28 June 2011 - Santa Monica, CA.  The Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF) will no longer be conducting monthly outreach at the Brentwood Farmer's Market. Instead, OURF will be participating in occasional outreach event opportunities, such as Go Green Expo, and other appropriate venues to meet and educate the general public. OURF President Gary Shapiro said, "while the Farmer's Market has been a wonderful way to get outdoors to meet the local people, the level of interest shown at the market in recent months hasn't been enough to justify continuing the effort."  

 

OURF began weekly outreach activities at the downtown Santa Monica Farmer's Market during its early years (as OUREI). Because the "for profit" Orang Utan Republik had a store on Main Street, it was able to participate on "Little Main Street" section of the Sunday Farmer's Market with other Main Street vendors. This allowed the nonprofit side of the Orang Utan Republik (OUREI) to share space and conduct outreach. During that period (2004-2009), numerous volunteers met with Orang Utan Republik founders Gary and Inggriani Shapiro to provide assistance in the setup and operations of the portable booth which included sales of t-shirts and hats as well as OUR's collection of Indonesian handicrafts. Once the store on Main Street was closed down due to lack of sales, OUR and OUREI could no longer participate in the Santa Monica Farmer's Market. City policy prohibited participation of non-city organizations without a storefront. 

For a period of time in 2009, OUR shifted locations and conducted monthly operations in the West Los Angeles Whole Foods parking lot along with other vendors. Meeting shoppers leaving Whole Foods proved to be a challenging way to articulate OUR's conservation message. That continued until OURF was able to qualify and participate in the West Los Angeles (Brentwood) Farmer's Market. In 2009 and 2010, OURF conducted monthly outreach at the Market alongside other vendors who sold a variety of food and non-food items. The downturn in the economy as well as the difficulty in negotiating with the market operators led to the decision to end the outreach program. 

OURF thanks the many volunteers who have helped over the years including, Dan Benveniste, Flo Ginsberg, Doug Fretty, John Page, Wendy Hoole-Cundiff, and Ania Krawiec. OUR founders Inggriani and Gary Shapiro appreciate their contributions to the OUR cause, a mission that continues with OURF's occasional participation at seasonal events and exhibitions. Check the Calendar of Events on OURF's website for future opportunities to meet OURF, its founders and volunteers.