LIMA — Now entering its third year, the Lima Farmers Market presented by St. Rita’s Medical Center aims to bring a fresh take on shopping to Lima’s downtown.
“I was part of the [Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce’s] agribusiness committee three years ago, and we wanted to revitalize the agricultural part of Allen County and bring it to the downtown community, bridging that gap,” organizer Jane Higbie said. “Agriculture is a huge part of our economy here where we live and work, and we just wanted to bring that downtown and encourage people to shop local and buy fresh products.”
While the farmers market got off to a very good start its first year, attendance suffered last year because of a very wet summer.
“We’re definitely hoping for better weather this year,” Higbie said.
This year’s incarnation features between 10 and 15 vendors, with products ranging from garden-fresh produce to soaps and lotions to flowers to canned jams and jellies. Higbie is hopeful to have some additional fresh produce vendors join in as more garden produce comes into season.
“We try to emphasize, though, that we are not a crafting market,” she said, meaning crocheted and other handcrafted items would not apply.
Part of the appeal of farmers markets is supporting local businesses, much the same as supporting other locally owned businesses such as The Meeting Place on Market or Alter Ego Comics.
“The money stays right here,” Higbie said.
Melissa Adkins, owner of Wapakoneta-based The Market Plants and Produce, was one of the vendors at Tuesday’s opening day, along with her mother, Theresa. With local produce, the younger Adkins said, you know exactly where your produce is coming from, often coming straight from the garden to the customer.
“We’ve had people come down to us in Wapakoneta looking for something, and we may not have it out, and I’ll say, ‘Hold on, let me go get it,’” she said. “I’ll go right out to the garden and pick it for them.”
Local produce can also be a healthier alternative, with fewer chemicals and preservatives added.
“We went all natural this year,” according to Teresa Heath of LACNIP Community Gardens. “We had no artificial fertilizers or pesticides.”
The Lima Farmers Market will be open from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays at Market Street’s Trinity Park.
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