Toyota Farm to Table Tour in Chattanooga August 8

Toyota Farm to Table Tour Announces 2010 Line-up

Tour Kicks Off at The City Market in Kansas City, Missouri on July 10

Seattle – July 6, 2010 – Today Toyota announced the 11 farmers markets selected to participate in the second annual nationwide Toyota Farm to Table Tour.

The Tour travels to farmers markets across the country to showcase the connection between farmers, chefs, farmers markets and the communities they serve, and to give market shoppers the opportunity to experience Toyota’s hybrid vehicles.

At each stop on the tour, up to 12 of the area’s top chefs and farmers will be paired together to highlight the best of each market’s fresh offerings.

The chefs will prepare bite-sized tastings for visitors to sample that highlight their partner farm’s ingredients while guests will have the opportunity to learn more about each market, the specialty farmers, the notable chefs, and ways to eat and shop more locally.

The 2010 Toyota Farm to Table Tour runs from July 10 to August 28:

The City Market – Kansas City, MO – Saturday, July 10

The Little Rock Farmers’ Market – Little Rock, AR – Saturday, July 17

The Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market – Raleigh, NC – Wednesday, July 21

The Pepper Place Saturday Market – Birmingham, AL– Saturday, July 24

FRESHFARM Market, by the White House – Washington D.C. – Thursday, July 29

Market Square Farmers Market – Pittsburgh, PA – Thursday, August 5

The Chattanooga Market – Chattanooga, TN – Sunday, August 8

Rochester Downtown Farmers Market – Rochester, MN – Saturday, August 14

The Farmers Market Annex – Minneapolis, MN – Sunday, August 15

The Salt Lake City Downtown Farmers Market – Salt Lake City, UT– Saturday, August 21

The Red Stick Farmers Market – Baton Rouge, LA – Saturday, August 28



“The Toyota Farm to Table Tour was created to celebrate farmers markets and the benefits they offer their communities while also showcasing Toyota’s extensive line of hybrid, fuel-efficient and low-emission vehicles that give consumers options to choose a vehicle that complements their lifestyles,” said Keith Dahl, Toyota National Manager of Engagement Marketing.

“Now in its second year, the tour provides Toyota the opportunity to connect with people who have made lifestyle choices such as driving hybrid vehicles, eating locally-grown food and shopping at farmers markets, while also providing the opportunity to directly give back to the communities where our customers live.”

In addition to complimentary tastings, visitors who participate in the day’s activities will have the opportunity to select complimentary potted culinary herbs from the Highlander Hybrid Mobile Garden as well as enter for a chance to win a culinary trip to Santa Barbara for a special cooking and farmers market tour.

At the Highlander Hybrid Mobile Garden, a Mobile Garden herb specialist will be on hand to pot the plants for visitors and answer general questions about gardening.

All herb plants are sourced from local vendors at each market.

Market visitors will also have the chance to take a ride in a 2010 Prius, Highlander Hybrid or Camry Hybrid and take home a John Boos cutting board as a memento of the experience.

In support of all the benefits the markets offer their communities, Toyota will also make financial donations to each participating market.

Throughout the tour Toyota has committed to using eco-friendly materials and will be purchasing carbon credits through TerraPass to offset the impact of the tour’s carbon footprint.

New to the tour this year, in a further effort to support famers markets across the entire country, Toyota is also providing financial support to the Farmers Market Coalition, a national non-profit dedicated to strengthening farmers markets that serve as community assets while providing real income opportunities for farmers.


“The growth of farmers markets nationwide has helped support farmers, provide consumers with fresh, local produce and foster a sense of community within a shared public space,” said Sharon Yeago, President of the Farmers Market Coalition.

“We are thrilled to partner with Toyota’s Farm to Table Tour this year to help bring awareness to the importance of farmers markets and the link between healthy eating and caring for the environment.”

Launching in Kansas City on July 10, 2010, this year’s kick-off event will be at The City Market in Kansas City, Missouri on July 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

“The City Market is proud to kick-off the 2010 Toyota Farm to Table Tour,” said Stephanie Spatz-Ornburn, City Market Representative. “The City Market, our farmers and our vendors embrace the philosophy of sustainable agriculture.

With over 140 vendor stalls, our farmers market products are grown and produced within a 500 mile radius, allowing us to bring our consumers an unsurpassed selection, featuring the freshest, most flavorful produce available at its peak of nutrition.

This tour underscores the connection between local farmers, consumers and chefs, which we hope will bring light to the many benefits the community can gain by supporting local famers.”

The kick-off event will feature 12 noted and award-winning Kansas City chefs, including:

Charles D’Ablaing of Webster House KC

Michael Foust of Farmhouse

Ted Habiger of Room 39

Cody Hogan of Lidia’s

Renée Kelly of Renée Kelly’s at Caenen Castle

Jennifer Maloney of Café Sebastienne

Richard Ng of Bo Lings Chinese Restaurant

Janet O’Toole of Bloom Baking Company

Robbie Padilla of Trezo Mare

Alex Pope of R Bar

Todd Schulte of Happy Gillis Cafe & Hangout

Michael Smith of Extra Virgin

“The Toyota Farm to Table event at The City Market is a great opportunity to meet farmers and chefs in Kansas City,” said Michael Smith, chef and owner of Extra Virgin.

“You can learn about and eat some unique dishes prepared right in the heart of the market. It’s great motivation to get cooking local and fresh!”

To learn more about the Tour, visit www.farmtotabletour.com.

About The City Market Kansas City

Open daily and featuring an eclectic mix of dining, shopping, entertainment and attractions in a unique open-air setting, The City Market offers visitors a variety of fresh produce, meat, specialty groceries, flowers and gift items from nearby farms and around the world.

With more 150 years of tradition, The City Market offers shoppers the opportunity to purchase the best of the heartland direct from producers. For more information visit: www.thecitymarket.org

About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., INC.

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of nearly 1,500 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers which sold more than 1.77 million vehicles in 2009.

Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 people in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion

For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com, www.lexus.com, www.scion.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.

Media Contacts:

Michael Graubard, 206 Inc., michael@206inc.com, 206.388.1459 (o) 206.898.0706 (c), or

Kirsten Graham, KGPR, kirsten@kirstengrahampr.com, 206.890.3435