Olde Worthington Farmers Market

The Local Foods subgroup of Sustainable Worthington invested over 1000 hours of volunteer time to help launch the winter market beginning in November, 2007, and then to establish a Friends group to sustain the winter market. Both summer and winter farmers market are projects of the Olde Worthington Business Association.

Friends

The Old Worthington Farmers Market Friends is a group of volunteers dedicated to enhancing the Farmers Market experience by promoting healthy, locally produced food and products, providing education on healthy living, eating locally and sustainably, and strengthening our bonds as a community. Click here to visit the Friends web page.

Winter Market

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 (OWBA) and an expansion of Worthington's successful summer farmers market. Special thanks go to the City of Worthington's Griswold Center for hosting the winter market.

Visit OWBA's website at www.owba.net for the latest information about the Olde Worthington Farmers Market - both summer and winter.

Survey of Customers and Vendors

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.

If you do not have a copy of Adobe Acrobat, click here to download a free copy to use to read PDF files.

Update to City Council

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.