Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: June 26th Market Report

It's gonna be a warm one this week!  Put on your coolest outfit and some sunscreen, grab a bottle of ice cold water, and join us at N. State and E. Home from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Uptown Westerville for some farm fresh shopping!

Weather Update: There is a 50% chance of rain between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., and other than that, the forecast reflects temps in the low 80s, and no precip.

This week's vendor line-up: Sugar B Bakery, Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Sauces and Salsas, Sweet Thing Gourmet, Blue Jacket Dairy, Dana Lee's, Northridge Organic Farm, Fox Hollow Farm, Bird's Haven Farm, Flying J Farm, Ohio Farm Direct, Bridgman Farm, Honey Health Farms, and Hartzler Family Dairy.

This week's guest is community partner Westerville Public Library.

Eddie Lou Meimer of Pleiades Maple will be out this week - she's in Sacramento and NoCal touring farms.  And, Michele Doran tells us that they are in-between crops so Doran's Family Farm will be out this week, too. Michele told us the sweet corn looks good and Doran's should have corn to bring to market mid-July.

Vendor Line-up Update: Bridgman Farm may not be coming to market today. Mary Bridgman is in Washington CH and weather may keep Mary from harvesting for today's market.

We also heard from Anna Brown of Anabelle's Blooms, and Anna should be bringing her beautiful fresh cut flowers to market in mid-July. And, the peaches are coming along, and we should see Branstool Orchards mid-July as well.

By the way, next week's market is July 3rd - so keep Market Wednesday in mind as you make out your shopping list for your Independence Day festivities.

Have a great day. Stay cool. And, we'll see you at the market!

Zephyr squash from Northridge Organic Farm

Jams from Sweet Thing Gourmet

Fresh turnips from Bridgman Farm

Sauces and marinades from Montezuma Brand

Home-baked biscotti from Sweet Thing Gourmet

Shopping at Blue Jacket Dairy.

Ask for a taste of the Gretna Grillin'!

Cucumbers from Bird's Haven Farms

Kohlrabi and summer squash from Bridgman Farm

Peasant bread from Sugar B Bakery

Butterhead lettuce from Flying J Farm

Tasting and shopping at Hartzler Family Dairy

Patty pan squash from Northridge Organic Farm

See you at the market!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Happy Birthday, America!

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness.  You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. Erma Bombeck

Independence Day in Westerville is a great family-friendly tradition!

This year's schedule starts with a brisk morning run and ends with a bang.

Here's Westerville's Fourth of July activities:

7:00 a.m. Registration for the Westerville Rotary Walk/Run at Alum Creek Park North.

8:00 a.m. Westerville Rotary Walk/Run. For more information, click here.

9:15 a.m. Westerville Rotary Children's Run.

9:25 a.m. Westerville Rotary Walk/Run Awards Presentation

1:00 p.m. start the Rotary Club of Westerville presents the Parade. 

This year's theme: Celebrate the Gift of Freedom.

The parade route starts to the south at Heatherdown and S. State and heads north up State Street through Uptown Westerville ending at St. Paul Catholic Church.

Tips: This is a lengthy parade! (It can run between 2 and 3 hours!) So, you'll want to find a place to watch the parade near refreshments (like the DQ at 84 N. State) or bring a cooler and take steps to beat the heat. People set up chairs along the parade route early in the a.m. on the 4th.

9:00 p.m. Westerville Symphony Concert: Sounds of Freedom at the Sports Complex (N. Cleveland & W. County Line)

10:00 p.m. Fireworks! The launch point is Park Meadow and Schrock near Alum Creek South, but you can watch the fireworks from a distance from lots of places around the city, like N. Cleveland Ave. and W. County Line (where the symphony will perform).

For more details, click here to read Jennifer Nesbitt's article in ThisWeek Westerville.

Have a safe, happy Independence Day holiday. Happy Birthday, America!!!!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Chips and Salsa!

Chuck and Mary Evans bring their delicious salsas, sauces, marinades, and tortilla chips to market:

Visit us every Wednesday afternoon at the Uptown Westerville Farmer's Market. Salsa means sauce...for 27 years in Columbus, we are Ohio's ...oldest and continuously-operating salsa & hot sauce manufacturer.

Since 1986, our "Fresh Out of the Jar" combination of tomatoes, onions and chiles...from Mild to Medium-Spicy to Super Hot...adds tasty excitement to salads, rice, scrambled eggs, steamed veggies, and as a garnish for chicken, fish, pork, and beef.

Chuck Evans' MONTEZUMA Brand Sauces & Salsas are available in a wide array of flavor combinations from locally-sourced veggies and chiles. See all of our varieties at www.montezumabrand.com.

Tangy Lime Garlic Salsa and Black Bean & Corn Salsa. Crisp & Refreshing... Great for Summer Picnics & Parties!


Images provided by Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Sauces and Salsas.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: As the Earth Turns....

Earthly matters: The City of Westerville is teaming up with SWACO and Franklin County Soil and Water for a composting class on Thursday, June 27th @ 6:30 p.m. @ the Community Rec Center. 

The class costs $30 and each household will receive one 80 gallon composter, a kitchen composter and a turning tool.

Click here for details.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Summer's Here!

Summer's here

I’m for that
I’ve got my rubber sandals
Got my straw hat
I’ve got my cold beer
I’m just glad that it’s here

Summer’s here
That suits me fine
It may rain today
‘Cause I don’t mind
It’s my favorite time of the year
And I’m glad that it’s here

Old man wintertime
He goes so slow
It’s ten degrees below, you know
You can take your ice and snow
And let my balmy breezes blow 

Happy First Day of Summer 

from the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market!! 

Summer's Here by James Taylor ©1981 from Dad Loves His Work

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: June 19th Market Report

Oh, what a beautiful day in Uptown Westerville!

Home-grown. Home-made. All Ohio. 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. @ N. State and E. Home.

It is a perfect day for a fresh-air visit to the market.  Market Wednesday is a place where you can efficiently get down to business - park and pick up what you want and head out - or a place to linger and enjoy - visit, browse, taste, and shop.

Of note this week - this is Bildsten Landscape's last week of the 2013 season. We appreciate the beauty (awesome flowers) and taste (the herbs and the lettuce pots!) that Mark and Karin bring to market each week. Karin said they'd have prices marked down today, so stop by to say Hi or to buy!



Doran's Family Farm has been out a couple of weeks and returns to market with sugar snap peas.

This week's vendor line-up includes: Bildsten Landscape, Fox Hollow Farm, Bird's Haven Farm, Flying J Farm, Ohio Farm Direct, Bridgman Farm, Honey Health Farms, Doran's Family Farm, Hartzler Farmily Dairy, Northridge Organic Farm, Pleiades Maple Products, Dana Lee's Bakery, Blue Jacket Dairy, Sweet Thing Gourmet, Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Sauces and Salsas, and Sugar B Bakery.

Energize! The Westerville Electric Division is our community partner at this week's market. Stop by and visit with Zoe and Rick.

Turnips from Bird's Haven Farms

Greens from Northridge Organic Farm.

Pure Maple Sugar from Pleiades Maple Products

Flowers from Bildsten Landscape

Shopping and tasting at Blue Jacket Dairy

Delicious Salsas from Montezuma Brand

Herbs (in this case, parsely) from Bildsten Landscape

Turnips from Flying J Farm

Cheddar curds from Blue Jacket Dairy

So good! Biscotti from Sweet Thing Gourmet

Cucumbers from Bird's Haven Farms

Shopping at Fox Hollow Farm

Kohlrabi from Bird's Haven Farms

Shopping at Dana Lee's

We really appreciate the support of Meza, 48 N. State, steps just south of the market. Meza features a selection of affordable, distinctive wines, including Ohio wines.  Much like our vendors, Tatjana and Jason Brown have a passion for what they sell and they celebrate the connection we all make over simple and good food and drink. Each Wednesday, during market hours, stop by Meza for Tatjana's specially-priced Market Wednesday tasting. Did you buy something special at today's market? Ask the folks at Meza about wine pairings for your market selections.

As always, a shout out to Church of the Messiah, United Methodist for providing space for the market - we appreciate it! Special thanks to Amy and Brenda at Messiah.  We also owe a huge thank you to Messiah volunteers Gene Hulbert and Rose Morgan, Gene and Rose serve up free ice water and lemonade to market customers and vendors.

On this beautiful Market Wednesday, we'll... see you at the market!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Looking for Answers in Nutrition

We heard from Kayden Healy of The Ohio State University this week.  

The Ohio State University Mood Lab at Wexner Medical Center is starting a study. This study is taking a look at treating youth depression and bipolar disorder through nutrition intervention with Omega-3. 

The study is looking for participants ages 7 to 14.

For more information on participation, contact Kayden Healy at 614.293.4908 or Kayden.Healy@osumc.edu

To read more, click here to view the flyer (PDF).

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: June 12th Market Report

Summer weather is here! And, the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market is open for business from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. today at N. State & E. Home.

While weather forecasts are looking at storms late tonight, the forecast this afternoon for market hours is partly cloudy, humid, and warm with a welcome light breeze. (The forecast tells us we may see some rain during set up, but not during market hours.)

This week's vendor line-up: Bird's Haven Farms, Flying J Farm, Ohio Farm Direct, Honey Health Farms, Hartzler Family Dairy, Montezuma Brand Sauces and Salsa, Sweet Thing Gourmet, Blue Jacket Dairy, Dana Lee's, Northridge Organic Farm, Bildsten Landscape, Fox Hollow Farm.

Pleiades Maple is out this week because temperatures are too high for maple sugar.  Doran's Family Farm is selling every strawberry they pick at the farm stand.  Angela Bowman of Sugar B Bakery has kids heading to camp this week, so family first - Angela is already looking forward to being back at market next week.  And, Bridgman Farm will be out one more week.

Bildsten Landscape is winding down its 2013 season and we'll see Mark and Karen this week and next week.

If you're looking for serving ideas for your market fare, stop by Meza, 48 N. State (just south of the market), for Tatjana's specially-priced Market Wednesday tasting and ask about wine pairings.

Have a great week. Stay cool.


Salsas from Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Sauces and Salsas

Lettuce pots from Bildsten Landscape

Shopping at Hartzler Family Dairy

Bee pollen from Honey Health Farms

Hanging flower baskets from Bildsten Landscape

The staff at Flying J Farm

Fresh basil plants from Bildsten Landscape

Shopping at Northridge Organic Farm

Shopping at Bird's Haven Farms

See you at the market!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Best of the Best!

Visit Columbus Parent magazine's website and cast your vote... for the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market!

That's right, wake the kids, phone the neighbors, text friends and family! The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market has been nominated by Columbus Parent magazine as one of the BEST Farmers' Markets in Central Ohio. And, we are in very good company.

Now it's up to the voters - that means you! Click on the link and cast your vote today! (Farmers' Markets are on Page 4. Voting runs through 7.12).

Columbus Parent Best of Columbus poll, click here!

The Best of Columbus also features all sorts of great kid, family, parent-friendly categories to vote for - lots of them in Westerville!

Thank you to Columbus Parent - it is indeed an honor to be nominated!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: June 5th Market Report

It's a beautiful day in Central Ohio! And, it's a great day to visit the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market! Home-grown. Home-made. All Ohio. 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. @ N. State and E. Home.

This week's market roster: Fox Hollow Farm, Bird's Haven Farms, Flying J Farm, Ohio Farm Direct, Honey Health Farm, Doran's Family Farm, Hartzler Family Dairy, Sugar B Bakery, Montezuma Brand Sauces and Salsas, Sweet Thing Gourmet, Blue Jacket Dairy, Dana Lee's, Pleiades Maple Products, Northridge Organic Farm, Bildsten Landscape.

Bridgman Farm will return to Market on June 19th.

While we do expect strawberries at Bird's Haven Farms, Michele Doran from Doran's Family Farm let us know this a.m. that they will know by noon if they are coming to market this week. Michele said they had an exceptionally busy u-pick weekend at the farm, and they are picking this a.m. We'll keep you posted on facebook and twitter.

Not only is it a great day to come to market, it's also a great day to shop and dine Uptown Westerville.  Each Wednesday, just steps south of the market, Meza, 48 N. State, features a specially-priced tasting - often a nice sangria (with recipe).  Stop by Meza during market hours and see what Tatjana and Jason Brown have in-store.

(Pictured above: Scones from Dana Lee's.)

Delicious home-made jams from Sweet Thing Gourmet.

Fresh-baked bread from Sugar B Bakery.

Sweet! Raw honey from Honey Health Farms.

Bill of fare for Fox Hollow Farm

Bildsten Landscape flowers, herbs, and lettuce pots.

Chuck Evans' awesome fruit salsas at Montezume Brand.

Delicious Meadow Maid cheese from Ohio Farm Direct.

Shopping for milk, roll butter, and packaged ice cream at Hartzler Family Dairy.

A great kitchen go-to - maple sugar from Pleiades Maple.

Strawberries from Doran's Family Farm.

Shopping at the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market.

It's a great day to shop for artisan foods, made in Ohio with passion and care, beautiful hanging baskets of flowers, and locally-grown produce. Visit. Taste. Browse. Shop. See you at the market!