Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Chef John Update

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Chef John Update

A Chef John schedule change.

Business is good at the Heirloom Cafe on the first day of school at The Ohio State University. So, we'll see Chef John Skaggs or Chef Colin Sweet at the September 28th Market Wednesday.

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Check It When You Arrive

The market is a safe place. There are times and places for everything and the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market is not a place for commercial outreach, causes, campaigns, or candidates. No unapproved solicitation of market patrons or vendors permitted. Please note that the market takes place on private property.

We want our market patrons to feel they can enter and leave the market unencumbered, be undistracted from their children, and just completely enjoy their trip to the market.

Discretion is the better part of valor and in the end will win you more friends. Thank you for being so understanding.

About Our Logo

We chose a ginkgo leaf to represent the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market. The City of Westerville planted ginkgo trees along State Street in Uptown Westerville and as they grow and mature they will become a distinctive presence along State St. Ginkgo trees are among the oldest trees on the planet (millions of years) and have survived untold earthly disasters. The ginkgo represents simplicity, endurance, prosperity, hope, resilience, peace, and longevity, and not only does it represent Uptown Westerville, it represents the farmers' market. The ginkgo leaf color reflects the color of the ginkgo leaf in our 3 market seasons: spring (pale green), summer (rich green), and fall (golden yellow).

Market Wednesday FAQ's

So, I can't make it to the market between 3 and 6 - anyway you can stay open until 7?

First, our farm-based vendors drive as long as 2 hours to arrive in Westerville on Wednesday afternoons (and have sometimes been in the fields since as early as 2 a.m.), that also means up to 2 hours to head home. And, they all have working farms and must return to their farms and complete the work they have to do to end the day as they prepare for the next. It really is fresh-baked, and often, food artisans need to go home to prepare their foods for the next market on the next day.

We have tried extended hours - market management has twice (2006 and 2009) publicized and tested longer hours and market hours correspond to actual market activity and interest - 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Can't get to the market until 5:30 or 6? Talk to your favorite vendor - most vendors are happy to save back fresh produce and artisan goods for 'on your way home from work' pick up.

Thank you for your interest in buying fresh and buying local. Central Ohio has the good fortune of an abundance of farmers' markets almost every day of the week, including weekends.

So, check out Ohio Proud's Farmers' Market Directory.

It's 2:54 p.m. and I want my sweet corn now? What's up with the no sales before 3 p.m???

The market opens at 3 p.m.

Our vendors know that market set up is from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Vendors arrive at the market and need to set up shop - putting up their tents, setting up tables, and preparing their merchandise for sale. (Were that we were all Samantha Stevens of Bewitched and we could wiggle our noses and voila! a vendor space is ready for business.)

Opening sales are not up to the vendor. As a policy, the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market management wants each vendor to start on a level playing field. Which means we don't open until each vendor is set up and ready to go. And, that's at 3 p.m. Not 2:59, 3 p.m.

Even though you may arrive before 3 p.m., feel free to walk about, talk with friends, or just sit and take a moment, but let the vendors continue their set up and prep - there really are no sales until 3 p.m.

In our world of 24/7 shopping, farmers' markets operate at a different pace - a slower one! So, manage your expectations - arrive after 3 p.m., or if you arrive ahead of time, take a moment for yourself - take a deep breath and enjoy the day.

When can I buy sweet corn?

Availability of market produce moves with the seasons in Central Ohio.

Roughly, May into June we see asparagus, rhubarb, leaf lettuces, greens, chards, green onions, herbs, broccoli, garlic scapes, and garden plants.

In June, strawberries and snap peas, but just for a few weeks.

Then, in mid-July we see peaches, sweet corn, and in late July and early August, we start seeing the rich colors of summer crops like beets, tomatoes, summer squashes, tomatillos, eggplant, peas, garlic, beans, melons, cabbage, radishes, cucumbers, and peppers, moving onto September and October with root vegetables like potatoes and sweet potatoes, along with apples, squashes, and pumpkins.

Eating locally-grown vegetables and fruits that are planted in Central Ohio soil to thrive and ripen in the warm, bright Ohio sun is a flavor-rich experience!

For an Ohio produce availability chart - click here. (PDF)

About the UWFM

Located in Central Ohio, just minutes from Columbus, the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market is located in historic Uptown Westerville. The Uptown Westerville neighborhood is the home of city government, commerce, and community. Uptown Westerville features an eclectic mix of residences and buildings dating back to the 1800s, tree-lined brick streets, parks, Otterbein University, activities, traditions, and culture. A marketplace destination, Uptown Westerville is a great place for people to live, work, shop, meet, eat, and play. Home-grown. Home-made. All Ohio. The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market has been open for business at N. State and E. Home since 2006. The 2006 market season opened with 5 market vendors and the 2012 market roster will feature over 20 market vendors! The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market management team is entirely volunteer and market vendor fees are all invested back into the market for the purposes of community outreach and market promotion. Now in its fifth year, the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market and the Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM) have teamed up to create the WARM Fresh Green Program. Through WARM, Fresh Green provides vouchers to purchase fresh, healthy produce and vegetable or fruit bearing plants, so no matter their income, everyone in the greater Westerville area has the opportunity to take advantage of the farmers' market. In 2011, market vendors honored $3,310 in Fresh Green vouchers. The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market (Market Wednesday) is not affiliated with any other markets. Images used with permission. © 2008 - 2012 Brickstreet Communications. All rights reserved.

Donate to WARM Fresh Green

The Uptown Westerville Farmers’ Market supports W.A.R.M. -- the Westerville Area Resource Ministry. W.A.R.M. and the Farmers’ Market have teamed up so farm fresh, healthy foods can be available to everyone in the Westerville area: The W.A.R.M. Fresh Green Program. In 2010, $2,975 in Fresh Green Vouchers were redeemed at the market and every market food vendor participated! The UWFM and WARM's Fresh Green Program is funded entirely by donations. Anyone can contribute to WARM Fresh Green.Click on the Fresh Green logo to find out how to contact WARM or donate to WARM online.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Chef John Update

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