Friday, October 20th, 2023
To Market, To Market
Shop in comfort at indoor market
By Leslie Klosterman
Photo by Leslie Klosterman/The Daily Standard
Produce from Lauber Farms of Fort Recovery sits on display at the Celina Winter Market on Thursday in the PBS Animal Health Building at the Mercer County Fairgrounds.
CELINA - Celina is now home to an indoor winter farmers' market offering fresh produce and local goods throughout the coldest months.
The Celina Winter Market is an extension of the Celina Farmers' Market, featuring vendors that sell edible products, all natural soap and body products, candles and live plants.
The market had its opening night on Thursday evening and will run weekly through April. The market will be open from 4-7 p.m. on Thursdays in the PBS Animal Health Building at the Mercer County Fairgrounds.
Melvin Stein, operations manager and committee member of the farmers' market, said the idea of hosting a winter market in the county has been brewing for years. Many vendors at the summer market continue to produce throughout the winter, he said.
"We now have some producers who have greenhouses locally that are able to grow through the winter as well. And of course they need access to the shoppers," Stein said. "It's one of those things that as you develop your business … you need access to the market to make a livelihood."
Photo by Leslie Klosterman/The Daily Standard
Rinehart Acres of New Knoxville offers a wide variety of goods, including homemade jams, salad dressings, salsas, relishes, fruit butters and more.
After speaking with numerous vendors, the committee determined there was enough interest to make the market viable. The winter market currently has 16 vendors, although Stein said that number will continue to grow.
During the summer farmers' market, committee members surveyed customers to gauge their interest in the winter market. Stein said the results were "unanimously positive."
As the committee sought a location to host the market, Stein said Mercer County Fairgrounds officials stepped up and suggested the 6,000 square-foot PBS building near the main entrance of the fairgrounds.
The PBS building is not available on the weekends, so organizers had to choose a weekday to hold the market. They settled on 4-7 p.m. on Thursdays based on the results of a second customer survey.
"Our shoppers drove a lot of our planning for this market," Stein said. "And after evaluating that data, presenting that to the committee and to the chamber of commerce, we got the green light."
Although the summer market features craft and home good vendors, the winter market will largely offer edible items, such as fresh produce, meats and baked goods due to limited space.
The winter market moves the committee closer to meeting its goal of offering fresh, local and healthy food year-round.
Photo by Leslie Klosterman/The Daily Standard
Apple butter from Wehrman Farms of Fort Loramie.
"There was nothing for our produce growers and farmers' market," he said. "So for the sake of the community, for the sake of vendors, this was an important step forward."
"As part of the farmers' market committee, one of the objectives we have is to help local people get into the food production business so that we have local foods for our food security," he continued. "And on top of that, we want the foods made available to be produced as often as possible, and local people are better at doing that."
Stein said the market is possible because of support not only from vendors and customers, but also the Celina-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce and the fairgrounds.
Photo by Leslie Klosterman/The Daily Standard
Customers browse products from Bended Knee Acres of Venedocia, which specializes in goat's milk soaps, lotions and body products.
The market is still accepting vendors that sell edible products, all natural soap and body products, live plants and flowers and candles. Vendors can apply online at celinafarmersmarket.com.
To stay up-to-date with the market and its current offerings, visit the Celina Farmers' Market Facebook page.
Stein also noted there are several craft markets and events in the area as winter progresses, including a holiday craft show from 6-8 p.m. today and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday in the Cooper Farms Junior Fair Building and the multi-purpose building at the fairgrounds.
Photo by Leslie Klosterman/The Daily Standard
Produce from Sudhoff Tree Farm of Fort Recovery.
Photo by Leslie Klosterman/The Daily Standard
Fruit butters from Rinehart Acres at the Celina Winter Market on Thursday.
Photo by Leslie Klosterman/The Daily Standard
Purple cabbage from Lauber Farms.
Photo by Leslie Klosterman/The Daily Standard
Honey from Moorman Bee Farm of St. Henry.
