The Northeast has two farmers markets – Oxford Circle and Frankford. Mayfair’s will officially debut next Spring. Help gauge the region’s interest in fresh produce and maybe bring a farmers market to your neighborhood by taking this survey.

You know, if you get collard greens fresh enough, you can actually hear them. The leaves are so firm that if you kind of crinkle them a little bit, they make noise. I admit it, I like to listen to fresh food…I’m a farmers market junkie. continue reading »

This past Saturday I was honored to participate in the Acme Family Day at the Stockman and Dakota Coral as a celebrity griller. That is not a typo – I am now officially a celebrity. And if that doesn’t move you, I will go even further to say that I won the grilling showdown and my charity, The Food Trust, received a $5000 donation as a result. continue reading »

Hello, my name is Ben and I like food.

For those of you who know me, this admission shouldn’t come as much of a shock. I have been described as husky, broad and most impressively, portly. At home I am talking about tomorrow night’s dinner while I’m eating tonight’s dinner.

I used to think of my eating as almost a badge of honor. I still do, but now I don’t wear the badge. I use the pointy part on the back to prick my finger at least once a day to check my blood sugar. Type 2 Diabetes is a bummer, I have to say.

There will be no more Lee’s Hoagies for me. Whenever I walk past a Philadelphia Pretzel Factory, I can smell the carbolicious bounty inside, but I cannot stop and partake. I haven’t had anything at Dunkin’ Donuts besides coffee in more than a year and a half. I could go on (believe me, I could) but I’m sure the point has been made.

I have a wife and a young son so I want to be here for a while. Drastic changes needed to be made to my diet. continue reading »

John Esch wiped his brow and took a hard swig of his water bottle. He has just traveled more than three hours, from the outskirts of Gettysburg, arriving at 900 E. Howell St. – the site of the Oxford Circle Farmers Market.

Esch, along with two other vendors, braved the near 100-degree heat last Thursday to bring farm fresh fruits and vegetables and baked goods to the people of the great Northeast. continue reading »