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Remember the Michigan State Fair

A few years ago Michigan lost its state fair and it broke my heart to report that. The first Michigan state fair was held in 1849. This state fair was claimed by Michigan to be the oldest state fair in the USA. The Michigan State Fair Agricultural Society bought the land for it on April 18th, 1905 for one dollar. The land eventually had a coliseum with seating for 5,600 and held two NASCAR races. Funding for the State Fair was cut off by the governor in Oct. 2009. There was no fair in 2010 or 2011. In 2011 Great Lakes Agricultural Fair, a 501 C (3) organization, was created to provide a resurgence and rising of an agricultural event The Great Lakes State Fair took place August 31 through September 3, 2012 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in the Detroit suburb of Novi. There is a interview on this page with Mike Watts is the Fair’s executive director. The 2013 fair won’t be held at the State Fairgrounds in Detroit. Its new home will be the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. Take a look at this article Michigan State Fair Returns For Labor Day Weekend 2013, posted March 26th, 2013. The fair also has a new website so you can see what is going on.

By |2019-05-24T00:57:14+00:00March 28th, 2013|Michigan, Novi, State Fair|1 Comment
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Food Vending, Pima County Arizona Part two

Well, as some of you may know I had a peanut brittle booth at the 4th Avenue Street Fair this year. I want to report to the food vendors about food vending at this event in Tucson, Arizona. As you know the 4th Avenue Street Fair is huge. It occurs twice a year one in December and then in the spring, usually in March. Competition to get into this event is very very high and there is a intense jury process that starts at Zapp For years I have hesitated in trying to get into this event as I believed the process to be too difficult - after all peanut brittle is a food product. My product is however pre-packaged and currently I have a wholesale food license from the state of Colorado. This license gives me a right to sell anywhere in the USA, including the 4th Avenue Street Fair in Tucson. Now, the 4th Avenue Merchants Association takes good care of its potential food vendors - and acts as a buffer between the Pima Health Department and the 4th Avenue event. My experience with the Pima Health Department in this regard was nothing short of dismal. Don't call them if you want into this street fair. Please just fill out the Zapp Application and once accepted into the show follow the instructions of the Merchants Association. Calling the Pima Health Department is a waste of time. They sincerely appear to not know what they are doing. I tried a few times. It appears that some of the people answering the phone there do not even know about this street fair. This is dismal. This fair is huge and very near the downtown area. Then there is a question of what regulations to follow at the street fair regarding screening in your booth. The Pima County Health Department told me one thing and the street fair another. Since the street fair is successful and its their venue - do what they tell you. So if you are a new food vendor hesitating because of the regulations concerning food vending in Arizona, and you want to do this event, just contact the Merchants Association and leave the Pima Health Department out of the loop. This is a great event for a new food vendor to do especially if you have a great new product that has not been at the street fair before.

By |2019-05-16T20:47:11+00:00January 4th, 2013|Fair, Arizona, Christmas, Colorado Wholesale License, Concessions, Food, Green Valley, Peanut Brittle, Tucson, Vendors|0 Comments
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AZ, 4th Avenue Street Fair Tucson, Christmas 2012

Well, I survived. I always wanted to do the 4th Avenue Street Fair in Tucson with my peanut brittle. I have been making and selling homemade peanut brittle for about forever. It is made in the shape of Christmas Wreaths, mostly, decorated and put into white sturdy pizza boxes. The Street Fair was to say the least an experience. Did I make money? Well, yes, but not as much as I had thought I would. It had been awhile since I had attended or looked at the street fair. The crowds are enormous. People go from Speedway to the bridge down 4th Avenue in droves and come back the other way in droves. I am convinced the crowds come a lot because the weather is usually great in Tucson this time of year. A lot of people attending the street fair are winter residents getting away from the cold northern climates. I must say I was rather disappointed in a lot of the booths quality. If I was running the fair I would be much harder in the jurying of the booths. A lot of the booths were great and had a good appearance and good quality stuff. Unfortunately, many had the atmosphere and presentation of a flea market quality. This street fair has been around a long long time and in my opinion it ought to present a more professional higher quality vendor. There was no help in getting me out of there after the fair was over either. The police seemed annoyed and bothered by the vendors trying to disassemble after the event. I ended up taking out my stuff by myself a block and a half in a hand cart. It was pretty impossible to drive down the street and pick up my stuff. Will I do it again? I don't know. It was physically and mentally exhausting. Besides, I rediscovered the fact that vendors for the most part are second class citizens for some reason. Its a shame because some of the vendors are really great artists and great art is important.

By |2019-05-16T21:00:31+00:00December 30th, 2012|Fair, Arizona, Christmas, Tucson, Vendors|0 Comments
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Food Vending at an Event, Pima County – AZ

Okay, Here I go again. Some of you know that I make a wonderful food product. I make Peanut Brittle and Agava Peanut Brittle. Last year I had a state of Colorado wholesale food license to sell it in the state of Colorado. With this license, I could sell in stores and do most of the craft events in the state. Some of the events had specific county rules, however. Now I want to do the 4th Avenue Street Fair in Tucson this December and the Green Valley Farmers Market, in Green Valley, Arizona. Now for those of you in the know, you know that this is a big undertaking. You have to have the booth, make sure it is weather secure, the tables, the signage, the product, and all the supplies. But, what is the worst of this whole experience is getting the licensing!!!!! There is an audio interview from the 4th Avenue Merchants Association from last year about selling food at the Fourth Avenue Street Fairs. The interview kinda makes it seem as if the process is fairly easy for food vending. Somehow I "think" not. I kinda get the feeling that Pima County and Tucson don't want any more food vendors and that will do anything they can do to prevent me from selling my Peanut Brittle. So here we go again, this is "exactly" why I have done this before. I have a wonderful product. So first they tell me online I need a Temporary Food Establishment License BUT first I need a Business License before I can get the Temporary Food Establishment license. Of course, they are not telling me - or even suggesting WHERE I get the Business License from. WATCH for my next post - and if you know something about this stuff - leave a comment. I am thinking that if I can get through the maze - maybe we will tackle another city and state next. That is if it doesn't kill me. More: Food vending

By |2024-02-26T06:14:50+00:00July 27th, 2012|Arizona, Concessions, Festivals, Food, Green Valley, Peanut, Peanut Brittle, Tucson, Vendors|1 Comment
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I’m in love with Watermelon

Is watermelon good for you? - you bet It is rich in lycopene, and B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin A.  It is a fruit for every occasion and very popular in this country. We all know kids consume too much sugar. How about freezing watermelon slices and different types of berries in popsicle trays instead of the sugar "other stuff"? I bet the kids would not even notice the difference.   Some of the other things to be made with watermelon include pie, cupcakes, coconut cake, watermelon salsa, BBQ sauces, kabobs, drinks and smoothies, and sorbet. Love with Watermelon Creations for Kids and Adults! One of my fondest memories is summer at my uncle's house and the ice-cold fresh love with watermelon he would always serve. The watermelon and his bonfires made my Uncle Vic extremely popular among us kids. Hey adults, You can also take a watermelon and bore a hole in it and put in hard liquor - let's get ice cold - what adult would not love that on a hot summer's day? What else can you do with watermelon?  Well - believe it or not you can grill it. One recipe I am dying to try is Grilled Spicy Watermelon. Look for it on Watermelon.org - along with a whole bunch of other unusual recipes to try.   If you want to see some truly amazing carved watermelons try this link on http://www.watermelon.org

By |2026-02-27T13:47:53+00:00June 23rd, 2012|Children, Festivals, Food, Watermelon|0 Comments
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Ohio State Fair wins International Award

The Ohio State Fair was recently presented with a first-place Agricultural Award of Excellence from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) for the fair's new "Agriculture is Cool" interactive education program held in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Farm Bureau, and Ohio's agricultural commodity groups. The 2011 "Agriculture is Cool" program inspired by the initiative of Governor John R. Kasich included several interactive education stations throughout the Ohio State Fair at which students could learn about the many ways Ohio's largest industry – agriculture – impacts many facets of their everyday lives. The program, which also offered scholarships to top participants, was recognized as the best special or specific agricultural education exhibit, event, or program for the fairgoing public for fairs with annual attendance between 500,001 and 1 million. The award was presented during a special awards ceremony held on November 29 during the 121st Annual IAFE Convention. In addition, the Ohio State Fair received eight different awards in the marketing division. Ohio State Fair Virgil Strickler explained, "It has long been a favorite family tradition and an active participant in the international community of fairs and expositions. I'm thrilled that a panel of industry leaders recognized our great state for excellence from a pool of more than 3,000 members from around the world. The "Agriculture is Cool" program will be open to visitors of all ages during the 2012 Ohio State Fair, July 25 - Aug. 5. For the second consecutive year, exiting fourth-grade students (2011-2012 academic year) and a chaperone will be admitted for free upon presentation of a valid report card at the entrance gates. The Ohio Expo Center is a year-round, multi-purpose convention and meeting facility. More than 150 events are held at the Ohio Expo Center annually, including the Ohio State Fair. The 2012 Ohio State Fair will be held July 25 - August 5

By |2024-02-26T10:20:43+00:00December 31st, 2011|Awards, Fairgrounds, Ohio, State Fair|0 Comments
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Would you like to be a food vendor at festivals?

Have you ever had the idea that maybe it would be a good thing to try to be a food vendor at a festival or event? It is hard to get started and the rules are all but overwhelming. In this interview I talk to Kurt of the 4th Avenue Merchants Association in Tucson and Mia Hansen of Tucson Meet Yourself. We talk about how to get into a big festival if you are a new food vendor. They say that you should contact the person running the festival who should be able to help you through the maze of regulations. Listen Here!

By |2024-02-26T10:29:44+00:00August 31st, 2011|Arizona, Concessions, Festivals, Food, Vendors|0 Comments
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Alameda County Fair 2011 – Fun Food Facts

What people eat at county fairs has long fascinated me. It is probably because I am a health food and organic food nut. The average American eats way too much stuff they should not be eating. This is one of the reasons we have so many health issues in this country. Alameda County Fair 2011 It's also true that most people do not realize how awesome organic and fresh food can taste and they think they would be giving up so much if they tried it. Well, I am here to tell you it's simply not true. Orangic and healthy food has wonderful taste, - it's just different from what most people are used to. Anyway this is what the fairgoers ate at this year's Alameda County Fair Indulge in Alameda County Fair's Culinary Delights: Corn Dogs, Funnel Cakes, and More! Corn Dogs – 91,414 consumed Funnel Cakes – 29,834 consumed Shaved Ices – 14,963 consumed Turkey Legs – 7,559 consumed Cinnamon Rolls – 5,297 consumed Deep Fried Oreos – 3,791 consumed Scorpions – 1,546 consumed Alligator – Nearly 500 lbs consumed

By |2024-02-29T11:58:33+00:00July 13th, 2011|County Fair, Alameda, California, Fair Food, Organic Food|0 Comments
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