According to Ohio Proud's website (www.ohioproud.org), the Ohio Department of Agriculture's marketing program, Agriculture is Ohio's No. 1 industry, contributing more than $107 billion to the state's economy.
Market Managers Guy and Sandy Ashmore, Deerfield Farmers Market, encourage guests to get to know the participating farmers in a family-friendly environment that promotes fresh, quality, locally-grown and produced commodities. The market also offers special events such as children’s activities and live music.
“What started out with a commitment to quality, local, freshness and honesty continues to blossom. With the new location, it is becoming a gathering place on Saturday mornings for neighbors and families. It is an exciting time at the Deerfield Farmers Market,” Sandy Ashmore said.
With more than 20 vendors, Lebanon Farmers’ Market is another growing market that offers a wide-range of products including fresh produce, fruits, vegetables, organic meats, honey, fresh-cut flowers and natural soaps.
“Our market has been well-received, and it’s very popular. It’s certainly grown over the past few years,” said Deputy City Manager Scott Brunka of Lebanon. “A farmers market is only as good as the vendors that participate in the market, and we’ve been able to attract some very good, local market vendors. We also have a strong customer base.”
Farmers markets also have a way of bringing people within the community together. With an increased interest in farmers markets, new markets continue to expand out into a number of communities across the Southwest Ohio region. One example is Middletown’s “Downtown Farmers’ Market.”
“This is a first year event and it’s going extremely well,” said Executive Director Patrick Kay, Downtown Middletown, Inc. “The market continues to attract participating vendors as well as new and regular customers each week.”
Here’s a listing of area farmers markets:
Butler County
Fairfield Township
Bridgewater Falls Farmers Market is held every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Guests may purchase homegrown and homemade products from local farmers, growers and vendors. A few of the numerous products available include vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers and more. The location for the market is in The Village Pavilion between WG Kitchen & Bar and Two Little Buds Florist. The market runs through Sept. 26. www.shopbridgewaterfalls.com.
More of a stand than a market, produce from Ross, Ohio's Burwinkel Farms is being offered at the Fairfield YMCA parking lot at 6645 Morris Road on Saturdays and Sundays, starting at 10 a.m. Produce includes corn, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, onions, tomatoes, peaches and melons. www.burwinkelfarms.com
West Chester Township
For the past five years, West Chester's Farmers' Market, a grower/producer market, has operated on the square, located on the Square at Union Centre, along Centre Pointe Drive. Everything offered at the market is grown or made locally including produce, dairy, meat producers and bread makers as well as handcrafted items like soaps and jewelry. Shop for fresh fruits, vegetables, olive oils, honey, flowers and much more. Vendors include Blackbird Pond, Garden of Eaten, Millbranch Farm, Webber's Farm and about two dozen more. The market also hosts special events such as live music, a petting zoo for children and more. Check the website for an updated schedule of events. The market runs through mid-October. During the other months a year, the market is held once a month. www.westchestersfarmersmarket.com
Hamilton
Dating back to 1875, Hamilton's Historic Farmers Market was first started by a group of local farmers and other area vendors, who drove their trucks into downtown Hamilton, near the courthouse on High Street to offer goods such as firewood, dairy products, fruits, vegetables and eggs. The market continued through the end of WWII, when it closed briefly, and it re-opened in the mid-1950s. Today, Hamilton's Historic Farmers Market continues, offering a variety of produce, flowers and more. A few of the market's specialties include mushrooms, herbs and flowers, all of which are locally grown. With more than 26 vendors, the market is held every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in downtown Hamilton, at the Bulter County Courthouse Square. The market operates through Nov. 2. www.facebook.com/hamiltonshistoricfarmersmarket
In it's first year, Hamilton's Market on the Plaza, located at 345 High St. (at Government Center), is a mid-day market that offers organically grown, homegrown and homemade items. The market features produce, home-baked and handcrafted items from seven local vendors. The market is held on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Live entertainment, story time, along with other special events included. In conjunction with Lane Public Library, there is also a book mobile on site two times a month. Market runs through Oct. 31. Accepts Ohio EBT Card. www.facebook.com/marketontheplaza
Oxford
Oxford Farmers Market Uptown. In its ninth year, Oxford's year-round market is open May through September on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon; October through Thanksgiving, Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon; and December through April, every third Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon. The market is located in the heart of Oxford, in a city parking lot, behind Memorial Park in Uptown Oxford (at the intersection of Main and High streets). This market supports local farmers, bakers and artists with products including meats, cheeses, bedding plants, cut flowers, sweets, breads, natural soaps, beeswax candles and many others, from more than 40 vendors including Adopt-A-Plant, Downing Fruit Farm, Farmer Bryan Wolford and more. The market is open all year. www.oxfordfarmersmarket.com
Oxford Original Farmers Market also known as the “Original Talawanda Farm Market” has been operating in Oxford since 1976. It first started at the Oxford YMCA building. This long-running market is now in its third location at Talawanda High School, which is located at 101 E. Chestnut St. in Oxford. The market features an array of local specialties including fruits, vegetables, eggs, baked goods, homemade bread and jams. The market operates every Saturday through the first Saturday in November, from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Those interested in becoming a vendor or for more information, call (513) 726-1174.
Middletown
Middletown's Downtown Farmers' Market operates every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as well as on the evenings of the first Friday of the month from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Swallens Park (at Manchester and Verity Pkwy.) There are approximately 15 vendors including Silver Grove Farm, Cup of Joy Cupcakes, Shannon Grooms' Flowers, The Garden Spot and many more. The market continues to grow with additional vendors as well as new and regular customers each week. Market runs through Oct. 5. www.downtownmiddletown.org
Madison Township
In its second year and open to the public, Madison’s Farmers Market operates every Saturday, from 8 a.m. to noon, at the Community Park. Created for those who want to buy and sell produce. All items are perishable and homegrown. Market operates through October. Vendors welcome. Call the township’s administrative offices for more information at (513) 424-0821.
Warren County
Deerfield Township
Deerfield Farmers Market started 11 years ago. The market is a grower/producer only market that is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Located at 4188 Irwin Simpson Road in Mason (across from the Deerfield Town Center,) in Kingswood Park. Only produce or farm products produced by farmers/vendors are sold. A variety of vendors feature grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork and eggs, flower bouquets and bedding plants, local honey, syrups and jams, fresh fruits and vegetables, Alpaca products and more. Vendors include Apple Creek Farm, Bergefurds Farm Market and Greenhouses, Cooks Organic Farm, plus about a dozen more. Visit www.deerfieldfarmersmarket.com for directions, to meet participating farmers and for a schedule of special events.
Lebanon
Lebanon Farmers' Market in the City of Lebanon started eight years ago and supports Warren County farmers and produce growers. It operates on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the corner of West Main and Sycamore streets. The market features over 20 vendors including produce, organic meats, honey, natural soaps and plants from vendors such as Glory Farms, Webb Valley Farm, Shelton Produce and many more. Market open through Oct. 17. www.lebanonohiofarmersmarket.com
Mason
A group of local farmers put on the Mason Area Farmers Market, which has been held in the Mason Middle School parking lot for the past four to five years. (The market previously operated out of the Thriftway parking lot for about 10 years.) With eight to 10 vendors participating, the market runs every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Mason Middle School is located at the corner of Mason-Montgomery Road and Tylersville Road in Mason. Vendors include A Brown House Meat, "Bone" Appetit Dog Treats, Eberhard Farm, Garden Quilts & Gifts, Schappacher Farm and Thoughtfully Clean, among others. For more information, or to become a vendor, call Butch Schappacher at (513) 515-5138. Market runs through October, rain or shine. www.masonfarmersmarket.com.
Morrow
Morrow Farmers Market is open every Saturday 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market is located at 257 Main St. in Morrow (Located on the bike trail near the train depot in downtown.) All of the products sold are locally grown or made locally in Ohio. Participating farms include: The Big Five Farm - Provides fresh beans, heirloom tomatoes, Indian corn, a variety of peppers, various root vegetables and herbs. (All produce grown following organic farming principles producing clean, chemical free vegetables.); The Hickory Grove Farm - Offers traditionally grown melons, corn, various root crops, green beans, beets and onions. The Red Trolley Diner (a trailer built to resemble a train/trolley car) also offers BBQ, burgers, fresh-squeezed lemonade, smoothies made with locally grown products, as available. Cooking demonstrations, gardening tips and live entertainment are offered on select dates. (Check the website for a complete schedule.) Accepting new vendors, contact Mike Erwin for more information at (513) 518-0882. www.morrowfarmersmarket.com.
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