One Market Season Ends, Another Begins

What an incredible 19th season we've had at the market - chock full of gifts and challenges.  The biggest challenges have been for the dedicated, talented farmers of northeast Ohio, who started off the season with constant rain that kept many of them out of their fields until as late as mid-June. The rain was followed almost immediately by weeks of blazing, wilting heat. Then it began to rain again and it hasn't stopped. For two and a half months it's rained, and rained, and rained some more, so the plants are missing out on much-needed sunshine for photosynthesis, and the fields are compacted mud that eats boots off of feet, or are completely under water and sprouting cattails and becoming home to frogs. Our farmers are out there often with water sloshing over the tops of their boots while they harvest very slow-growing fall crops right now. It's rained more here this season than it has ever rained in recorded meteorological history for this area. And yet, each Saturday they arrive at the Haymaker Farmers' Market with their trucks loaded with beautiful, vibrant, and abundant produce. Their yields are down, but really, we wouldn't know it unless we asked. 

This is where I would normally bid everyone a fond farewell until next season, but this year we roll right into our Winter Market at Roosevelt High School that begins November 5. I want to thank you, our devoted customers, for supporting local producers and helping to build a stronger local food economy with your hard-earned dollars and your community-building presence each week. Thank you to the musicians who have entertained us with their wide variety of talents, and the civic organizations that have engaged our customers and vendors alike. Thank you to the Kent Environmental Council for their generous donation, which is allowing community members to purchase locally grown and produced food with their Ohio Direction Card. And thank you to Joseph Hughes and Casey Myers for designing our beautiful, well-received new logo.

I also want to say a huge thank you to all of the vendors who participated in the market this season – more than 50 joined us this season – bakers, jelly makers, cheese artisans, ranchers, cooks, food lovers, artists, and most of all to the farmers, for without them, we wouldn't have a farmers' market at all. You all bring an amazing variety of quality products to downtown Kent each week throughout the season – for this we are blessed beyond measure.

Here's to a fantastic winter market, a short, but necessary mid-winter break, and more favorable weather conditions for next year's 20th Anniversary season!

Haymaker Winter Farmers' Market dates 
 1400 N. Mantua St., Kent
9 am to noon in the atrium by the auditorium
Parking available in front and back - both entrances open

Nov. 5 - TRHS Craft Fair 

Nov. 12

Nov 19 - TRHS Canned Food Drive

Dec. 3

March 17

March 24

April 7

April 21

May 5

Haymaker will take a break for January and February, but local food will be available at the Kent Winter Market run by Katrina Kohout at on Temple Ave. in Kent - open Saturdays 9am-4pm.

Our 4th Annual Holiday Markets

Dec. 10 & 17

9am - 1pm 

11 South River Street downtown Kent, Ohio.
Sponsored by Attorneys LLC.
Canned food drive both dates to benefit Kent Social Services
30+ vendors - local food items, handmade gift items, free live music, and more!