Farmers market to celebrate 20th anniversary

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Twenty years ago this July, a small group of farmers and home-bakers started a weekly tailgate farmers market in a parking lot in downtown Carrollton. The Carrollton Weekly Farmers Market has grown into one of the most successful small-town farmers markets in Ohio, and will celebrate its 20th anniversary season when it opens for the year on Saturday, May 3.

According to market organizers, special events are planned throughout the season to mark the 20th anniversary of the market.

"Each week this season, market customers will find a different special event, product giveaway, or special sale at the market," says Mike Hogan, Ohio State University Extension educator for Carroll County, and organizer of that first farmers market 20 years ago.

Planned weekly special events include product giveaways, special sales, and performances and demonstrations by Carroll County artisans. The Carroll County Commission for the Advancement of the Arts will feature an artisan or performer at the Carrollton farmers market on the third Saturday of each month during market season, starting with a wood-turning demonstration by Marty Chapman on May 17.

The Carrollton farmers market will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday from May 3 through Nov. 22, in the parking lot of Ponderosa Restaurant on state Route 43 south in Carrollton. On the opening day of the market, the first 50 customers to visit the Plants 4 U stand will receive a free plant. On Saturday, May 10, the first 100 children to visit Perennial Place's stand at the market will receive a free plant for mom in observance of Mother's Day.

The Carrollton farmers market will feature nearly 50 different vendors throughout the season selling locally-produced fruits, vegetables, baked goods, flowers, plants, trees, shrubs, meats, crafts, homemade candies, hand-sewn items, and other items. "The Carrollton farmers market features only locally-produced products, from families in Carroll and surrounding counties, so customers will always find the freshest, highest-quality products," says Tom Puch, president of the Carroll County Farm Marketing Association, the group which co-sponsors the market in cooperation with the Carroll County Office of OSU Extension.

For more information about the Carrollton Farmers Market, contact the Carroll County Office of OSU Extension at 330-627-4310.