Mama Ida Ice Cream Social at the Dallas Farmers Market

Yippee. This Saturday, June 27, the Dallas Farmers Market Friends will host the 3rd Annual Mama Ida Ice Cream Social at the Dallas Farmers Market Plaza from 10 a.m.-noon. Working with local donations of fresh ingredients like fruit, nuts, and mint, DFW culinary students and the Dallas County Youth Village will create and serve a variety of ice creams and sorbets to be judged by the public for prize winnings. (Free to Dallas Farmers Market Friends members and $5 for nonmembers.)

The event honors Ida Papert, the sassy spirit who not only founded DFMF, she has volunteered years of her life to the Dallas Farmers Market. Full deets below.

(DALLAS)- To honor the commitment and efforts of Dallas Farmers Market Friends Founder, Ida Papert, the Dallas Farmers Market Friends is hosting the 3rd Annual ‘Mama Ida Ice Cream Social’ at the Dallas Farmers Market Plaza on Saturday, June 27 from 10 a.m.-noon. Working with local donations of fresh ingredients, a variety of ice cream and sorbet entries will be developed by local culinary students and the Dallas County Youth Village. Judged by all attendees, the winner will be awarded a cash prize.

In the late 80’s, the Dallas Farmers Market was feeling the effects of lengthy area construction, unrealized political promises and was in desperate need of a community coalition to preserve the integrity of the once popular, city owned ‘farm to table’ concept.  Community volunteer Ida Paper, an election chair for Mayor Starke Taylor and a decades-long, seasoned civic leader seemed the logical choice for the politicos of 1991 to head an organization that would gather support for the 40 year old Dallas Farmers Market. With a small but visionary support group (aka Ida’s civic pals), the Dallas Farmers Market Friends held their first meeting in early 1991.

Fast-forward to 2009 and we see the results of the efforts of these original few. The DFMFriends have contributed thousands of dollars and volunteer time to the DFM. These critical dollars have provided necessary materials, education and oft times the reason the DFM could stay in the good graces of the sharp-penciled city budgeters.

Noting that she has worked with few Farmers Market directors that had more experience and credentials than the current Administrator, Janelle Leatherwood, Ms. Papert feels confident that the DFM can only continue its success in providing the city of Dallas with locally grown produce and meats.

Details follow in press release below.  Please let me know if we can help with a story.