Alliance Farmers' Market 

Alliance Farmers' Market kicks off its third season

By LAURIE HUFFMAN
The Alliance Review

The Alliance Farmers' Market, which kicked off its third season on Saturday, recently received a 501(C)3 rating with the federal government designating it a nonprofit organization and allowing it to receive donations.

Ginny Daniel, secretary, and Meg Mundy, president of the organization, said the event went very well this weekend and there were a lot of customers who helped the vendors take in approximately $3,800 during the three-hour market day. With a total of 18 vendors, the market has grown considerably since its debut on the first Saturday during the first year with only six vendors.

The market was filled with early produce, such as lettuces, beets, green beans, carrots, onions, potatoes and tomatoes, along with fresh fruit such as apples and berries.

Produce and fruit vendors included large producers like Snyders Orchard, of Alliance, and Maize Valley and Brenckle Farms, both of Hartville, as well fresh products brought in by a variety of smaller, local farmers.

Vendors who brought non-produce items to the market included Marshall Apiary, of Alliance, which sells locally produced honey and bees wax candles; Marcia's Baked Goods for Pets, of the Sebring area; Ornery Goat Dairy, of Atwater, which produces goat milk and goat cheese; Docaditos, of Stark County, which produces homemade salsa, bean dip, guacamole and chocolate-covered strawberries; Tri-County Growers, with fresh eggs and chicken products; and Tri-Pine Farm selling frozen beef and pork. A large selection of homemade baked goods by local vendors was also to be found.

Mundy said the market was originally begun to bring local produce to Alliance, which is why those who involved in organizing it wear T-shirts that say "I'm a locavore" on the back. The term "locavore" stands for someone who supports eating locally grown foods.

"Now that we are a nonprofit organization, one of our goals is to provide an educational component," Mundy also explained. A calendar of events is available on the website at alliancefarmersmarket.com that includes scheduled musical performances. Demonstrations will be offered weekly and community tables will also be set up.

Next Saturday, Michelle Fergason and Friends will perform folk music and classic favorites, Mundy noted, and the first segment of an eight-part Healthy Alliance nutrition program will begin with the help of Dawn Wagner, a registered dietitian from Alliance Community Hospital.

The Alliance Farmers' Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday at the red caboose on East Main Street and Mechanic Avenue in downtown Alliance, and it will continue through Oct. 16.

Daniel reminds the public that Ohio Direction Cards can also be utilized, and the Alliance Health Department will give coupons to be used at the market to WIC clients. The Stark County Area Agency on Aging also offered coupons to senior citizens, although those may already be depleted.

For more information about the market, contact Ginny Daniel at 330-821-7712 or visit www.alliancefarmersmarket.com. Shoppers at the farmers' market may also sign up to receive a monthly e-newsletter.

By STEPHANIE UJHELYI

The Review

City officials deemed this year's Alliance Fanners' Market a bona fide success and made it official with a congratulatory proclamation.

Councilman Sue Ryan, D- at large, told her colleagues at Alliance City Council that the market wrapped up the season Saturday and reported overall sales of nearly $75,000.

Organizers estimate that between 300 and 400 individuals frequented the market, which sold between $3,000 and $5,000, weekly.

Ryan recognized some of' the key contributions during this year's Fanners' Market season, including the sale of around $2,000 in fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables to low-income patrons using Ohio Direction cards.

She also noted the improved community participation, including representation from Alliance police, fire and hospital personnel, as well as the presence of the Rodman Public Library bookmobile.

This year, weekly music performances were provided, thanks to funding from ArtsInStark, as well as weekly demos. “It was really wonderful to see everything come together,” Ryan added.

The proclamation passed unanimously.

Farmers’ Market to Celebrate Grand Opening on July 4

ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Alliance Farmers’ Market will be celebrating its grand opening with a variety of community highlights on Saturday, July 4 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Mayor Toni Middleton will present the cutting of the ribbon at 9 a.m. and Pat Stone, director of Rodman Public Library and a member of the One Book One Community Committee, will be giving a history of the Market at 10 a.m.

During the grand opening, The Alliance Community Hospital will be providing free blood pressure checks and The Alliance Police Department will be providing free bike licenses for those who register at the Farmers' Market. They will also be giving away free bike locks and gun locks.

“Music at the Market,” sponsored by Arts in Stark, will be providing the local folk talent, “Rock, Salt and Nails.”  Barrie Kridler of Kridler Gardens will give a demonstration of hanging baskets and containers for summer-to-fall-color.  The Huston-Brumbaugh Nature Center will have representatives displaying summer activities available for children and adults.

The Market kicked off on June 20 and will continue until October 17. It has been successful with a variety of vendors featuring vegetables, fruits, plants, local honey, baked goods, freezer beef and pork and homemade pet treats. Customers who have the Ohio Direction Card are able to shop at The Market thanks to a grant from the USDA.

The Farmers’ Market is held at the corner of Main and Mechanic in the Caboose parking lot.  For further information, contact Ginny Daniel at (330) 821-7712 or visit the Market’s website at www.alliancefarmersmarket.com.

Click here to read an article about Brenckle Farm and the Alliance Farmers' Market from the American Vegetable Grower magazine.

ALLIANCE --The second annual Alliance Farmers’ Market will be opening on Saturday, June 20 and will run through October 17. The Market is located in the caboose parking lot at the corner of Main and Mechanic featuring a wide variety of vegetable, flower and herb plants, local honey, delicious baked goods, freezer beef and pork, early veggies, and homemade pet treats.  

Additional vendors will be joining the market as the season continues.  Market organizers are planning to build on last year’s foundation of success where, during Saturdays in the summer and fall, customers were able to meet friends, enjoy demonstrations and musical entertainment, and shop for delicious fresh, homegrown foods all in one place.

Organizers are pleased with the vendor response so far, with many of the same vendors back for their second year.  The market is looking to expand and is still in need of vendors who raise strawberries, blueberries, raspberries or cherries as well as those who make cheeses or sell fresh or frozen chicken raised on a local farm.  

“Last year at this time we weren’t sure how to Farmers’ Market would be received,” Harry Paidas, one of the organizers, said.  “After an unbelievable first year, we enter year-two more confident and with more vendors.  This year’s Market will be expanded to include a variety of vendors and activities.  We are intent on making the Farmers’ Market the place to be in Alliance on Saturday mornings.”

For the opening day, traditional Celtic and Early American music will be provided by the Dennis Kempthorne and John Whitacre of the Tytely Wounde Stryng Band.  “Music at the Market” is available through a grant from Arts in Stark.  A demonstration of container gardening with vegetables and herbs will be provided by Kridler Gardens.

Alliance Kiwanis and the Stark County Bike Club will offer bicycle safety tips and host a free bicycle and helmet inspection to all riders who come wearing their helmets.

Fred Hanacek will present information on growing tomatoes as Stark County Master Gardeners will be available to answer gardeners’ questions from 10 to 10:45 a.m.

This summer, the Alliance Farmers’ Market is able to accept Ohio Direction Cards through a grant from the Ohio Department of Agriculture and select vendors will accept WIC coupons for fruit and vegetable purchases.

For further information, contact Ginny Daniel at 330-821-7712.