Centerburg farmers market starts Aug. 31

CENTERBURG — On Thursday, Centerburg will become the latest Knox County community to feature a farmers market.

The market will run from 4 to 7 p.m. every Thursday through Oct. 12. The catalyst behind the market is Katie Hux, proprietor of More Space at Your Place.

Hux said that when she opened her business in March, she looked out the window and saw the green space of Bell Park.

A self-described “advocate of agriculture and where things come from,” she thought, “This is the perfect place for a farmers market.”

She posted on Facebook to gauge the interest, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.

Drawing on her experience working with county government, Knox Soil & Water Conservation District, and the Knox County Park District, she set out to make it happen.

She got the approval of the village council, talked with Sabrina Schirtzinger of OSU Extension, and made sure details such as liability insurance were in place.

And the Heart of Ohio Farmers Market was born.

“The reasoning behind it being on Thursday evening is we have limited parking. On Saturday, people stopping by consume the parking,” Hux explained. “Having it on Thursday gives us the parking that’s needed.”

Hux said a few businesses plan to stay open through the market hours.

Vendors

Bell Park is located across the street from the gazebo. Thursday’s inaugural market features seven produce vendors and three craft vendors:

•Brown Cow Soap Company

•Farm at 5 Corners

•Firefly Homestead

•Gourds N Stuff

•JB Cattle Company

•Kinderhook Crafts

•Sage Farms

•The Big Green Farm Homestead

•Veggies and Eggs by Dan

•Winding Wick Creations

Vendors submitted an application to participate. They must comply with health department and Ohio Department of Agriculture rules and have a mobile food license if they are selling meat.

“The idea is this is what you have to have to be a vendor,” said Hux. “We lost a few, but we want to do things by the book and start on a successful note.

“I know a lot of the vendors personally and know they have things in place,” she continued. “A few have participated in other markets, so they already had things in place.”

Hux said she is trying to bring a Roscoe Village pioneer-type feeling to the market by having craft vendors.

“Products have to be hand-crafted,” she said. “I feel based on my experience with other events that the more variety you have, the more excited people are to shop.”

What’s in store for the future?

The market operates under Hux’s name. Hux said she did not create a nonprofit because she was unsure whether it would continue.

“It’s looking like part of our Heart of Ohio Business Association is interested in being the entity that would take on that role,” she said. “I am excited to have an entity to do that locally without having to create a nonprofit.

“It also brings recognition to the business association. I think it will be a perfect fit,” she added.

Hux wants to see the market expand to accept SNAP, Produce Perks, and senior tokens for the Eat Fresh, Eat Local program.

“We would have the ability to possibly offer those as well, but with this being our first one, we said let’s just wait and plan for that next year,” Hux said.

When asked about the need for a farmers market in a rural village that is already agriculture-oriented and sponsors the Oldtime Farming Festival, Hux replied, “If we have the farm festival, why wouldn’t we have a farmers market?

“Plus, there is no produce at the festival; it’s crafts, recreation, and entertainment. The market hopefully will be in addition to what Centerburg can say we have. I feel like in order to grow the village, the more things we can have in town, the businesses will flourish.”

Hux noted the village is seeing a lot of new faces and experiencing a lot of growth, much of it due to people moving out of the city.

So what is her definition of success for the market?

“Educating people on the concept of farm to table. That they realize where their food comes from and appreciate that the people are growing local foods to support the community.”