SALEM, Ohio – Salem area residents can now enjoy the bounty of fresh, locally-grown produce. A Saturday morning, open air farmers’ market will open June 16 in the parking lot on the corner of East State Street and North Ellsworth Street in the downtown area.
Hours are 8 a.m. until noon.
According to market coordinator Linda Kurtz, the vendors are all local growers. No terminal truckers or wholesale buyers/sellers will be permitted in the farmers’ market.
“We want this to be a true farmers’ market,” Kurtz said. “If a vendor is selling sweet corn, I can do a spot check at his farm to make sure he’s really growing sweet corn.”
As of the end of May, eight vendors were confirmed to sell at the market, which has room for 21 sellers.
Fresher produce.
Kurtz said the market will offer items that are fresher than found in local supermarkets. “The average morsel of food travels more than 1,000 miles after it leaves the farm,” she said, adding that the products at the farmers’ market will probably be traveling only a few miles from where it was grown.
The market will be offering such seasonal produce as sweet corn, tomatoes, greens, pumpkins, peas, green beans. Related items like herbs and perennials, honey, baked goods and jams and jellies will also be sold. Traditional craft items may also be accepted.
WIC coupons will be accepted by various vendors.
The market is hosted by the City of Salem and sponsored by the downtown business revitalization group, Salem Renaissance.
It will be open weekly at least through mid-September.
Interested growers can get vendor information from Kurtz at 330-332-3163.
Other local markets.
Neighboring Carroll County is home to two farmers’ markets. The Carrollton farmers’ market is open each Saturday from July 1 through Oct. 28 from 8 a.m. until noon in the Ames Department Store parking lot, state Route 43.
In Minerva, a farmers’ market is open each Wednesday from noon until 5 p.m. in the Discount Drug Mart, state Route 183.
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