Stark County farmers' markets offer new vendors, locations, offerings for the summer season
One of the joys of summer season is the easy availability to get fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, flowers, honey and even eggs and meats. In recent years, the old tradition of farmers’ markets has found new life in several Stark County communities.
North Canton Farmers' Market
Year it opened: 2020
Organized by: Know Your Roots
When it’s open: 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays year round, except for the last two weeks of the year
Where to find it: North Canton Civic Center at 845 W Maple Street in North Canton
Popular items: Joe’s Sourdough Bread, Tierra Verde Farms (pasture-raised meats), Woolf Farms (fruit, jams and cider), Olde Pine Spring Farm & Gluten Free Bakery, M&H Beans Coffee Co. and Miller’s Mushrooms. As the weather shifts and more Ohio-grown produce comes into season, 10 more farms will join the market.
New for this year: Starting in June, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as SNAP, Produce Perks, Senior Nutrition and WIC will be accepted on behalf of all eligible vendors and products. On June 29, the market will host its first Children’s Market, featuring youth vendors and family-friendly games and activities. Organizers also are working to obtain a permit to start hosting wineries this summer and fall. Upcoming specialty nights include National Farmers Market Week on August 10 and Fall Fest on September 28.
Jena Grosschmidt, managing director of Know Your Roots, says her favorite thing about the market is: “The vendors and community! The market not only features a wide range of locally grown/created products, they come from an outstanding group of small business owners that make shopping a joy. Combine that with the dedicated community members that make the choice to support our regional economy each week and it makes for a fun-filled vibe that everyone is sure to enjoy being a part of.”
More information and a vendor application: NCantonFarmersMarket.com.
Jackson Township Farmers' Market
Year it opened: 2010
Organized by: Jackson Township
When it’s open: 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays from July 6 through September 28
Where to find it: In the parking lot next to the Jackson Amphitheater at 7454 Community Parkway NW in Jackson Township
New for this year: The market will coincide with Jackson’s Amphitheater Wednesdays, which include food trucks that are available all day and free concerts in July and August.
Chylece Head, programming and events coordinator for Jackson Township, says her favorite thing about the market is: “Live music and the fact ours is open until 7 p.m., which allows more people who work outside the home to visit the farmers’ market, and while they’re here, they can grab dinner at one our food trucks and listen to a great free concert, if they come on one of the concert days.”
More information: jacksontwp.com/farmers-market.
720 Market / Sidestreet MKTS
Year opened: 2016; SidestreetMKTS was added in 2020
Organized by: 720 Market
When they’re open and where to find them:
720 Markets will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on:
• May 21 in the North Canton city square and St. Paul’s parking lot
• June 18 in the North Canton city square and St. Paul’s parking lot (Note: This is a change from the original schedule.)
• September 24 in downtown Massillon and Duncan Plaza
SidestreetMKTS will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the second Saturday of the month from May until October at Oakwood Square
Popular items: Crazy Cucumber, Bloom Hill Farms, their multiple cookie vendors known as the 720 “bakers” that set up at different dates throughout the season, Akron’s Fat T’s Cookies, White Church Jellies, their many hot sauce and honey vendors and taco trucks
New for this year: There will be a new location for the December 720 Market that will be announced soon. The popular Boutique Market also will be expanded and be a part of another special event in August. More details to be announced soon.
Lynn Shimko of 720 says her favorite thing about the markets is: “We love exploring new venues and creating new market layouts for a cool customer experience. Vendors always enjoy themselves, too, and say that we have the nicest people who come to 720! Seeing our venue or space turn into a vibrant community marketplace in the early hours of a Saturday morning and then go back normal in just five hours is always amazing! Something that makes it unique and different are our “destination” venues, the collection of out-of-area vendors we have also (many come from Cleveland and Columbus), our unique “market mix” of vendors, also the market experience we create has something for everyone! We also love watching our vendors share their work and their stories with buyers. We are continually amazed at their skills, talents and creativity. In 2021, our SidestreetMKTS series launched a dozen new businesses in one market!”
More information: eventsby720.com or the @720market and @sidestreetMKTS on social media
Canton Farmers' Market
Is there anything new about the Canton Farmers’ Market at Centennial Plaza in Canton?
Well, the market, presented by Downtown Canton Special Improvement District and the City of Canton and organized by Know Your Roots Ohio, is itself relatively new, starting its second season at Centennial Plaza.
“The prior version of the market, managed by the Canton Chamber of Commerce, was around for 16 seasons, closing in 2020,” said Jena Grosschmidt, managing director of the Canton Farmers’ Market. “Know Your Roots was then invited by the Downtown Canton Special Improvement District to create the new Canton Farmers’ Market at Centennial Plaza, which opened in June of 2021.”
The market, set up at Centennial Plaza on Fourth Street NW at Market Avenue N, will be offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday from June 25 through October 22, with the exception of August 6 and September 3.
“Shop fresh fruit and vegetables, pastured meats eggs, baked goods, honey, maple syrup, preserved goods, coffee, live plants, fresh herbs, pet treats, home/personal care items, snacks and more!” the Canton Farmers’ Market page at the organizer’s website knowyourroots.com nearly shouts in an appropriate “town crier” kind of way.
Grosschmidt said “it’s hard to choose” a favorite item or most popular booth at the market.
“We have a great lineup of vendors offering fresh, local and seasonal products,” she said, “including, fruits, veggies, mushrooms and greens from Woolf Farmers, 3 Peas Market Garden, Shadygrove Greenhouse, Miller’s Mushrooms and May’s Produce; baked goods from Joe’s Sourdough Bread & Irish Lass Bakery; meat and eggs from Ellington Farms; and fresh cut flowers from Bloom Hill Farm & Marvins Gardens.”
This is, indeed, an old-time community market event, updated to fit the revitalized center-of-the-city times.
“Dine in the many delicious downtown eateries,” the website suggests. “Unwind with all the wonderful amenities provided by Canton Centennial Plaza, downtown galleries and the talents of local musicians.”
Application opportunities for those musicians, as well as vendors, sponsors, markers, bakers, farmers, partners and nonprofits are available at the website for Know Your Roots and at cantonfarmersmarket.com. Those interested also can obtain up-to-date information at the event’s Facebook page at Canton Ohio Farmers Market.
“The market will be open rain or shine,” the website for Know Your Roots notes, with the safety disclaimer that “we will close early” if inclement weather pops up in the market area.
Grosschmidt said there is plenty of good, fresh food on tap for those who come to the weekly market this season.
There will be “special event weeks, demonstrations and a mix of vendors (and) products.” Public restrooms “are also in the works,” she said.
Still, just being there, Grosschmidt said, enjoying “the fun community vibe that fills the plaza as live music, friends and families gather in support of our local food system” might be the biggest reward.
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Massillon Farmers' Market
The Massillon Farmers’ Market is operating in a new location this year, in the municipal parking lot behind downtown’s James Duncan Plaza on the corner of Tremont and Erie streets SE.
The market will operate on Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. June 23 through September 8.
“According to our longest attending vendor, Witmer Farms, the market started in the early ’60s and was located on Lincoln Way E in a vacant lot that is now home to the McDonald’s at the base of the viaduct,” said Linda Benson, administrative assistant to Massillon Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry. “In recent years, it has been held at the Massillon Rec Center parking lot and various downtown locations.”
Benson said Witmer Farms is a hugely popular vendor.
“People line up an hour or more ahead of opening when corn season hits,” she said. “Witmer Farms attracts patrons from all over Stark County who can’t wait to buy dozens of their delicious corn,” she said. “Additionally the market has long-standing vendors selling honey, homemade candies and baked goods, fresh meat, produce and more.”
Benson noted that the mayor’s “Imagine Downtown” that began in 2015 has come full circle with the completion of the city’s streetscape project on Lincoln Way downtown, and the completion of the renaissance of Duncan Plaza in 2021.
“Her focus was to revitalize and expand the downtown,” she said. “We believe partnering with another event will create more foot traffic and add a vibrant energy to our downtown area on Thursday afternoon/evenings. Bringing the farmers’ market into that energy is exciting this year.”
Vendors’ spaces are free. Interested vendors should contact the mayor’s office at 330-830-1700 or by email to lbenson@massillonohio.gov.
Alliance Farmers’ Market
The Alliance Farmers’ Market is held on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon, June 25 to October 1 at 1800 W State Street.
Manager Cimarron Ney-George said the market has been in operation for 14 years.
Some of the most popular vendors, she said, are Joe’s Sourdough, which offers organic sourdough bread baked in a wood-fired brick oven; Faith Harvest Farms, which specializes in local honey products, and Snyder’s Orchard, for produce.
“I don’t know of any brand new vendors quite yet; we’re waiting on more registration forms to come in,” she said. “I guess one of my most favorite things about the market is just the atmosphere. ... Music playing; we always have a local band perform at every market, on a beautiful sunny day with fresh food all around, and people happy to be out and about. It just feels like the right place to be, and it feels good to have our community come together for something so wonderful.”
Ney-George said the newest development is the market’s relocation from its previous site at the Alliance Giant Eagle parking lot to the northeast corner of State Street and Union Avenue in Alliance.
“This new location on the corner of State and Union will provide greater visibility for the market, and there will be parking spaces directly next to the grassy lot available for anyone to use,” she said. “It’s a great location for vendors and really convenient for customers. This location will hopefully become the permanent home for the Alliance Farmers’ Market.”
The deadline to register for a spot in the market is June 13. For more information or questions, visit facebook.com/alliancefarmersmarket or email farmersmarketalliance@gmail.com.
Louisville’s Second Fridays and Downtown Market Days
In Louisville, Downtown Market Days coincide with Second Friday events downtown.
Second Fridays feature artists, demonstrations, food trucks and live music.
Manager and Rotarian Jared Shive said this year’s markets will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on the second Friday of the month in June, July, August and September.
“The Louisville Rotary Club sponsors the farmers’ market event as part of their economic development area of focus,” he said. “Rotarians volunteer to help vendors set up and tear down, put up signs advertising the market and welcome you to the market. We are people of action ready to greet you with a smile and make sure you enjoy your time in Louisville.”
Shive said the farmers’ market has been operating for more than 10 years.
“The market occurs in the St. Louis Church parking lot, while the Louisville Second Fridays is happening in downtown Louisville,” he said. “This offers a chance to shop and dine at downtown businesses and enjoy a variety of activities and entertainment happening on the street and sidewalks each month.”
Shive said popular items and booths at the market include baked goods from the Pie Lady and Diane’s Sweet Tooth Treats; apples, apple cider and maple syrup; produce including vegetables, fruits and herbs; locally raised meats from Ellington Farms and Huddleston Farms; crafts, jewelry, home decor by 4th St Art, and some clothing and apparel.
Shive said he and his fellow rotarians enjoy “helping connect citizens and visitors to the community to new people, services, events and resources whether they are seeking them out or just stumble into a conversation and go from there.”
To acquire a booth or for more information, fill out the interest form at louisvillerotary.com/farmersmarkets or call 330-936-9611.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County farmers' markets offer new vendors, locations, offerings
