see this event’s growth and tremendous popularity," said Chapman University's Vice President of Campus Planning & Operations Kris Olsen. "The University is proud to be a neighbor and a historic part of the Old Towne Orange community, and many of our students, faculty and staff are loyal customers of the market. We look forward to continuing as a committed supporter and partner of Orange Home Grown."

“For a market this size, there is true diversity to be found in what the growers and artisans have to offer and the organizers are always striving for more," said Executive Chef Diego Velasco and co-founder of The Memphis Group, which has two restaurants outside of Orange (Memphis at the Santora in Santa Ana and the Memphis Cafe in Costa Mesa). "This makes it easy to not only inspire my cooking at the restaurant but to also bring the family and inspire our cooking and gardening at home.

“I really enjoy the sense of community this market has been able to nurture in just one year," added Velasco. "It's great to come to the market and see familiar faces and meet new people who are passionate about their products and their craft.”  

Old Towne Orange Farmers and Artisans Market is held Saturday year-round from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Chapman University's Villa Park Orchards Packinghouse parking lot, located at 304 N. Cypress Street. With approximately 30 booths, a wide array of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, specialty food items such as oysters and grass-fed beef, food sampling, children's activities, and more, the Old Towne Orange Farmers and Artisans Market is truly becoming a weekly ritual for many local residents.

"The Farmers and Artisans Market provides a wonderful venue for community members to sell and buy their own produce, learn about local organizations and how they can get involved, and enjoy family entertainment on a weekly basis," said Megan Penn, an Orange Home Grown founding member and an Orange native. "We are grateful to the community and everyone involved that has participated in making this weekly market a success!"

For information about how to become a vendor, please contact the Market Manager Brandon Kunkle at 714.348.8158 or brandonohg@gmail.com.

About Orange Home Grown, Inc.
Orange Home Grown, Inc. (OHG) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization founded by nine Orange, California residents Megan Penn, Betsy Elliott, Brian Kunisch, Carolyn Cramp, Martha Turner, Nedra Kunisch, Vicky Kisow, Matthew Ludin, and Kirsten Trautwein, dedicated to operating a local Saturday farmers and artisans market in the city of Orange and bringing an awareness of healthy living to their community. Orange Home Grown Inc’s primary mission is to cultivate a healthy community through family-friendly and community-based education programs in collaboration with like-minded community organizations. Emphasis is placed on wholesome nutrition, sustainable practices, health and fitness, and strengthening neighborhood and community relationships. Education and events are geared to all ages and income levels. For more information or to sign up for their quarterly newsletter, visit www.orangehomegrown.org or http://www.facebook.com/OrangeHomeGrown.