Olde Worthington Farmers Market
Sustainable Worthington is supporting the Olde Worthington Business Association in creating a group of volunteers (Friends) to
support educational outreach and service programs at the Olde Worthington Farmers Market. If you would like to join the
new email list for the Friends group please Contact Us.
With your help, we can continue to sustain what has become a jewel of the Olde Worthington Community.
Now, we would like to expand the market experience to not only include providing access to fresh, locally
grown produce, eggs, locally-produced meat and many other goods and goodies throughout the year,
but also by providing educational outreach and service programs as well. We are looking for volunteers who can help promote the Market's vision of sustainability,
which includes education about healthy living, eating locally and sustainably, and strengthening urban-rural bonds.
The Local Foods subgroup of Sustainable Worthington worked closely with the Worthington Farmers
Market Manager to help bring about the first winter farmers market in the Columbus area right here in Worthington beginning November
25, 2007! The winter market is a project of the
Olde Worthington Business Association
and an expansion of Worthington's
successful summer farmers market which is held every Saturday from 9-12 on the sidewalks of downtown Worthington, Ohio.
Special thanks go to the City of Worthington's Griswold Center for hosting the winter market.
Please join us for the winter market again in 2008/2009! You can expect to find a wide variety of products including
meats, cheese, baked goods, jams and jellies and confections as well as greens such as spinach and root vegetables
such as potatoes - all grown right here in Ohio!
Members of Sustainable Worthington worked with the Farmers Market Manager to develop the surveys (below).
Volunteers distributed the survey at Plant Fest - the opening day of the 2007 season and then compiled the results.
We would like to
extend special thanks to Jeff Sharp (Associate Professor of Rural Sociology, Ohio State University,
Social Responsibility Initiative),
who served as an advisor to us in developing this survey - his analysis of the results are also included.
The survey confirmed our enthusiasm for a winter market. Over 95% of customers surveyed said they
would patronize a winter farmers market!
Approximately half of the customers surveyed were from the city of Worthington, with the remainder coming from
as far away as Marion and Defiance. The vendors were
also enthusiastic about the market with 21 of 44 vendors surveyed indicating strong interest in participating in the
market. Please see the detailed survey results for more information.
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If you do not have a copy of Adobe Acrobat, click here
(or on the icon to the right) to download a free copy to use to read PDF files.
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On Monday, February 4th, 2008 market manager Jan Staats and members of Sustainable Worthington presented an update
about the winter farmers market to the Worthington City Council. This presentation includes results of the
"dot surveys" completed at the market in December 2007 and January 2008.
Copyright 2008 Sustainable Worthington. All Rights Reserved.
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