Rain or shine, county's three farmers markets are open every week in summer

By the time the first Bucyrus Farmers Market of the year was in full swing on Saturday, the sky was clearing and the temperature was starting to rise.

"The weather turned out nice," said Becky Witter, the event's organizer. "I'm happy it's not raining. You can tolerate a little wind, but not the rain."

The weather didn't cooperate as well for the Crestline Farmers Market, which opened its eighth season on May 3.

Becky McKean, who organizes that market, said things were going well until 4:30 p.m., "and then people pretty much stayed away; it was raining."

The forecast is looking better for this week's event — according to the National Weather Service, Tuesday is expected to be sunny, with a high near 77.

All three of the county's weekly farmers markets started their seasons last week. The Crestline Farmers Market is 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays outside Crestline United Methodist Church, 202 N. Thoman St., Crestline; the Dutchtown Farmers Market is 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at St. John's Lutheran Church, 203 E. Mansfield St., New Washington; and the Bucyrus Farmers Market is 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays at Family Farm and Home, 2460 E. Mansfield St.

The markets are open rain and shine.

"It doesn't matter," McKean said. "Our first year, we had tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings ... actually there were tornados north of us, northern Crawford County. We make it through."

Vendors have learned to adjust to whatever the weather throws at them.

Melinda Hoffman, who was selling plants at the Bucyrus Farmers Market on Saturday, said she started the day with her canopy tent up.

"And then it was not behaving," she said. Other vendors helped her take it down before it could be blown away or damaged by the wind.

It's her third or fourth year as a vendor at the market, she said.

"Always good to be back; it's a very friendly group of people," Hoffman said. "It's been a great day, especially the weather."

Kathy Beebe, who was selling plants, honey, soap and other items, said it was nice to see everybody after the long winter.

"We love to see our regular people come back," she said.

Not many vegetables will be available at the markets until later in the season, when gardens start to produce, McKean said.

"In May and early June, they're getting plants for mothers and their vegetable plants and things and that type of stuff," she said. Fresh baked goods are popular, too. "They don't have to worry about the preservatives that are in a lot of the baked goods that you get at a store."

ggoble@gannett.com

419-559-7263

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Season begins for county's three farmers markets