Saturdays bring many “regulars” to the Fayette County Farmers’ Market (municipal parking lot on the corner of South Main and East East streets in Washington C.H.); these are people who clearly support the vision of eating locally-grown produce, as well as those who bake and make crafts for the market.
These individuals may participate in the local CSA, picking up their weekly box of vegetables and herbs at the market. Others make a beeline for a vendor’s fudge, or fruit bread, or jam, or pies or cinnamon rolls, or a mountain of colorful produce, artfully arranged. The “regulars” are recognized and appreciated by every vendor; we are also pleased to see new faces and hope to see these faces many times on future market days, be it Saturday or Wednesday.
The Wednesday market (TSC) is still in its ‘infancy’ – this is just the third year. Travelers on US Route 62 might stop just to see “what’s going on” in the TSC parking lot. And of course, there are customers who come both Saturday and Wednesday because they want fresh food, are interested in seeing what might be new, and enjoy chatting with the vendors about plants, gardening, or local happenings.
The Fayette County Farmers’ Market is interested in learning how the community might be engaged both “more” and “differently.” We definitely want to elicit ideas from “seasoned” market customers as well as from those new to the market experience and from young people with new, and yes, even “radical” ideas for how the FCFM might improve and evolve. Future articles will explore some ideas such as volunteering or marketing, but in the meantime, we hope to see ideas submitted to the market manager: 740-948-2231 or 740-606-3467, or by email ([email protected]) or via Facebook.
The market runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the TSC parking lot (1650 Columbus Ave.). This location provides easy access to vendors and parking. Credit/debit cards are accepted, as are SNAP EBT cards and Senior Farmer’s Market coupons—stop by the Jones Farm Fresh Produce for assistance. Those using the SNAP EPT card for produce receive matching dollar tokens (one for one) for additional fruits and vegetables! So,”buy one, get one” for fruit and vegetables, up to $10 EVERY market day!
The following vendors have indicated that they plan on selling this Wednesday, and other vendors may participate as well:
Windflower Farm (Elaine Anschutz): Various baked goods and treats, culinary mixes, catnip, lavender, crafts, dog treats, info on FCDS.
Bobs Foods- Lehnert Meats LLC (Bob Lehnert): Variety of flavored pork sausages.
B.Y.E Gardens (Brian and Elaine Yoder): Seasonal vegetables and baked goods.
Chilcote Farms (Bruce and Marlene Chilcote): Honey, lemon loafs, brownies, sheet cakes and cookies.
D.J.’s Farm (Dennis Anschutz): Baked goods and seasonal produce.
Jones Farm Fresh Produce (Jon and Taylor Jones): Sweet corn, green beans, red potatoes, candy onions, tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, cucumbers, cabbage, green onions, sweet Italian sausage links, sausage patties, ground pork, chicken breast, wings and eggs.
King Farms (Jeff and Sandi King): Green beans, cabbage, red and Yukon potatoes and a few dozen of sweet corn. Homemade fruit pies.
The Peach Man (George Hermes): Local peaches, nectarines and honey.
This and That (Mary Ford): Garden and home crafts (coasters, mug rugs, aprons, OSU items, jewelry, and NEW summer goose dresses), baked goods (pineapple upside down cake, apple butter bread, peanut butter fudge).
Katrina Bush is a vendor with the Fayette County Farmers’ Market.
