Glenwood’s Downtown Market starts the second half of its market season on Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. in Centennial Park at 9th and Grand.

Aug. 4-10 is National Farmer’s Market Week. The Farmer’s Market Coalition states, “The impact of farmer-to-consumers transactions is greater than it appears on the surface. Farmers markets serve as anchors across American communities, positively influencing community health.”

Markets help regional economies and local farm businesses. They provide fresh, local and nutritious foods. Markets, such as our Tuesday market, build stronger social networks that help keep communities healthy.

Local markets help small-scale vendors to gain immediate feedback on new varieties of fruits and vegetables, baked goods and artisan items. Both small and large markets have positive effects on a community. We now have a market almost every day of the week in the Roaring Fork Valley and in the communities west of Glenwood Springs. We are fortunate to have a Tuesday market and a Saturday Market in Glenwood Springs, which offers customers the opportunity to shop in Glenwood for fresh local food twice a week.

This Tuesday, we will celebrate National Farmer’s Market week by giving away three bags of market products Tuesday evening at the market. Stop by the market booth to sign up for the drawings. We’ll announce the winners during the cooking demo and music performance in the park.

Chefs Louie and Tammy Girardot will be preparing a Tandoori chicken fettuccine during the cooking demonstration tent this week, starting at 5:30 p.m. Tammy and Louie are cooking instructors at Colorado Mountain College. They will provide many hints to make your meal preparation more enjoyable. Two local restaurants, The Pullman and Town, plus Four Mile Creek Bed and Breakfast sponsor the cooking demonstrations throughout the market season.

From 5:30-8 p.m. singer-songwriter Tony Rosario will be entertaining market-goers with his down-to-earth outlook on the American lifestyle. He combines folk, Americana and country with an original rock and soul feel. Tony intrigues and captivates his audiences. Our music this week is sponsored by our market neighbor on 9th Street, Sunlight Mountain Ski and Bike Shop.

This week is the last week for our young student participants in the market. Ian Chaney and Harrison Coley are the two smiling faces that serve lemonade from their cart each week. They also entertain with their juggling skills. Stop by for a cold glass of lemonade from these two delightful, hardworking entrepreneurs.

The 2013 summer issue of Edible Aspen magazine is now available online. On page 42 and 43 Glenwood’s Downtown Market is featured. There are Edible Communities publications in many areas of the United States and all are available online. Recipes for market products are often included. There is also an Edible Front Range and Edible San Juan in Colorado. Colorado is one of the few states that have three areas represented

Join us this week to celebrate National Farmer’s Market Week in the heart of Glenwood Springs.