MONTICELLO, IOWA-Fresh pineapples will be in Iowa for the 36th Annual Pineapple Sale for Camp Courageous the week of August 7th-11th.  The pineapples will be on sale at nearly 30 Hy-Vee Stores in Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Clinton, Coralville, Davenport, Dubuque, Iowa City, Marion, and Waterloo.  Most locations will have the ability to core and place the pineapple in a container for the customer.  A dollar from the sale of each pineapple will go to benefit Camp Courageous, a year-round respite and recreational facility, serving over 6,000 individuals with special needs annually.  Customers not interested in pineapple, are encouraged to buy a gift card for food and send it to camp.  

The 35th Annual Pineapple Gala, will be Friday, August 16th at the Cedar Rapids Marriott beginning at 5:30 p.m. This is one of Iowa's largest charity silent and live auction with nearly 400 items ranging from $5 to condos. An exceptional Hawaiian dinner, entertainment, and door prizes, including a trip for two to Hawaii, are planned for this year's Gala.  Volunteer Emcees for the evening will be Ralph Palmer and Coach Lisa Bluder and the volunteer auctioneer will be Neal Bousselot.  Tickets are $60/each or a table of 10 for $600. Auction items can be donated, or tickets can be obtained through the camp by calling Charlie Becker at 319/465-5916, ext. 2100 or e-mailing at cbecker@campcourageous.org. Many auction items can be viewed at: www.campcourageous.org. Special Camp Courageous overnight rates are available by calling the Marriott.

This year Camp Courageous will be honoring the Dave Schmitt for his years of support of Camp Courageous.

Quad Cities has first seven-game winning streak in the regular season since May 30-June 5, 2007

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AUG. 3, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits second baseman Austin "Catfish" Elkins came within a double of the cycle, shortstop Carlos Correa had four hits and left-hander Joe Bircher went seven strong innings for a second straight start to lead the River Bandits' to a 5-2 win over the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium Saturday night.

 

Quad Cities (25-15 second half, 63-46 overall) won its seventh straight game for the Midwest League club's longest regular season winning streak since May 30-June 5, 2007. The River Bandits had 11 hits combined with four Cedar Rapids errors to pull within one-half game of the Kernels (26-15, 66-43) in the second-half Western Division standings.

 

In the first inning, Kernels left-hander Mason Melotakis (9-4) allowed consecutive two-out singles by Correa and right fielder Dan Gulbransen - who extended his hitting streak to 11 games - before escaping without a River Bandits run. In the second inning, however, first baseman Terrell Joyce singled to right field with one out and went to second base on a groundout. Elkins then grounded to shortstop Niko Goodrum, who allowed the ball to get through him, and Joyce came around to score.

 

Melotakis allowed at least two baserunners in each of the first four innings, but Quad Cities didn't extend the lead until the fourth inning. Joyce reached on an error by third baseman Travis Harrison, and Blasik and Elkins each placed bunt singles to the third-base side. With the bases loaded, Melotakis fanned center fielder Teoscar Hernandez, but left fielder Danry Vasquez singled to left field for a 2-0 lead. Correa then grounded a single up the middle to plate two runs, and went to second when Vasquez was caught in a rundown.

Meanwhile Bircher (3-1) retired the first seven Kernels of the game before a third-inning, one-out single by catcher Michael Quesada. Goodrum doubled leading off the fourth inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Adam Brett Walker. Following Goodrum's hit, Bircher retired 12 of the final 13 batters he faced, with the only batter reaching on a sixth-inning error by Correa.

Elkins homered with one out in the sixth inning off right-hander Dallas Gallant, who worked one inning before right-hander Tim Shibuya held Quad Cities scoreless for the final three innings.

Trailing 5-1, the Kernels made noise in the eighth inning against right-hander Jamaine Cotton, who walked two batters and allowed two this to load the bases and bring in a run. Right-hander Gera Sanchez came in with a three-run lead and two outs to fan Walker and end the Kernels best threat. In the ninth inning, River Bandits right-hander Jordan Jankowski gave up consecutive singles before getting the final three outs - including the last two on strikeouts - for his fifth save.

 

Saturday's victory also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Sunday, Aug. 4. Anyone who mentions the River Bandits victory can receive a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two lunches or dinners with beverages on Sunday, Aug. 4. The River Bandits continue a four-game series in Cedar Rapids at 2:05 p.m. Sunday.

 

UP NEXT: Modern Woodmen Park is a nominee for the "Best Minor League Ballpark" in the 2013 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, and fans can vote once per day at 10Best.com until the winner is announced Aug. 14. The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park Wednesday, Aug. 7. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at  563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

Confirms Growth and Sustainability in Farmers Markets

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2013 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Saturday celebrated National Farmers Market Week with a kick-off event at the Columbia Heights Farmers Market in Washington, D.C. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that 8,144 farmers markets are now listed in USDA's National Farmers Market Directory, up from about 5,000 in 2008. The Directory, voluntarily updated by farmers market managers, state departments of agriculture, marketing associations, and others, is published online at farmersmarkets.usda.gov. This year, the Directory has been upgraded to include a new Application Programming Interface (API) that improves customer access to farmers market data. "Farmers markets are an important public face for agriculture and a critical part of our nation's food system," said Secretary Tom Vilsack. "They provide benefits not only to the farmers looking for important income opportunities, but also help fill a growing consumer demand for fresh, healthy foods. In recent years, USDA has stepped up efforts to support local and regional marketing opportunities for producers, including a modernized Farmer's Market Directory to help connect farmers, consumers, communities, and businesses around the country." USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Administrator Anne Alonzo spoke at Saturday's farmers market celebration at Washington, D.C.'s Columbia Heights Marketplace announcing the newly updated National Farmers Market Directory information. "Due to consumer demand for local food we are seeing an increase in the diversity of market offerings, and more participation from small businesses and farms," Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator Anne Alonzo said. "This year we are focusing on the sustainability and maturity of farmers markets- keeping new and old markets thriving and improving. Farmers markets around the country continue to be popular social events for families and communities." Local food and direct marketing opportunities, including farmers markets, are one of the fastest growing segments of agriculture. According to the latest Census of Agriculture, direct sales of food products from farmers to individual consumers rose by nearly 50 percent between 2002 and 2007. Worth an estimated $1 billion in 2005, local food sales grew to $4.8 billion in 2007 and nearly $7 billion last year, according to industry estimates. For nearby businesses in major cities across the U.S., having a farmers market nearby means an average increase in sales of anywhere from $19,000 to $15 million (according to a Marketumbrella research paper published in 2012). The 10 top states account for over half (51.3 percent) of all markets listed in the Directory database: 1. California (759) 2. New York (637) 3. Illinois (336) 4. Michigan (331) 5. Ohio (300) 6. Pennsylvania (290) 7. Massachusetts (289) 8. Wisconsin 286) 9. Missouri (New to list in 2013 - in 2012 was ranked 19th) (246) 9. Virginia (tie) (246) 10. Iowa (229) 10. North Carolina (tie) (229) Geographic regions like the mid-Atlantic (Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia) increased to a 11.98 percent market share in 2013, from a 11.65 percent in 2012, the Northeast (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont) increased to a 29.11 percent market share in 2013, from a 27.48 percent share in 2012, and the Southeast region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee) increased to a 5.03 percent market share in 2013, from a 4.79 percent share in 2012. USDA has taken several steps to support direct marketing farmers as part of the Department's commitment to support local and regional food systems, and increase consumer access to fresh, healthy food in communities across the country. For example: The USDA launched a new API for the National Farmers Market Directory in May which helps consumers locate farmers markets nearby. APIs enable programmers to interact directly with an open data source to work with real-time data?rather than a static data export that can become immediately out of date. The development is part of USDA's commitment to expanding opportunities for our local farmers markets and small businesses. USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), has outfitted more farmers markets with the ability to accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), to improve access to fresh produce and healthy foods by SNAP recipients. USDA recently announced $4 million dollars in available funding to help farmers markets and direct marketing farmers purchase and operate wireless point-of-sale equipment. Currently, over 3,800 farmers markets are authorized to accept SNAP in FY 2012, and farmers markets generate over $16 million in SNAP sales. USDA's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative serves the growing local and regional market segment. This Initiative coordinates and strengthens USDA's work on local and regional food systems. Many markets will host fun activities to celebrate National Farmers Market Week, including pie contests, festivals, cooking demonstrations, events for kids, raffle drawings and giveaways. USDA officials will visit markets around the country between Aug. 4 and Aug. 10, to honor growers and commemorate National Farmers Market Week. The USDA National Farmers Market Directory is available at farmersmarkets.usda.gov. Users can search this year's enhanced directory for farmers markets based on location, available products, and types of payment accepted, including participation in federal nutrition programs such as SNAP and WIC. Farmers markets that participate in federal nutrition program improve access to healthy food in underserved communities across the country. #

Quad Cities matches season high with sixth straight win and splits 18-game season series with Peoria

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AUG. 2, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits center fielder Teoscar Hernandez hit a game-tying home run and an RBI triple, while designated hitter Dan Gulbransen had the go-ahead hit for a third straight game to help right-hander Chris Devenski earn his first Midwest League victory in a 5-2 win that completed a sweep of the Peoria Chiefs at Modern Woodmen Park Friday night.

Devenski (1-2) threw the game's first pitch in the rain, and Chiefs left fielder C.J. McElroy hit it through the left side of the infield for the first of Peoria's 12 hits. A sacrifice moved McElroy to second base, and second baseman Bruce Caldwell singled to put runners at first and third bases. Chiefs first baseman and former River Bandit Jordan Walton hit a sacrifice fly to center field, and third baseman Breyvic Valera followed with an RBI single to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Devenski allowed a baserunner in each of the next four innings but kept the Chiefs from adding to the lead. He allowed seven hits and one walk with one strikeout.

Quad Cities (24-15 second half, 62-46 overall) remained scoreless through the first three innings against Chiefs right-hander Silfredo Garcia (3-4), who escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third inning. In the fourth, right-fielder Jordan Scott hit an infield single and scored when catcher Jobduan Morales grounded a double down the first-base line - his first hit since July 21.

In the fifth inning, Hernandez led off with a blast to left-center field for his team-high 10^th home run - and fourth in as many series - to extend his eight-game hitting streak and tie the game, 2-2. Shortstop Carlos Correa hit a one-out double down the third-base line and went to third base on a passed ball. Gulbransen then slapped a single through the left side of a drawn-in infield that scored Correa for a 3-2 score. Each of Correa's three runs in the series gave Quad Cities the lead, and Gulbransen's hit extended a 10-game hitting streak. Morales later added an RBI single to drive in Gulbransen, and the former had his first multi-RBI game in four weeks. All of it came against Garcia, who allowed seven hits and four earned runs with two walks and three strikeouts in five innings.

In the sixth against Chiefs right-hander Joe Scanio, second baseman Austin Elkins singled to center field and scored on Hernandez's team-high eighth triple to right field. Hernandez has 14 hits, including seven for extra bases, in his last 31 at-bats (.452 average).

From the River Bandits bullpen, right-hander Juri Perez worked around a single and hit batter in the sixth. Left-hander Mitchell Lambson allowed three this in the seventh but no runs in two innings of work. Right-hander Juan Minaya allowed a single and another baserunner on an error but finished the ninth inning for his seventh save. The Chiefs left 12 runners on base.

Friday's victory was Quad Cities' 29^th comeback win and also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Saturday, Aug. 3. Anyone who mentions the River Bandits victory can receive a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two lunches or dinners with beverages on Saturday, Aug. 3. The River Bandits start a four-game series in Cedar Rapids at 5:05 p.m. Saturday. Left-hander Joe Bircher (2-1) will face Kernels left-hander Mason Melotakis (9-3) in the opener.

UP NEXT: Modern Woodmen Park is a nominee for the "Best Minor League Ballpark" in the 2013 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, and fans can vote once per day at 10Best.com until the winner is announced Aug. 14. The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park Wednesday, Aug. 7. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at  563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 112 feet over the playing field, is planned for next spring, along with a carousel and other new games and attractions. This season, the team just unveiled a new 300-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, a Mediacom Frog Hopper, and a number of new bounce houses . The team also boasts a new major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, and fans can see the first team in Minor League Baseball history with back-to-back No. 1 overall draft picks - 2012 top pick Carlos Correa and 2013 top pick Mark Appel, as well as 2012 first-round draft choice Lance McCullers. With new rides, new attractions, new improvements, a new affiliate and future major league stars, the second half of this season is one every fan will not want to miss!

 

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