Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: The Market Wednesday 2011 Vendor Directory

The Market Wednesday 2011 Vendor Directory is now online.

Here's the basic 411 for the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market 2011 Roster...

▪ Amherst Greenhouse Harrod, Ohio

Adin and Mary Horst will bring their beautiful potted mums to market starting late summer.

▪ Arjay Gourmet Foods Columbus, Ohio

Rohini Mulchandani will start her season on May 11th.  We look forward to another season flavored by Rohini's chutneys, delish baked goods, and garam masala.

▪ Batter & Bowl Worthington, Ohio

What cut-out cookie will kick-off the season?  We can't wait to see! Sara Yates brings her delicious baked goods including Mexican Brownies, Key Lime Bars, Macaroons, No Bakes and, the market favorite, Protein Bars!

▪ Bildsten Landscape Columbus, Ohio

Mark and Karen grow beautiful flowers and their hanging baskets are beyond compare.  Like the hanging baskets in Uptown Westerville in the summer?  They come from Bildsten Landscape. Bildstens will be at the market through late June. 

A hanging basket from Bildsten Landscape makes a great Mother's Day gift!

▪ Bird's Haven Farms Granville, Ohio

Beautiful produce from the Bird Family from beans to greens to tomatillos to potatoes. 

▪ Blue Jacket Dairy Bellefontaine, Ohio

Delicious farmstead cheeses, from Angel and Jim King, made from cow's milk from Blue Jacket Dairy and goat's milk from an Amish farm.  Stop by to visit Blue Jacket's own Julie George and sample the market favorite Gretna Grillin' cheese!

▪ Branstool Orchards Utica, Ohio

We're just going to say three things: 1. Sweet Cherries, 2. Peaches, and 3. Apples.

We should see cherries from the Branstool Family in mid to late June.

▪ Bridgman Farm Washington Court House, Ohio

Mary Bridgman is bringing fresh basil and a selection of veggies to market, including a selection of cherry tomatoes that are out of this world!

▪ Carousel Watergardens Farm & Cathy's Tasty Treats Marion, Ohio

All natural, hormone and antibiotic free chicken, turkey, and brown eggs along with a selection of produce (what a hot pepper selection in late summer) and pantry items that include rubs, dry herbs, mixes, and preserves.

Mark and Cathy Krist always start the season with a great selection of vegetable and bedding plants to help you get a head start on this year's garden.

▪ Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Columbus, Ohio

Author, enthusiast, and innovator Chuck Evans knows hot sauce! Chuck's salsas, sauces, and rubs are flavorful and perfect for summer eating.  Montezuma's tortilla chips are the perfect accompaniment for Chuck's salsa selection. Serve up Chuck's red, white, and blue chips on the 4th!

Chuck will be at the market starting late June through late August.

▪ Cowtown Candies Pataskala, Ohio

Turtles... fudge... buckeyes... barks.... caramel apples.....

We'll see Bee Katz after the summer heat in the fall. Can't wait!

▪ Dana Lee's Pataskala, Ohio

Dana Landrum makes amazing sweet and savory baked goods including breads, crackers, and scones.

▪ Doran's Family Farm New Albany, Ohio

Asparagus to sweet corn to tomatoes to pumpkins - Michelle and Jim Doran bring an amazing bounty of fresh-picked produce to market each week.

▪ Eyestone Flower Farm Bloomville, Ohio (of course!)

Chris and Andrea Schimpf supply beautiful organic sunflowers, lilies, glads, and zinnias.  So fresh and real, Chris' gets regular visits from butterflies and bees!

Look for Chris in mid-summer as blossoms begin to open.

▪ Flying J Farm Johnstown, Ohio

Dick Jensen features organic grass-fed beef, produce, and farm-milled flours.

▪ Honey Health Farms Marysville, Ohio

Dale Benedict is passionately a honey farmer.  Dale features raw honey, bee pollen, comb honey, and honey-based personal care products.

▪ Malabar Peach & Apple Orchard  Jeromesville, Ohio

Mike Dippold raises and sells chemical free and fresh-from-the-tree, full of flavor peaches and apples.  Buy just one peach or apple or in quantity.

Look for Mike in mid-July with the first of the season's peaches.

▪ Northridge Organic Farm Johnstown, Ohio

Mike and Laura Laughlin feature lamb and a selection of organic produce throughout the season from asparagus to sweet potatoes.

▪ Ohio Farm Direct Fredericktown, Ohio

A new limited engagement vendor. Doug Daniels' farm has been in his family since 1835.  Doug features cheeses and drinkable yogurt made with the organic milk from his grass-fed dairy cattle.  Doug also features nitrate-free trail bologna, beef sticks, and summer sausage.

Doug will be at the market May through the last week of June and then mid-August through the end of the season.

▪ Pleiades Maple Products Mt. Gilead, Ohio

Eddie Lou Meimer's farm was established by her grandfather in the 1800s.  He named his dairy farm Pleiades to honor his seven daughters. Now, Pleiades Farm features Ohio maple syrup and maple products.  Kids love to stop by Pleiades for maple sugar lollipops!

Eddie Lou tells us this has been an off-the-charts record year for maple syrup production.

▪ Sue's Kitchen Pataskala, Ohio

Always time for pie! Well, here's a market insider tip - if you want pie from Sue's kitchen, let Sue Renner know ahead of time or be at the market by 3 p.m. open!  Sue also features a selection of cookie stacks in favorite home-made varieties like peanut butter, chocolate chip, snickerdoodles, and oatmeal.  Sue also features a special coffee bread each week.

▪ Sugar B Bakery Galena, Ohio

Angela Bowman bakes delicious, beautiful loaf breads, scones, bagels, flat breads, and gluten free goods.  A great place to make daily bread a special occasion.

▪ Sugar Inc. Cupcake and Tea Salon Columbus, Ohio

A new limited engagement vendor.  Ava Misseldine bakes beautiful, delicious sweet and savory cupcakes.  Ava also creates blended teas with leaves from her family's tea plantation in Hawaii.

Ava will be at the market May through the last week of June and then mid-August through the end of the season.

▪ Sweet Thing Gourmet Bexley, Ohio

Mark and Kyla Touris feature some of the most uncommon and delicious jams you'll ever taste, with flavors like vanilla pear, cherry cognac, and hot pepper peach.  And, Kyla's fresh-baked biscottis add a great, indulgent kick to a coffee break.  Buy biscotti by the bag or just one.

▪ Two Caterers, Columbus, Ohio

Chef John Skaggs returns to the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market, creating delicious recipes made with ingredients straight out of the market.  This year, Tatjana Brown, owner of Uptown Westerville's Meza, will also suggest wine pairings for Chef John's market fare recipes.

"That looks great, but what do I do with it?" Chef John is there, also, to answer any questions you may have about market fare, cooking, serving suggestions, or recipes.

Tidbits and details:

The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market is a fluid community. Market vendor weekly appearances may vary. Produce and product availability may vary throughout the season. The market takes place rain or shine. In the event of severe weather, such as lightning, the market will suspend activity.

Most vendors offer samples - feel free to taste.  Kids, actually, are the bravest and most enthusiastic tasters!  If you have a question for a vendor, don't hesitate to ask - they are happy to speak with you!

All market meats are processed per State of Ohio standards and are frozen.  Cheese and eggs are refrigerated.  Something to keep in mind if you want to bring along a "stay cold bag" or cooler.

Market hours are from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. There is no customer service before 3 p.m.  The market closes at 6 p.m. and we understand some folks are still making their way home from work and activities. First, our produce vendors are all coming from active, working farms and some farmers are driving an hour to two hours to Westerville - these folks need to get back home to tend to their farms.  And, we've tested a 7 p.m. close twice and, frankly, there was very little customer activity and limited selection due to earlier market activity. The 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. market hours are the hours responsive to customer traffic and interest. If you are pressed for time, ask your favorite market vendor about calling ahead or ordering ahead.

We look forward to a bountiful 2011 market season.

Wednesdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., May 4th through October 26th.  North State and East Home Streets.

See you at the market!