Six Vendors Committed To First Farmers Market

The turnout of vendors for the first night of the Archbold Farmer's Market, which opens tomorrow night, Thursday, will be light, said Nanette Buehrer, Archbold Area Chamber of Commerce director.

Cool, wet weather delayed the ripening of some locallygrown vegetables.

Rules for the Farmers Market require that the fruits and vegetables offered for sale be grown within 50 miles of Archbold.

So far, Buehrer said six vendors have committed to the first night, Thursday, July 2.

"There will be a more vendors later, with a larger variety of goods," she said.

There also will be baked goods from local cottage industries.

More Than Food

Buehrer said she's working on booking a musician or two to entertain the crowd, which will gather on Depot St. from 3:30 to 7 pm.

There will be educational sessions at 4:30 and 6 pm. They will be led by speakers from the Fulton County Ohio State University Extension Office, county pork producers, and Sauder Village.

Preparations

Farmers Market signs will appear at the north and south end of the village.

"For the most part, the merchants are very appreciative of what the chamber is trying to do," she said.

The chamber received an Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant to assist with marketing.

The Archbold Farmers Market task force has taken the project from concept to reality is about 3 1/2 months, she said.

That task force has had to do everything, from developing the rules and regulations for the event to registering it with the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

"It's amazing how passionate the task force is," she said.