TIFFIN, OHIO – October 8, 2020 – Only two market Saturdays remain in 2020 including October 10 and October 24. Though this season is coming to a close, market organizers are already thinking ahead to future markets.
With the recent announcement of the Community Kitchen project at Old Trinity Episcopal Church, the board of Seneca County Common Ground, the group leading the market, is looking forward to exciting partnership opportunities to utilize the kitchen space.
Reverend Aaron Gerlach is the both the pastor at Old Trinity and the President of the Seneca County Common Ground Board. “On market days, a pop-up restaurant in the community kitchen could serve breakfast and lunch made from food available at the market and prepared by local chefs. Cooking classes could be offered to the community that would educate the public about using seasonally and local available foods,” Gerlach said. “The community kitchen could also be used to prepare a farm-to-table community meal during the height of the growing season.”
Seneca County Common Ground is also looking forward to strengthening their community partnerships and relationships in the future. Sutton Bank is the major market sponsor for 2020. Tony Gorrell, President & CEO of Sutton Bank said, "One of the niches that Sutton Bank strives to support in our community is the ag sector, and supporting the market allows us to tie together our local customer base and our agricultural partners." Gorrell said. "We were pleased that a market was still able to take place this year despite the difficulties of COVID-19. The market offers our community the ability to choose locally sourced products which supports both agriculture and small business.”
The market is also looking to expand the number and variety of local produce vendors. Seneca County Common Ground is working with board member and Seneca County OSU Extension Agent, Hallie Williams, to explore the possibility of local producers selling meats, dairy products and eggs at the markets in the future.
Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz said, "The farmers market provides a tremendous value for our community and substantially enhances the quality of life for our residents. I look forward to its growth and expansion in the coming years."
As the market season comes to a close, almost 30 vendors are participating with everything from pumpkins to pottery. At this Saturday’s market, you can expect to find the following vendors.
· Adah Glees Garden – locally grown vegetables
· Barb & Dicks – homegrown produce
· Bella Cuisine – fresh, handmade baked goods, pastries, and jams
· Blossoms & Butterflies – local garden club
· Clay Hill Organic – certified organic produce and fresh flower bouquets
· Countryside Acres – fresh, homegrown produce
· Creative Pottery- handmade clay pottery
· Drown's Produce – fresh, local produce
· Friends of the Tiffin-Seneca Public Library- book giveaway
· Guerro’s Hobby Homestead – fresh salsas
· JP’s Carving – handcrafted woodworking items
· Joni Davis – delicious homemade pies and sweets
· Joseph’s Greenhouse – produce and mums
· Creative Pottery – handmade clay pottery
· LB’s Eclectic Eats – homemade cupcakes, brownies, and snacks
· Miss Cindy’s Cookies – handmade, fresh cookies
· Me & The Boys – homemade scented wax melts
· Pink Lady Food Truck – gourmet grilled sandwiches
· Project Positivity- home décor and custom woodworking
· Raizen Girls Cookies – fresh, handmade cookies
· Riehm Produce Farm – farm-fresh, homegrown produce
· RoseLeaf Flowers – beautiful flower arrangements
· Seneca County Helping Hands – face coverings
· Subtle Verse Photography- custom photography items
· Smith Brothers Sweets – local, one-of-a-kind jams, jellies, and syrups
· Tiffin Lions Club- raffle tickets
· Tina Mira- Handcrafted pottery
· Tiffin’s Elks Club – raffle tickets
· Tom & Jackie Cook – pumpkins
Seneca County Common Ground also plans to launch their “Friends of the Market” program in 2021 which will allow community members to get involved and support the market financially and through volunteer opportunities.
For more information about the market or vendors, please visit www.tiffinsenecafarmersmarket.com, or stop by one of the upcoming markets on October 10 and 24. The Tiffin Seneca Farmers Market runs from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and is located on South Washington Street between Market and Perry Streets in Downtown Tiffin.
About Seneca County Common Ground
Created in 2019, Seneca County Common Ground is a nonprofit organization supporting local food & agriculture and promoting access to fresh foods for Seneca County residents. The board of the organization includes Seneca County OSU Extension Agent Hallie Williams, Reverend Aaron Gerlach of Old Trinity Episcopal Church, local business owner and chair of the Downtown Retailers Committee Dave Spridgeon, local business leader Dale Depew, TSEP Development Manager Audrey Flood, and local food vendors Kristy Buskirk of Clay Hill Farms and John Riehm of Riehm Produce Farm. Seneca County Common Ground oversees the operations of the Tiffin Seneca Farmers Market and supports other local food initiatives. Our market manager is Courtney Heiser. Find out more at sccommonground.org or find Seneca County Common Ground on Facebook.
