TIFFIN, OHIO – October 23, 2020 – The very last market of the year is Saturday, October 24. As the 2020 market season is coming to a close, and market organizers thank the community for their support and 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 thanking their sponsor and 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 food and 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."
First- year Market Manager Courtney Heiser said, “I’ve had a great time working with the vendors and interacting with customers throughout the 2020 market season. As the market manager, I am so grateful for the patience and guidance from the vendors throughout this season and the continued support and cooperation from customers. Thanks to everyone who helped make the 2020 season successful.”
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 – local pickled vegetables and relishes
· Barb & Dicks – homegrown produce
· Bella Cuisine – fresh, handmade baked goods, pastries, and jams
· Bear Haven Bakery – delicious pies, sticky pig cookies, and more
· Cassie’s Candles – homemade soy wax candles
· 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
· JP’s Carving – handcrafted woodworking items
· LB’s Eclectic Eats – an eclectic mix of crazy, fun culinary creations
· Miss Cindy’s Cookies – handmade, fresh cookies
· Me & The Boys – homemade scented wax melts
· New Riegel Legion – raffle tickets*
· Ohio Can – baked goods*
· One Mulberry Tree – jellies*
· Project Positivity – home décor and custom woodworking
· Raizen Girls Cookies – fresh, homemade cookies
· Riehm Produce Farm – farm-fresh, homegrown produce
· Roseleaf Flowers – beautiful flower arrangements
· Subtle Verse Photography – custom photography items
· Tiffin’s Lions Club – cleaning supplies
· St. Francis Spirituality Center – raffle tickets
· Tina’s Treasures – handcrafted pottery
· Tom & Jackie Cook – pumpkins
· Tylan McCollum – glass and ceramic art*
(*denotes new vendor)
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 the market on October 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.