NELSONVILLE, Ohio — A monthly farmers market will come to Nelsonville in June, connecting area residents with fresh local food.
The Nelsonville Evening Farmers Market will take place on the first Wednesday of each month from 4–7 p.m., June through October, in the parking lot of the Athens County Community Cares Resource Center, 10 W. Washington St., on the Nelsonville Public Square.
The resource center and the farmers market are both projects of the Athens County Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS).
“The market aims to be a catalyst for community engagement, health, arts, and culture – while uplifting the local economy in Nelsonville and supporting Athens County farmers and vendors,” Georgie Wolfe, an ACDJFS public relations specialist, said in an email. “The vision for the Athens County Community Cares Resource Center is that it will provide a 360-degree approach to health and well-being. Hosting a monthly event like the NEFM fits perfectly into that vision.”
Because the market will take place in the evening, it can accommodate farmers and area residents who work during the day, and people who may have trouble attending the Athens Farmers Market on Wednesday mornings, Wolfe said.
The local ODJFS agency initiated the project through a partnership with the Athens Farmers Market.
“Since I started five years ago, I’ve wanted a way to try to get out to the smaller communities, because I know there’s transportation issues sometimes with being able to get here into Athens,” Tanya Hire, the Athens Farmers Market manager said. “This has been one of my visions.”
Wolfe and others at ACDJFS had the idea for the project when the Athens County Community Cares Resource Center resource center had its ribbon cutting. The team noticed murals on the walls surrounding the resource center’s parking lot, which feature fresh fruits and vegetables.
“Seeing paintings of vegetables/fruit on the brick wall sparked an idea,” Wolfe said in an email. “‘This would be a great space to host a farmers market.’” The rest of the team, and Executive Director Jean Demosky, agreed.
Murals at the Athens County Community Cares Resource Center in Nelsonville. Photos by Eric Boll.
The agency sought and received funding for the project from the Nelsonville Community Foundation, part of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio. The grant was made possible in part through the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation’s support for the Nelsonville Community Foundation.
Wolfe said that while Nelsonville has a local Kroger and a produce stand, options to access fresh local food are limited. The local market will support food access for area residents while also supporting local farmers.
The market places a particular emphasis on serving low-income residents.
ODJFS will distribute Operation Full Belly bags containing $15 coupons to purchase food from the market’s vendors, Wolfe said. The bags will be distributed at the market on a first-come, first-served basis.
Additionally, residents will likely be able to use their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits while getting twice the value up to $25 through the Produce Perks program, according to Hire. The market also hopes to accept WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons, Hire said.
Hire said the farmer’s market has applied to the federal Department of Agriculture for authorization to use those benefits at the Nelsonville location. “Everything’s on track right now,” Hire said, although it is not yet certain that the application will be approved.
According to Wolfe, 1,708 residents in Nelsonville and Buchtel receive SNAP benefits, while 172 residents would be eligible to receive and use WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons at the market.
Hire said that confirmed vendors for the first market in June include MoSo Farm, Sarah’s Sweets, Tucker Family Farm, The Hassle-Free Pierogi Company, Dr. May’s Thai Kitchen, Greenlee’s Greens, the Athens County Master Gardeners Association, Attican Farms, Jose Madrid Salsa, and Community Food Initiatives. Hire said she is working to secure additional vendors.
Aside from Dr. May’s Thai Kitchen, one additional food truck will serve the market each month, with different food trucks rotating in and out, Wolfe said.
The market is also working to engage local businesses and other community partners “because we really want to make it a community event,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe said ACDJFS hopes to continue the Nelsonville Farmers Market in future years, but that this year will serve as a pilot.
“We are most definitely hoping that this will be a sustainable project for future years. Being the first year, we’ll kind of see how it goes,” Wolfe said. “We just need to make sure that we get people there.”
Wolfe noted that the June market will likely be the smallest, given that more vendors will have more to offer as the season progresses.
“We have received so much positive feedback and excitement from community members and businesses surrounding this market, we are determined to do everything we can to see it succeed,” Wolfe said. “Future markets will depend on available funding opportunities, continued and growing partnerships, and community support.”
Hire said, “I’m super hopeful it’s a grand success that would then encourage Job and Family Services to consider other locations as well.”
She said she would love to see markets not only in Athens and Nelsonville, but also in other locations throughout the county down the road.
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