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Community Corner

Haymaker Farmers Market Kicks Off Season

Kent's market begins its 19th year bringing the community together over produce

Eager shoppers were welcomed by experienced farmers, several new vendors and a new market manager on Saturday morning when the Haymaker Farmers Market opened for its 19th season.

"The endless rain is definitely putting a damper on planting for all of our farmers and gardeners," said Market Manager Kelly Ferry. Ferry said that, in spite of the weather, various growing methods allow vendors to offer "a good variety of salad greens" early in the market season.

That's good news for Brian and Hilary Thomas, from Streetsboro.

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"We always come for the lettuce," Brian said.

Deborah Durkee marked her third year as a vendor at the market from her table on the southwest side of the marketplace along Franklin Avenue. Durkee sells milk, cheeses, and soap she and her husband Ed make at Ornery Goat Dairy in Edinburg.

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On the other side of the marketplace, Diane and Liz Barton, a mother- and daughter-in-law pair from Randolph, sold a variety of plants in hypertufa containers made at K & M gardens. This is the duo's first year in the Kent market.

"We're excited to be in Kent," Liz Barton said. The Bartons have enjoyed selling their herbs, jams, plants and vegetables at the Randolph market in the past, she said, and they expect to see more customers at Haymaker Farmers Market.

"We had about a dozen new vendors apply this year, but only had a few spots available," because most of the previous vendors were returning, Ferry said. One of the new vendors this year, staple foods farm Breakneck Acres Farm, located in Ravenna, offers OEFFA-certified organic dried beans and produce. 

Breakneck is one of four certified organic producers at the market, Ferry
said. Other new vendors shoppers will find at the market this season include Ohio
City Pasta, John Smith Organic Farm and Produce, and Bella Terra Farm.

Under skies that were alternately sunny and overcast, the market was busy from the moment it opened at 9 a.m. The Galgozy/Zeleny Duo began playing under the Haymaker bridge about 10 a.m. By 11 a.m., Katrina Kohout of Salt of the Earth Farm had nearly sold out her supply of free range eggs, and she was whittling down her inventory of grass-fed beef and pork and pasture-raised chicken.

Ferry seemed pleased but not surprised that the market's opening day was a busy one, and she's working to ensure it continues to grow.

Ferry said she's "working on partnerships with other organizations for cross-promotion and for building access to the market for everyone in our community, including seniors, students, children and families using the Ohio Directions card.

"We're also making education and outreach for our customers a priority, to talk with them about what organic means, and what local means," she said.

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