BeMoneySmartUSA Farmers Market Offers Amazing Opportunities to Teens!

With economic times as tough as they are, teens too are in trouble when it comes to getting jobs.  That is why it is so fantastic that, through their  Farmers Markets, BeMoneySmartUSA offers a variety of job opportunities to teens not only to earn money but to learn valuable business skills.

Through the nonprofit’s Rent-A-Teen program, local farmers and vendors can hire youth who have been trained in the BeMoneySmartUSA business and financial literacy workshops to assist at the BeMoneySmartUSA Farmer’s Market.  In addition,

BeMoneySmartUSA offers other paid positions.  Teens may work in hospitality, greeting and helping those who come to the Farmer’s Market. They can also act as freelance writers, interviewing customers and vendors and sharing information in the Farmer’s Market monthly newsletter.

In addition to training teens, BeMoneySmartUSA gives back to the community! Workers collect several pounds of fresh produce from the farmers to donate to local youth charities, such as WIND Youth Services and Our Youth Breakfast Club.  “The Farmers Market is just an extension of the relevant experience and education they are all getting by participating in the Rent-A-Teen program and we are truly blessed to partner with an organization that gives back to youth and the community,” states Kelly Grady, mohter of three teenage girls who attended the finance and business camps and all work with BeMoneySmartUSA.

The BeMoneySmartUSA Farmer’s Market is a win-win situation for everyone involved:  the farmers, the teens, the costumers and local charities.  “We want to provide a model of business that helps the teens, the community and the businesses who participate to experience something more than the status quo,” says Don Hall, Market Manager, in this month’s Carmichael Times and American River Messenger.

At BeMoneySmartUSA’s unique Carmichael Farmer’s Market, youth gain job experience while earning an income, and advance their confidence and social skills while working with the community.  If you have not yet experienced the hospitality and plentiful selection of produce at the BeMoneySmartUSA Farmer’s Market,  please come for a visit!  It is open every Saturday at the Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and every Sunday at the Carmichael Park from 9 am to 2 pm, rain or shine, all year round!

BeMoneySmartUSA is featured this month in the Carmichael Times as well as in the American River Messenger!  The articles provided  an in-depth look at how BeMoneySmartUSA is using its Carmichael Farmer’s Market to further its goal to financially educate youth. Free copies of the articles are available this month!

BeMoneySmartUSA works with schools, churches, youth organizations and businesses to provide FREE finance and business workshops to both youth and adults.  For more information about BeMoneySmartUSA workshops visit www.bemoneysmartusa.org. To sponsor a BeMoneySmartUSA program, email info@bemoneysmartusa.org or call (916) 806-3989.

Written by Clayton, 16, Folsom High School

Who Knew "Fungi" Could Be Be So Good For You!

At the BeMoneySmartUSA Farmer’s Market there are many vendors who come together to offer you a variety of foods.  The newest addition to the Farmer’s Market family is the Dragon Gourmet Mushrooms booth, overseen by Peter and Bobbi Gallagher and owned by Roxana Walker.

Dragon Gourmet Mushrooms sells fresh Shiitake mushrooms (their most popular item), Blue Oyster mushrooms (great in salads), and King Oyster mushrooms (good sliced on the barbecue). One basket
of mushrooms sells for $4 and two baskets for $6.  The mushrooms are grown in sanitized rice-straw without the use of pesticides.  They also sell a growing kit that includes everything you need to grow your own mushrooms at home.  “The mushrooms are all high in antioxidants and delicious in soups,” says Peter.

Visit the BeMoneySmartUSA Farmer’s Market to purchase produce from Dragon Gourmet Mushrooms as well as from many other local growers.  The BeMoneySmartUSA Farmer’s Market is open every Saturday at the Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the Carmichael Park in Carmichael on Sunday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm and on Wednesday mornings at the VA Hospital at Mather from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and Wednesday evenings at the Old Village Fair Oaks Plaza Park from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm all year round, rain or shine!

written by Annina, 13 - Olympus Middle School

2011 First Annual Tomato Taste Off Contest was A Huge Success!

Display of tomatoes at Carmichael Park

BeMoneySmartUSA hosted two tomato taste off contest events at their certified farmers markets on Saturday, September 10 at the Sunrise Mall and on Sunday, September 11 at the Carmichael Park.  Many of the farmers from both locations proudly entered their many varieties of tomatoes to include heirlooms, cherry and hybrid varieties to compete for recognition as being the "best tasting heirloom tomato", the "most beautiful tomato", "the meatiest tomato" and the "sweetest tomatoes".  Patrons visiting the markets had the delicious and sometimes difficult task of tasting and only being allowed to vote for one tomato favorite in each category.

Teens earn while they learn at local Certified Farmers’ Markets in Citrus Heights and Carmichael

Chelsea uses her sales skills working for Mt. Moriah

Alex & CA Pistachios

While shopping the new Farmers’ Markets at the Sunrise Mall on Saturday and at the Carmichael Park on Sunday, both open from 8-1, it is not difficult to notice the many “red-shirted” teenagers hard at work behind the booths alongside the farmers and vendors who sell their produce and products at these weekly markets.   These young people are all students of a youth entrepreneurship program offered through BeMoneySmartUSA, a local non-profit who organizes and manages both of the farmers’ markets.  The venues provide opportunities for youth to participate in the organization’s “Rent-A-Teen” program to work jobs in communication, hospitality, marketing, media, journalism, event coordination, administration, and sales.  Students applying for these jobs are required to complete a minimum of 10-12 hours of financial and business training through the non-profit’s FREE education programs.  Once the students have completed the courses, they have the opportunity to apply for job positions offered at the markets.