2015 New England Frag Farmer's Market - March 7th 2015 Storrs, CT

[fitch4]

​

Here we go again, the biggest coral show in the Northeast. I used to jokingly include this but it has become true over the last few years. I have quite a list of sellers already signed up and some room for new people as well. Pretty much all the major players will be there again this year, and a few pretty exciting new ones! As usual, I would love to add more hobbyists to the list, but let me know soon so I can save a space for you to sell.

I also wanted to mention the admission fee. Based on the # of people who came out last year (800+), I was asked to pay to use the school's space for this year's FFM. I very reluctantly decided that I had to raise the admission fee. I chose $5, and am planning to increase the number of FFM gift certificates that I give away as door prizes and in the raffle. I am also going to use some of the $ collected at the door to start a scholarship for college bound seniors planning to study biology. I am not sure what the scholarship looks like yet, but I promise that the $ will go to a good cause!

As in previous years, please let me know if you have questions or need any information on this year's FFM. It looks to be bigger and better than last year!

Thanks-
Jon

 

[Ron1966]

Hope to make this event.

 

[booie]

I will be headed to this event also, with the family.

 

[fitch4]

Still a few spots left- I'd love to include a few more hobbyists this year!

 

[fitch4]

Here is a link to the shops and stores that will be participating in the FFM this year:
http://www.eosmithcoralproject.org/FFM2015.html
The list there does not include the 20+ hobbyists who are going to be there selling as well. The shops are great (Dr. Mac, Jason Fox, etc...) but the hobbyists can really be the diamonds in the rough at the FFM.

 

[fitch4]

Just topped 50 coral vendors for the FFM this morning.

 

[Allmine1958]

Will there also be a way to donate directly to the scholarship fund?

 

[fitch4]

I was going to set something up at the door for people to donate directly to the scholarship. I have gotten a ton of messages and interest in the scholarship idea. I have a bunch of kids who work with me and go on to do marine biology, biology, conservation, etc... With the Frag Farmer's Market growing bigger each year, I wanted to be able to kick some $ back into the kids who help out to help them get a jump on their education. I am also thinking about setting up something bigger, beyond the walls of my school, but have to work out the details on that still. Thanks for the interest!

 

[fitch4]

I just wanted to give Caribsea a huge thank you for again offering to provide the water for the FFM again. They have been a huge supporter of both the FFM and the school project.
Thanks!

 

[fitch4]

People have been harassing me mercilessly to release the seller list for this year, so here is the preliminary list. I apologize ahead of time for the people that I did not get the location correct (in parenthesis next to the name). This is only the coral sellers. I have quite a few more dry goods vendors coming out this year for people to shop/chat with as well. I will put that list out in a bit. Also keep in mind that this is only the list SO FAR. I have a bunch of people who have contacted me and said that they are coming out but have not confirmed and/chosen their spot. That said, I still have a few open spots till those people confirm, so if you would like in, let me know. Enjoy!

AC Corals (CT)
Alex's Advanced Aquatics (CT)
Aquadreams (MA)
Aquatic X-celelnce (NY)
AZNnutty's Saltwater Connections (OH)
BareBottom Corals (
Blastomaster/Dennis3366 (CT)
Coralcruze (NY)
Coralium (CT)
CDMAS (CT)
CTARS (CT)
dizzzy1209 (NJ)
Elmafioso52988 (MA)
E.O. Smith Coral Project (CT)
Exotic Fish and Corals (CT)
Exotic Reef Creations (NY)
Fish Frenzy (MA)
Frag Freaks (MA)
Frank180Reef (MA)
Gotham Aquatics (NY)
Greg Hiller (MA)
Hammer (NH)
Ijamcorals (MD)
Jason Foxx (MD)
Kwong1998 (NY)
Marine Reef Care (MA)
Mass Reef Care (MA)
Matt Spaulding (VT)
MetroKat's Sassy Frags (NY)
Micheal Reeve (CT)
MO~Idol (NY)
Neublian (CT)
Orange Country Corals (NY)
Pablo (NY)
Pacific East Aquaculture (MD)
Polywise (NY)
Popcorals (NJ)
R+R Aquatics (NJ)
Reef Creations (NY)
Sassawrasse (CT)
Shayna 123 (CT)
Shector (CT)
SteelerMike (CT)
sydaze4 (CT)
Suicideissleep (CT)
The Coral Reef (CT)
Tinygiant (Chris) (VT)
Ultimate Corals (NJ)
Upstate Corals (NY)
Wet Pets (CT)
xclusive corals (NY)
Zybergoby (NY)

 

[fitch4]

My apologies to two people who I left off the list:
Pieces of the Ocean (NY)
Suicideissleep (CT)

 

[fitch4]

Just added/confirmed:
Fins Aquarium (NY)
Fraggin Waggon (SC)
New York Coral Farmer (NY)
Pimentinha (NY)

 

[fitch4]

Raffle "leak"...
Logan at ReefBreeders is putting a 4 channel dosing pump into the raffle at the FFM this year. I also want to extend a special thanks to him for offering to light tanks at the FFM for people who need (including the school's tank!) He will also be at the FFM this year showing off his LED fixtures, pumps, etc... A great guy and a great company- thanks Logan!

 

[rigleautomotive]

Jon, I sent you a email

 

[fitch4]

I got you Dan. Glad to have you on board!

 

[erm213]

With the Frag Swap only a few weeks away, wouldn't it be nice if you could easily list frags that you wanted to sell and trade with other attendees? Wouldn't it also be nice to be able to see what others are bringing and have available?
The New England Frag Farmers Marker has been listed on ReefTrader and you can add or view existing listings! ReefTrader is and always will be free to use so check it out: http://www.reeftrader.com/swaps/8
Other clubs use sites like ReefTrader for their swaps, check out all of the listings for one of the swaps in Ohio: http://www.reeftrader.com/swaps/2/listings

 

[fitch4]

More raffle leaks...

I just got two pallets of water from Caribsea and all of this was on top for the raffle- over 250lbs of rock and sand to start your next reef!

 

[fitch4]

New vendors added:
Dan Rigle
Long Island Sound School

 

[fitch4]

I have gotten a TON of emails asking for clarification on how the FFM works so I thought it might be easier to just post the general info for people who have not been in the past.
The FFM is on March 7th and the doors open to the public at 11am (there is usually quite a line by then!). There are no advance tickets, you just need to pay at the door that day. Admission is $5 per person. Spouses, and kids under 15 are free.
It is a GIANT coral market, with a TON of corals for sale. Some swapping does go on but it is really just a way to bring together as many hobbyists and local shops as I can to sell off their "homegrown" stuff. The focus is really on the "homegrown" corals and promoting aquaculture, so you can figure on seeing lots of frags of all different types.
My seller list is pretty much full and I already have a small waiting list to get a space if people cancel but people are welcome to shoot me a PM and get on it. I have already had some spots open, so you never know!
Do me a favor in the last few weeks- spread the word!

 

[fitch4]

Sorry forgot that I added another vendor as well...

Shawn B (CT)