Meet Our Market Manager: Twyla Teitzel!

Twyla Teitzel - Market Manager for Sunrise FM

Twyla is the Market Manager for the BeMoneySmartUSA Farmers Market at the Sunrise Mall.  She has always been a healthy eating enthusiast and as a vegan, she especially enjoys fresh organically grown fruits and vegetables as they make up much of her daily diet.  She has always loved attending farmers markets as a patron and has known the founder Marie Hall of BeMoneySmartUSA for many years.  When Don and Marie Hall opened the market at the mall they asked her to manage it as they knew she has always been interested in supporting healthy eating and supporting local farmers to bring locally grown produce to the communities.

Twyla also teaches yoga and has now for over eleven years.  As part of her teaching model, she always encourages her students to eat healthful healing foods.   Her oldest daughter, Danielle, graduated from Baumen Nutrition School and her younger daughter, Candiss, works at the strawberry booth at the Sunrise Mall Farmers Market as part of the Rent-A-Teen program.

Twyla tells me she is excited to make the Farmers Market a family tradition to visit. She wants the families to know that there's something for everyone here. Twyla says she also can't wait to bring more organic foods to the Farmers Market.

Twyla explains that one of the unique and important features about this market  is that it is run by the non-profit organization, BeMoneySmartUSA that offers free classes to teens that teach financial and business education.   Through programs like the Rent-A-Teen, youth have the opportunity to learn and earn a wage at the market when farmers hire them to run their booths. Teens gain experience working with the public, customer service, and marketing. These skills are especially important for developing their confidence and skills to be successful in the job market.

Written by Caysie, 13 - Barrett Middle School

BeMoneySmarUSA Farmers Market Opens at the Sunrise Mall

The grand opening of the BeMoneySmartUSA Farmers Market at the Sunrise Mall on March 5, 2011 was a perfect day!  As people entered the market they were greeted by a smiling student employee dressed in “red” ready to help anyone seeking a special vendor and acquainting them with the layout of the new market.  There were over twenty new vendor/farmers out there, some of them familiar faces to patrons and many of them new to this venue.  Over 3000 people came in to celebrate with us on opening day.  Special entertainment was offered through the happy and talented Dilly Dally the clown who worked  hard to keep everyone adorned with balloon hats, wrist corsages and much more.  April May, was our featured face painter.  She created gorgeously elaborate designs on the eager faces of patrons of all ages.  You couldn’t miss the great toe-tapping sounds of the blue grass band “Ridin’ Shotgun” in the background with their distinct voices and cool steel guitar, banjos and drums!

Austins assists Upper Crust Baking
at BeMoneySmartUSA Sunrise Market

The BeMoneySmartUSA market is a Certified Farmers Market, which means all the farmers are certified by the state of California Department of Agriculture and many of them are also certified as organic farmers.  With products like beef, fish, eggs, organic citrus and vegetables, and a variety of specialty products that includes organic pre-prepared meals, almond butter, dried fruits and nuts, jams, sauces, homemade pasta, pizza, barbecue sauces, organic fresh spices/herbs and wine there is something for everyone!  You will not only get great healthy food but great service from the teens in “red” who are there to help out with your groceries, find a vendor and share the mission.  I really enjoy the market. I love the environment it brings and how every person just brightens up your day.

I am looking forward to future events that will be offered at the market that will include Free Healthy Cooking Demonstrations, Kids Cooking Classes, Raw-Foods Cooking, Canning Demonstrations, and other community events offered through community businesses and city programs.  Each week you can enjoy great local musical entertainment, balloon clowns, magicians, and face painting!

We look forward to seeing you out there each Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Sunrise Mall.  Come shop with us!

Written by Tabitha, 18 - El Camino High School