Uptown Westerville Farmers Market: July 4th Market Report

Sue's Kitchen

Shopping at the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market.

Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Salsas



Tomatoes at Bird's Haven Farms

(they're early because they're greenhouse-started).

Peaches from Branstool Orchards

Ohio maple syrup from Pleiades Maple Products

Summer squash from Bird's Haven Farms

Shopping at Honey Health Farms

Shopping at Fox Hollow Farm

Shopping at Montezuma Brand and Sweet Thing Gourmet

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

Yes, we'll say it one more time - we have special hours for this week's market only, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the same place N. State and E. Home in Uptown Westerville.

So far, weather forecasts for Fourth of July, call for a beautiful summer's morning in Central Ohio.  Sunny, with some humidity, temperatures in the low to mid-80s, a light breeze, and occasional cloud cover. There is a 24% chance of precipitation between 11 a.m. and noon. We call it a perfect day for al fresco shopping.

To learn more about the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market visit our website, click here.

So far, we know we will not see Blue Jacket Dairy, Northridge Organic Farm, Mockingbird Meadows, and Doran's Family Farm. 

We will see Ohio Farm Direct, Montezuma Brand, and Sweet Thing Gourmet.

We heard from Branstool Orchards yesterday and they will be bringing peaches to market. We can't wait!

Bird's Haven Farms is coming to market with fresh produce including lots of tomatoes!

Sue's Kitchen will have Red Raspberry and Blueberry Crumb Bars, Blueberry Sour Cream Muffins, Snickerdoodles, and Chocolate Chip Cookies.  (Sue took pre-orders only for 4th of July pies.)

Z Blueberry plans to come to market, but a lot depends on what they will have available.

As of this moment, we expect to see Fox Hollow Farm, Flying J Farm, Bird's Haven Farms, Bridgman Farm, Sue's Kitchen, Montezuma Brand, Pleiades Maple Products, Sweet Thing Gourmet, Sugar B Bakery, Branstool Orchards, Honey Health Farms, Ohio Farm Direct, and Dana Lee's at the July 4th market.

Click here to visit our vendor directory.

In the aftermath of recent storms and with the heat, the roster is subject to change, please check back regularly, as we update this blog post.  You can also Like us on Facebook (click here) and follow us on Twitter (click here).  We will be tweeting live from the market to let our followers know what we have.

The Westerville Police Division will be closing State Street between Huber Village/Heatherdown and County Line Rd. East from 12:30 p.m.. to 4:30 p.m. on July 4th. Since the market is open from 9 a.m to noon, your travel to the market should not be affected. Alternate route through Westerville: Huber Village (east) to S. Spring (north) to County Line Rd. East.

There is a 5k walk/run that begins at Alum Creek Park north at 8 a.m., so you may see participants as you travel through town in the morning.

Please respect any no parking signs and orange cones.

Parking is available in lots and on-street throughout Uptown Westerville.  There are parking lots to the east and south of the market lot along E. Home Street.

Be aware, please, that parade-watchers stake their space and put out chairs along State St. in Uptown Westerville beginning very early in the day.

If you are uptown for the parade and plan to stop by the market, keep in mind that meats are sold frozen, eggs and any dairy are refrigerated, and produce does best when it stays cool.

Here is Jennifer Nesbitt's article on July 4th in Westerville in This Week Westerville, click here.

The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market and WARM (Westerville Area Resource Ministry) team up for the WARM Fresh Green Program.  You can help WARM help those in need on July 4th by bringing non-perishable food items to the parade to add to the WARM shopping carts traveling along the parade route.  For more information, click here to visit WARM online.

We look forward to seeing our regular patrons and hopefully some new visitors home for the holiday! No pressure, ever, to buy - come by for the experience (you may run into someone you know!)  As you gather with friends and family at your holiday feed on Wednesday, we hope you'll be able to say, "Thanks, I bought it at the farmers' market!" 

Have a safe, super July 4th holiday. Enjoy! Happy Birthday, America!

Thanks to quotegarden.com. Regular market hours, Wednesdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. resume next week (July 11th) through October 31st.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Gratitude and Community

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. ~William James

Our hearts go out to everyone touched by the recent storms, including the storm that hit Westerville on Friday. Our thanks go to friends, family, neighbors, perfect strangers, and the folks with the City of Westerville, especially the Electric Division, for their efforts, both grand and simple, to aid those in need. Much, much, much appreciated.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: July 4th Special Hours

Happy Birthday, America!

For more information about July 4th

in Westerville, click here.

From the vendors and management team at the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market...

Have a safe, happy Independence Day!

Regular market hours Wednesdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

through October 31st resume on July 11th (next Wednesday).

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: June 27th Market Report

Honey and honey products from Honey Health Farms.

Sugar snap peas from Doran's Family Farm.

Squash from Bridgman Farm.

Squeeze the pig! Fox Hollow Farm.

Crackers from Dana Lee's.

Infused honey from Mockingbird Meadows.

Shopping at the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market.

Blueberries from Z Blueberry!

New from Blue Jacket Dairy horseradish cheddar curds.

Shopping at the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market.

It's a beautiful day in Uptown Westerville and a great day for fresh air shopping!

Westerville Public Library will be visiting the market this week. So stop by to say hi!

Our resident cooking instructor, Cindy Ramsey, starts her season with some awesome ideas for summer squash (read more about Cindy below) and we've got peaches!!

Angela Bowman of Sugar B Bakery will not be at this week's market.

Mark your calendars for next Wednesday, July 4th - Happy Birthday America! - the market will be open special hours 9 a.m. to noon.

See you at the market!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Vendors In Print

The current issue of Edible Columbus features three Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market vendors:

Branstool Orchards.

Sweet Thing Gourmet.

Bird's Haven Farms.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Peaches!

We wait for it every season - fresh, right-off-the-tree peaches - nothing like 'em.  And, we've got them today! The first of the season from Branstool Orchards.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Cooking with Chez Cindy

"That looks great, but what do I do with it?" Today, the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market welcomes resident cooking instructor, Cindy Ramsey, of Chez Cindy. Cindy will be preparing simple recipes that include ingredients right out of the market.

Cindy's featured recipes today are...

Sauteed Squash with Feta-Basil and Baked Pasta with Summer Squash and Tomatoes.

Check out Cindy's recipes on her blog, cookingwithchezcindy.com

Cindy has a true passion for simple good food and the connections we all make over the dinner table. 

Cindy will be at the market every other week through September. So, stop by Chez Cindy today, say hello, chat food and ingredients and local foods, and taste!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Honey Health Farms - About Propolis

Dale Benedict of Honey Health Farms shares information about propolis:

Propolis Facts:

Because of its antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, this precious substance has been used as a healing agent for many centuries. Only honeybees can make propolis.

It has the ability to provide protection against infectious invaders, promote healing and regeneration of tissue, and provides a superior source of energy and stamina. It has been used as ointments for healing cuts and wounds and shown to have outstanding value for a wide variety of illnesses.

It is also used as a natural alternative to penicillin and other antibiotics. It is said to be particularly safe and effective and inhibits the resistance-building effect that is a negative factor with prescription antibiotics.

In the former Eastern Bloc countries, antibiotics have never been widely available, but beekeeping is widely practiced. To help prevent many diseases, hospitals and clinics recommended washing, gargling or irrigating the sinuses with propolis rinses, as well as taking propolis internally.

This bee product is certainly a good weapon against bacteria when used topically as well as taking propolis internally. It can clearly prevent infections, and can also help heal infections that have already begun.

To visit Honey Health Farms online, click here. 

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Honey Health Farms - About Royal Jelly

Honey bees are small, but mighty.

There is evidence that honey bees are millions and millions and millions of years old. Rock art shows that early civilizations gathered honey and actually kept bees. And, archaeologists have found still edible honey in ancient Egyptian tombs.

Honey has all the substances needed to sustain life including enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and water. 

Bee hives yield more than honey, like beeswax (for candles), royal jelly, propolis, bee bollen,

Dale Benedict of Honey Health Farms sent us some really interesting information on the benefits of bees.

Royal Jelly Fact Sheet


Royal Jelly is the substance that turns an ordinary bee into the Queen Bee. It is made of pollen which is chewed up and mixed with a chemical secreted from a gland in the nursing bee's heads. This "milk" or "pollen mush" is fed to all the larvae for the first two days of their lives.

The larvae chosen to become a queen continue to eat only royal jelly. The queen grows one and a half times larger than the ordinary bee, and is capable of laying up to two thousand eggs a day. The Queen Bee lives forty times longer than the bees on a regular diet. There is no difference between a queen bee and a worker bee in the larval stage. The only factor that is different between them is that a developing queen bee continues to eat only royal jelly.

In France, there have been reports of women fed royal jelly during menopause, showing complete remission of their symptoms. Some were even able to become mothers again. France also claimed that their studies showed royal jelly to have rejuvenating and sexually stimulating effects on both men and women. Canada has approved royal jelly as a natural dietary supplement for its athletes. Royal jelly is not a drug, but a nutritious, quickly assimilated food.

In Germany, Drs. Chochi, Prosperi, Quadri and Malossi (in separate studies) used royal jelly as an aid to badly undernourished and premature babies. The infants fed royal jelly increased in weight and health. Another doctor, Telatui, reported that neuro-psychic patients given royal jelly regained normal weight, a more stable nervous system, and a greater degree of stamina for physical and mental work.

Chemical analysis of royal jelly found it rich in protein and the B vitamins (especially panothenic acid). However, analysis of royal jelly fails to break it down into all its different components. It cannot be synthesized.

Royal jelly has proven to be a potent bactericide. It also acts as a catalyst, stimulating intercellular metabolic activities without significantly modifying normal physiological activity. Thus, it hastens cell recovery with no side effects. Royal jelly has been known to speed up healing of wounds and to reduce the amount of scarring.

The beneficial effects of royal jelly seem not to depend entirely upon its vitamin content, but upon some type of enzymatic or catalytic action of an as yet unknown factor; or perhaps, the known factors working in combination with a co-enzyme through a process that has not yet been defined.

Since the action of royal jelly seems to be systemic rather that one which affects a specific biological function, it has been recommended for a great variety of purposes: to retard the aging process, for menopause, correction of under-nutrition, for arthritis, vascular diseases, peptic ulcers, liver ailments, nervous instability, skin problems, improvement of sexual functions, general health and well being.

Next time you're at the market, stop by Honey Health Farms.  Ask Dale about his own book written for kids, but just as informative for adults about Miss Moxie: The Amazing Honeybee Story.

Click here to visit Honey Health Farms online. 

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Good Advice

Robin Davis of the Columbus Dispatch offers some great trips for shopping at farmers' markets.

A first trip to the farmers' market can seem a bit overwhelming - lots of tents, lots of people, lots to taste, lots to see. 

Relax. It's a farmers' market!  Take your time and enjoy.

This is an opportunity to meet the person who made your artisan foods or grew your sweet corn and peaches. 

Our vendors are nice people who are knowledgeable with a true passion for what they do - so ask questions, share ideas, taste samples, and take in the market without pressure to buy.  When you are ready to buy, if you aren't sure about what to do, just ask.

Each season, we watch a trip to the farmers' market become a weekly tradition for so many.

We think you'll find Robin's article super helpful and Market Wednesday has an FAQ section on this blog in the right margin.

Most Central Ohio communities have a farmers' market - we highly recommend making the farmers' market experience a regular part of your summers.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: June 20th Market Report

Today is the Summer Solstice - the longest day of the year.  And, yes, it's a mighty warm first day of summer!

We will not see Sue's Kitchen and Pleiades Maple Products today and Bildsten Landscape thought they were done for the season last week, but decided to come back this week!  We'll see Sue's Kitchen and Pleiades Maple next week.

Z Blueberry of Fredericktown will be attending today's market with fresh-picked, chemical-free blueberries.

Tomatoes at Bird's Haven Farms.

Zephyr Squash at Northridge Organic Farm.

Summer squash selection at Doran's Family Farm.

Shopping at Fox Hollow Farm.

Angela Bowman's delicious breads at Sugar B Bakery.

Bildsten Landscape Hanging Baskets.

Cheese from Ohio Farm Direct.

Salsa from Montezuma Brand - That Lime Garlic Salsa is Delish!

Shopping at Sweet Thing Gourmet.

Each week, we see new varieties of produce, last week lots of broccoli and summer squash, including zucchini and zephyr squash.

We'll list this week's produce live on our twitter account as the market opens.

This week, community partner Westerville Electric Division will be visiting the market.  Stop by to meet the folks from the electric division and adults get a free CFL light bulb today (while supplies last).

Just a reminder of our special hours on Wednesday, July 4th from 9 a.m. to noon.

For those of you wondering about peaches (yum), both Branstool and Malaber Acres Orchards tell us that they are looking for peaches from about July 11th forward - Mother Nature is ready when she's ready, but that may give you a ballpark idea.  We can't wait!

Stay cool! And, we'll see you at the market!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: June 6th Market Report

What a gorgeous Central Ohio afternoon! Perfect weather for a trip to the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market.

Springtime produce, artisan foods, and flower, herb, and veggie garden plants.

We welcome the Westerville Senior Center today. Stop by and say Hi.

Have a great day. See you at the market!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: May 30th Market Report

Take it outside! A few minutes outside everyday is good for the spirit!  And, today, ahhhh, is a great day to visit the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market.

Home-grown. Home-made. All Ohio.

Doran's Family Farm tells us they are bringing strawberries today.

Market Wednesday vendors are knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about what they do  - got questions? got a request? want to share? want to know more? - just ask!

See you at the market!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: July 4th Special Market Hours

Wake the kids! Phone the neighbors! Sychronize your watches! Access all calendars! It happens once every seven years...

Market Wednesday falls on the 4th of July!

This year, there will be a special hours Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market on Wednesday, July 4, 2012 from 9 a.m. to noon.

We hope you'll make a trip to the farmers' market a part of your July 4th celebration:

Start the day with the Westerville Rotary 5k Run/Walk at 8 a.m. starting and ending @ Alum Creek Park, North (221 W. Main). For more information, click here to visit Premier Sports.

The 2012 Rotary Club of Westerville July 4th Parade begins at 1 p.m. @ Heatherdown and S. State and travels north on State to St. Paul Parish. This year's parade theme is Peace, Love, Trust, and Freedom.

WARM (Westerville Area Resource Minstry) will be collecting non-perishable food along the parade route.

Westerville Symphony will perform a free concert - Sounds of Freedom - on July 4th at 9:00 p.m. @ the Westerville Sports Complex (County Line West and Cleveland).

And, the day ends with Fireworks at 10 p.m. @ Alum Creek Park, South (near Park Meadow and Schrock).

See you at the market!

Normal Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market hours Wednesdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., May through October.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Memorial Day Weekend

True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic.  It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost. - Arthur Ashe

We gather, we remember, we celebrate on Memorial Day Weekend.

The vendors and management of the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market wish you, your friends, and your family a safe, most enjoyable holiday weekend.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Market Wednesday in the News

Chris Russell, photographer for the Columbus Dispatch, visited Market Wednesday this week to shoot images for a story on locavore trends that ran this a.m. in the Columbus Dispatch Business section.

Click here to read the article.