Monday, April 30, 2012

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Thanks to Columbus Underground

Central Ohio has a tremendous bounty of farmers' markets. 

Big thanks to Anne at Columbus Underground for presenting her excellent roster of Central Ohio's farmers' markets (including Market Wednesday, of course!)

Columbus Underground keeps a great scorecard of all the activity in Greater Columbus and is an excellent resource - check out Columbus Underground at their website, follow CU on twitter, and like them on facebook.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Farm Fresh! 2012 Market Season Press Release


April 25, 2012

For Immediate Release

The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market 2012 Season Begins May 2nd

Food is our common ground, our universal experience. James Beard

It's the opportunity to slow the pace, meet friends, create traditions, enjoy a family outing, support local businesses, and to connect directly with the people who grow or make our favorite foods. Spring, summer, fall, home-grown, home-made, and all Ohio, the 2012 Uptown Westerville Farmers’ Market is open for business each Wednesday, May 2nd through October 31st, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the corner of N. State and E. Home Streets in the Church of the Messiah parking lot.

Reverend Ryan Grace of Church of the Messiah, United Methodist will offer a special blessing for the 2012 market season at 2:45 p.m. on May 2nd.

The market provides an ever-changing seasonal fare including farm-fresh certified organic, chemical-free, and conventional fruits and vegetables, an assortment of baked goods, breads, cheeses, jams, salsas, sauces and rubs, pantry goods, raw honey and bee pollen, maple syrup, meats, poultry, and fresh eggs.

Market fare also includes a seasonal selection of flowering, herb, and vegetable plants, hanging baskets, potted flowers, and colorful fresh-cut flowers.

Early market fresh produce selections include asparagus, rhubarb, lettuces, radishes, and swiss chard.

The 2012 Uptown Westerville Farmers’ Market will feature returning favorites throughout the season:

Amherst Greenhouse, Bildsten Landscape, Bird’s Haven Farms, Blue Jacket Dairy, Branstool Orchards, Bridgman Farm, Carousel Watergardens Farm and Cathy’s Tasty Treats, Chuck Evans’ Montezuma Brands, Dana Lee’s, Doran’s Family Farm, Eyestone Flower Farm, Flying J Farm, Honey Health Farms, Malabar Peach and Apple Orchard, Northridge Organic Farm, Pleiades Maple Products, Sue’s Kitchen, Sugar B Bakery, and Sweet Thing Gourmet.

Market Wednesday welcomes new vendor Fox Hollow Farm of Fredericktown, featuring grass-fed, naturally raised beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and fresh eggs. This season also marks the return of market alumnus, Mockingbird Meadows, featuring raw, infused honey products, herbal teas, medicinal and culinary herbs, and edible ingredient personal care products.

Throughout the season, Market Wednesday will feature our new resident cooking instructor, Cindy Ramsey (appearing July through September) and community partners including Westerville Public Library, Westerville Electric Division, and Westerville Police Division.

A trip to the market is a great way to enjoy a Wednesday afternoon in Uptown Westerville - market patrons can dine Uptown Westerville for lunch, browse, visit, and shop Uptown Westerville throughout the afternoon, and then stop by the market to pick up farm-fresh ingredients to take home for dinner.

The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market and Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM) are teaming up, for the fifth year, for the WARM Fresh Green Program so farm fresh, healthy foods can be available to everyone in the Westerville City school district, no matter the need. Fresh Green participants receive vouchers from WARM to purchase farm fresh produce, artisan foods, and fruit-bearing plants. In 2011, market vendors honored $3,310 in Fresh Green vouchers.

The 2012 Uptown Westerville Farmers’ Market Vendors:

Amherst Greenhouse, Harrod, Ohio: Adin and Mary Horst will be at the market starting late summer with their beautiful potted chrysanthemums.

Bildsten Landscape, Columbus, Ohio: Like the hanging baskets you see in Uptown Westerville throughout the summer months? They come from Bildsten Landscape. Mark and Karen will be at the market during May and June with hanging flower baskets, annuals, and potted herbs and lettuces.

Bird’s Haven Farms, Granville, Ohio: The Bird Family will be bringing their seasonal market produce that includes everything from lettuce to garlic to sweet corn along with flowers and fall favorites like pumpkins and Indian corn.

Blue Jacket Dairy, Bellefontaine, Ohio: Jim and Angel King’s hand-made, farmstead cheeses include fresh mozzarella, cheddar curds, quark, chevre, and market favorite, Gretna Grillin’ cheese.

Branstool Orchards, Utica, Ohio: Marshall Branstool will be bringing orchard-fresh sweet cherries, peaches, and apples beginning late June.

Bridgman Farm, Washington Court House, Ohio: Mary Bridgman brings her produce to market that includes a beautiful assortment of cherry and heirloom tomatoes.

Carousel Watergardens Farm and Cathy’s Tasty Treats, Marion, Ohio: Mark and Cathy Krist will bring a selection of fresh produce, pantry fare, fresh hot peppers, vegetable plants, and fresh eggs and poultry to the market.

Dana Lee’s, Pataskala, Ohio: Dana Landrum features a selection of fresh-baked savory and sweet crackers, breads, rolls, dessert breads, scones, muffins, and dog biscuits.

Doran’s Family Farm, New Albany, Ohio: Michelle and Jim’s produce is a popular market stop throughout the season featuring a broad selection of vegetables, melons, tomatoes, and seasonal favorite, sweet corn.

Eyestone Flower Farm, Bloomville, Ohio: Chris and Andrea Schimpf grow beautiful, organic blooms that include gladiolas, sunflowers, lilies, and tulips. Eyestone Flower Farm will begin bringing flowers to market mid-summer.

Farmhouse Herbs and Flowers, Ashley, Ohio: Jeff Guinn brings a gorgeous selection of cut flowers that include sunflowers and zinnias beginning mid-summer.

Flying J Farm, Johnstown, Ohio: Dick Jensen features a selection of grass-fed beef cuts, organic vegetables, freshly-milled wheat and spelt flour, and maple syrup.

Fox Hollow Farm, Fredericktown, Ohio: Lisa and Bruce Rickard will bring selections of grass-fed, naturally raised beef, pork, lamb, and chicken and fresh eggs.

Honey Health Farms, Marysville, Ohio: Dale Benedict brings his raw honey, bee pollen, and honey products to market throughout the season.

Malabar Peach and Apple Orchard, Jeromesville, Ohio: Mike Dippold will be bringing fresh, chemical-free peaches and apples to the market. We should see Mike with his first truckload of peaches sometime in July.

Mockingbird Meadows, Marysville, Ohio: Dawn and Carson Combs are returning to Market Wednesday bringing raw, infused honeys, honey spreads, dried and fresh medicinal and culinary herbs, herbal teas, and edible ingredient personal care products.

Northridge Organic Farm, Johnstown, Ohio: Mike and Laura Laughlin bring a selection of fresh basil and seasonal organic vegetables that include sweet potatoes, radishes, peppers, eggplant, and heirloom tomatoes.

Ohio Farm Direct, Fredericktown, Ohio: Doug Daniels brings cheese and drinkable yogurt made from milk from his organic, grass-fed herd and also features nitrate-free trail bologna, beef sticks, and summer sausage.

Pleiades Maple Products, Mt. Gilead, Ohio: Eddie Lou Meimer will be bringing her award winning maple products to market throughout the season that include maple syrup, maple sugar, barbecue sauce, maple-coated puffed spelt, vinaigrette dressing, and kid-favorite maple leaf suckers.

Sue’s Kitchen, Pataskala, Ohio: Sue Renner bakes pies! Sue will be bringing a selection of fresh baked-goods that include family recipe cookies, dessert breads, and pie.

Sugar B Bakery, Galena, Ohio: Angela Bowman makes daily bread a special event. Sugar B features loaf breads, bagels, scones, cookies, and flatbreads.

Sweet Thing Gourmet, Bexley, Ohio: Mark and Kyla Touris feature a selection of delicious home-made jams and biscottis.

Prior to market open, the Uptown Westerville Farmers’ Market continues its tradition of inviting the Franklin County Auditor’s Office of Weights and Measures and Franklin County Health Department to come to market to check and certify vendor scales and answer any vendor questions.

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 Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market is a rain or shine market. In-lot and on-street free parking is available near the market and throughout Uptown Westerville. There is bike-friendly parking in Rotary Park at the southeast corner of N. State and E. Home Streets.

The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market is Ohio Proud.

For more information on the Uptown Westerville Farmers’ Market email: info@marketwednesday.com, market website: http://www.marketwednesday.com/. and the Farmers' Market blog: http://uptownwestervillefarmersmarket.blogspot.com/.

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Now in its 7th season, the Uptown Westerville Farmers’ Market offers a selection of home-grown, home-made, all Ohio farm-fresh produce and artisan foods. Market Wednesdays run May through October from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the corner of N. State and E. Home Streets in Uptown Westerville. Market produce is certified-organic, chemical-free, and conventionally grown. A great place to live, shop, work, eat, meet and play, the Uptown Westerville neighborhood is the home of city government, and features an eclectic mix of residences dating back to the 1800s, tree-lined brick streets, Otterbein University, Westerville Public Library, activities, traditions, culture, business, and commerce. The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market is a fluid community. Market vendor weekly appearances may vary. Produce and product availability may vary throughout the season. Market Wednesday takes place rain or shine. It takes a community: the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market is an entirely volunteer effort. For additional information about the Uptown Westerville Farmers’ Market, info@marketwednesday.com.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: A Week Away!

Yep, it's been six long months. Relax, it's alright... the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market opens its 2012 Market Wednesday season next week on May 2nd!

May 2nd through October 31st
Wednesdays
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
N. State and E. Home Streets
in Uptown Westerville

Home-grown. Home-made. All Ohio.

See you at the market!