A relatively new vendor to the market that we’re excited to feature is Dirt to Dish Raw Juice Cooperative. The organization’s founder Maria offers free tastings of all her revitalizing juices on Thursdays at the market. Dirt-to-Dish juices come in 12, 16 and 32 ounce sizes. Since her freshly-pressed juices last for 3 days you can take yours to-go in handy mason jars that Maria provides free of charge and enjoy juice all weekend long!
Maria uses fresh, seasonal produce primarily sourced from farmers’ markets. Her best seller, the Green Refresher, is a thirst-quenching concoction of Cucumber, Kale, Apple, and Mint. Another popular hit, El Diablo, is a modern take on a traditional Mexican recipe with Orange, Carrot, Beet and Ginger. She loves working with various veggies for their for their medicinal abilities, especially Fennel which has anti-anxiety properties. She also provides free delivery to your front door, so you can get your juice fix anytime!
Many MCM patrons may not realize that this vendor reinvests the profits from her juice into programs for local youth. Maria established this non-profit organization and after-school program in an attempt to fill a hole within the public school system that she found while caring for her son Devan. Devan was born with a Sensory Processing Disorder, and as he grew Maria quickly learned the challenges of attaining the support he needed within state and public programs. Now she hosts workshops at the Joseph Lee Recreational Center and after-school classes which give kids the extra attention they need. Activities include hands-on exercises in outdoor gardens, such as planting seeds and transplanting starts, where children can get their hands dirty and connect with nature to increase their emotional intelligence and mind-body connection. They are also creating a skateboarding club and organizing field trips to local farms. Workshops have been on hiatus over the summer but they are starting up again on August 23rd with a juicing workshop. Maria fundraises for her after-school program primarily through selling raw juice.
To learn more about this commendable organization, check out her website at www.dirt-to-dish.org or stop by the Dirt to Dish stall at MCM every Thursday, 4 – 8 pm.
