Haymaker Market Manager Returns for 2012

The board of directors of the Haymaker Farmers’ Market (HFM) voted unanimously at their April 15 meeting to extend the contract of market manager Kelly Ferry for the 2012-2013 season.

Ferry, the first paid market manager, was to manage the 2011 season.

“We’ve been thrilled with the work Kelly has done,” said HFM Board of Directors and Hiring Committee member Kristen Pool. “She exceeded our expectations in the day-to-day management and put in many more hours beyond those specified in her contract to promote and expand the market and create worthwhile new partnerships.”

Ferry, a Kent resident who has a background in marketing and graphic design, is responsible for selecting the vendors who sell at the market and the musicians who play each week. She also promotes the market on Facebook, Twitter, the market website, a blog, and weekly email newsletter.

Ferry voluntarily organized and ran the first ever HFM Winter Market this last year.

“Several produce vendors have season-extending high tunnels and needed an outlet for selling their produce outside of the regular season,” Ferry said. She secured use of Theodore Roosevelt High School for markets during the coldest part of the year, and she started holding markets at the Franklin Ave site in March.

Ferry also set up , allowing Ohio Direction Card users to use their benefits to purchase locally grown and produced products. The new service also lets market customers purchase tokens to use at the market with their debit or credit card for a small fee.

In addition, Ferry is working with the city of Kent, the Wick Poetry Center at Kent State, and the Kent State Campus Kitchen . “This season the mural project will be completed, and students from the Campus Kitchen at (Kent State) will be on site through mid-August doing nutrition
and cooking demos using seasonal produce,” Ferry said.

Ferry says she is excited about the upcoming season and the lineup of vendors, which includes both long-time and brand new local farmers, bakers and other producers. "It’s such a pleasure working with these talented people every week to help build our local food economy and create access to fresh, healthy food for our community," she said.

Haymaker Farmers Market celebrates its 20th anniversary of operation in 2012. Starting May 26, the market will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday through Oct. 27 on Franklin Avenue under the Haymaker overpass.