Only two market Saturdays remain in 2022 including October 22 and October 29. With the season coming to a close, the Seneca County Common Ground Board has taken a look at all of the changes that took place during the 2022 season.
Over the past year the Tiffin Seneca Farmers Market has witnessed a surplus of changes. One of the main goals for the 2022 season was to continue to grow the Market Bank program. The Market Bank gives everyone, no matter their situation the opportunity to purchase fresh produce and other cottage foods. In addition to being able to accept SNAP Benefits/EBT/P-EBT, Produce Perks, Senior Farmer Market Nutrition Program Vouchers (SFMNP) and Women Infants Children Farmers Market Nutrition Vouchers (FMNP), the market bank was also able to accept credit. This year the market implemented various incentive programs to give away five dollar tokens to shoppers at the farmers market. These were all geared towards healthy lifestyles and exercise to go along with health foods.
Another one of the goals set by the Seneca County Common Ground Board was to have vendors that can sell meats, eggs, and dairy products. Last year, the market was able to add the Kiesel family who are selling frozen chicken. The Kiesel Family also sold beef in 2022. Heiser cattle company also joined the market this year also to sell frozen beef.
“Now that the market has been able to have a local meat producer selling meat at a farmers market we are looking to expand into beef, pork and other meats along with dairy products and eggs. If there are any local producers out there that are interested in selling any of these products at the farmers market please reach out to us and we will be able to point you in the right direction to make is happen,” said Kirsten Ameling, market manager.
With the 2022 season starting to wind down, the Seneca County Common Ground Board and the Market Manager are beginning to look ahead at the improvements that can be made for next season. Some future goals of the market include incorporating food trucks, live music, more children’s programming, increased food selection and more ways to include downtown businesses with the market. As always, the farmers market would like to thank Sutton Bank for sponsoring the Tiffin Seneca Farmers Market.
The vendors for this week includes: Baked By Bells, Barb and Dick’s Produce, Bella Cuisine, Countryside Acres, Clay Hill Organic, Creative Pottery, Enders Maple Treats, Freeze Dried Ohio, Flo’s Homemade Pies, Hopes Landing, LB’s Eclectic Eats, Me and the Boys, Riehm Produce Farm, Sacred Soil Farms, SNAP, the Tiffin Lions Club, and The Tiffin Elks.
To learn more about the Tiffin Seneca Farmers Market and about the Market Bank programs, visit and subscribe at www.tiffinsenecafarmersmarket.com/. If you are interested in becoming a vendor or have questions, you may contact the Market Manager, Kirsten Ameling, at manager@sccommonground.org.
About Seneca County Common Ground
Created in 2019, Seneca County Common Ground (SCCG) is a new organization whose mission is to strengthen Seneca County's local food system through collaboration to improve the overall health and growth of our community, and a vision of a vibrant, accessible, and sustainable local food system in Seneca County that supports the health of residents, businesses, and institutions. The board of the organization includes former Seneca County OSU Extension Agent and current Community Affairs Coordinator at City of Bowling Green 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 Coordinator Adam Gillmor, Director of Franciscan Earth Literacy Center Mimi Lange Johnston and local food vendors Kristy Buskirk of Clay Hill Farms and John Riehm of Riehm Produce Farm. SCCG oversees the operations of the Tiffin Seneca Farmers Market and supports other local food initiatives including the Tiffin Community Kitchen Project. Find out more at sccommonground.org or find Seneca County Common Ground on Facebook.
About the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency. Read more at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program.