Market to Menu - 2013

Market to Menu:

Partnering Texas Farmers Markets with

Lone Star Restaurants to Promote Texas Specialty Crops.

In an effort to put more local food on Texas tables, the Texas Department of Agriculture’s (TDA) GO TEXAN program is connectingfarmers markets, local growersand Texas restaurants across the state.Through the Market to Menuprogram,farmers markets in the Lone Star State are invited to partner with a GO TEXAN restaurant chef to host a cooking demonstration highlighting Texas specialty crops (fruits, vegetables and/or treenuts) at their market. Markets interested in participatingmay be reimbursed up to $1,000 in approved event-related expenses.

To be eligible to participate in the Market to Menu program:

  1. Applicant must be a TDA-certified farmers market and a current GO TEXAN member. To download a TDA-certified farmers market application, and for more information about becoming a GO TEXAN member, visit gotexan.org.
  2. All markets must use a GO TEXAN restaurant member to conductthe cooking demonstration(s). You can locate current GO TEXAN restaurant members at gotexan.org. (Markets can encourage non-GO TEXAN restaurants to join the program to participate in the cooking demonstration.)
  3. Market to Menu events must be conducted between June2013 and September 2013 (limit of one funding award per farmers’ market location).
  4. Applicant must ensure compliance with all food handling and cooking demonstration requirements, including securing all necessary permits. For information on permits needed for the cooking demonstration please contact your local health department.
  5. Proposals are due by Friday June 7,2013.Incomplete proposals will not be reviewed. Each proposal must include the following:
  • Application (enclosed);
  • Summary(200-500 words describing how the applicant plans to use the fundsto promote Texas specialty crops, and identify which Texas specialty crops will be featured);
  • Name of the GO TEXAN restaurant member that will be conducting cooking demonstrations; and
  • Proposed Budget (provide detail for each of the budget items, if applicable):
  • Chef demonstration fee (include the chef’s hours, ingredients, etc.);
  • Supplies (plates, napkins, forks, etc.);
  • Marketing (radio, signage, print advertisements); and
  • In-kind contribution.
  1. Upon selection, participating markets will receive an acceptance packet containing the following:
  2. Participation Agreement– must be signed and returned to TDAbefore hosting the event.
  3. Event Assessment – must be completed and submitted within thirty(30) days after the event.
  4. Purchase Order Number – must be included on billing invoice in order to receive reimbursement.

Selections will be based on proposal completeness, marketing creativity and evaluation score. Reimbursement will be provided after the event and the total amount will be based upon information provided in the Final Budget which must be submitted with the Event Assessment.

For questions about the Market to Menu program, please contact Richard De Los Santos at (512) 463-7472or .

Texas Department of Agriculture

Marketing to Menu

2013Application

Submission Date
Farmers Market Name / Website
Physical Address of Farmers Market / Street
City / State / Zip
Farmers Market Contact / Title
Mailing Address for Contact / Street or P.O. Box
City / State / Zip
Phone / Alt contact number / Email
Proposed Date to Hold Market to Menu Event
GO TEXAN Restaurant member/chef(s) to be used for cooking demonstration

Please use the following table as a guide and submit supporting documentation; scores will be taken into consideration for selection.

Evaluation Criteria / Maximum Points Available / Total Points
Earned
(Internal Use Only)
Previous Market to Menu participation:
0 times = 10 points
1-2 times = 5 points
3 times = 0 points / 10
Percentage of GO TEXAN member vendors at market:
100% = 10 points
81 - 99% = 8 points
50 - 80% = 5 points
0 - 49% = 0 points / 10
Use of registered GO TEXAN certification mark on market:
Webpage = 2 points
Facebook page = 2 points
Twitter page = 2 points
Banners/signage = 2 points
Reusable grocery bags = 2 points / 10
Total / 30
Proposal Checklist

Compliance with all food handling and cooking demonstration permits

Completed application

Market vendor list that identifies each GO TEXAN member, if known

Completed proposal:

  • Summaryincluding200-500 words describing how the farmers market plans to use the funds, including:
  • Proposed recipes identifying specialty crops used, if known
  • Typical market traffic numbers to predict number of customers that will benefit from the cooking demonstration
  • Number of specialty crop vendors at the market that will benefit from the cooking demonstration
  • Budget (list each budget item to cover the following, if applicable):
  • Chef demonstration fee (fee for the restaurant member’s ingredients, etc.)
  • Supplies (e.g., plates, napkins, forks)
  • Marketing (radio, signage, print advertisements)
  • In-kind contribution

Proposals must be received by close of business, Friday, June 7, 2013; proposals received thereafter will not be considered for participation in Market to Menu 2013. Mail, fax or email all required documents to:

Richard De Los Santos

Market to Menu
Texas Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 12847

Austin, Texas 78711
Phone: (512) 463-7472

Fax: (888) 223-8638
Email:

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