The North End Farmers’ Market held its first vendor meeting Thursday at the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 169 hall in Mansfield. The market is hosted by the North End Community Improvement Collaborative (NECIC), in partnership with USW Local 169 and North End Elders.
The market will be a welcome addition to the north end of Mansfield, held the second and fourth Tuesday each month, May 13 through October 28, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the USW Local 169 building located at 376 West Longview Avenue.
The two main goals of the market, noted Jean Taddie, NECIC Community Garden/Local Foods Program Coordinator, are to increase fresh food access in the north end, and to grow the market’s capacity to support institutional consumers year round.
“We would like to make better access to healthy foods, and obviously support local foods and entrepreneurs, bakers and craft folks, too, and encourage new growers,” said Taddie.
The area demand for fresh produce has increased with the loss of Ritchie’s Market, a need Taddie hopes to see met by the North End Farmers’ Market. The market’s centralized location places it in walking distance of the Johns Park neighborhood.
In a survey conducted by Taddie, area residents and North End Elders rated the foods they would be most interested in finding at the market. Sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnip greens, green beans, potatoes, onions, corn, strawberries, watermelon, and peaches topped the list, though every item listed had at least a few votes.
Although the North End Farmers’ Market will be a new addition to the existing Mansfield area markets, the focus is collaboration, not competition.
Jennifer Gray, representative of the Downtown Mansfield Farmers’ Market, said, “The local food movement is huge right now, and is definitely growing in this area. I think the more we are able to help each other in their own respective markets, everybody’s going to benefit in the end. I love to see this collaboration going. I love what you are doing down here.”
“The local year round markets, I’ve gone to places in Toledo and Cleveland and Columbus, they are huge there. They are a huge draw tourism-wise. I think it would only benefit this area if we were able to catapult these markets into that year long market,” she continued.
Tina Picman, WIC Program Director, explained the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), a dual purpose program which benefits both WIC participants and farmers. In the program, WIC participants are given five $3 coupons with which to purchase authorized fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs from authorized farmers at farmers’ markets and farm stands. To accept WIC FMNP coupons, a vendor must be approved. Those vendors interested in accepting WIC should contact the WIC office at 419-774-4560.
The North End Farmers’ Market plans to accept Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This will be a market-wide program, with SNAP participants receiving color coded cards at a central location to be spent at the market. Those cards may be redeemed by vendors at the end of each market day.
All items sold at the market must be home grown or homemade and follow the Cottage Food guidelines put forth by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, as well as all applicable health department regulations.
Spaces are still available. Seasonal vendors, as well as growers that would like to sell excess produce for as little as one day are welcome. There is no charge to vend, but all vendors must fill out an application. Contact Jean Taddie for more information at 419-525-3101. Vendors must supply their own tables and other equipment.
