Ohio Goes To The Fair: And Celebrates National Farmers Market Week!

August is “peak” season for Ohio farmers and farmers markets. Tomatoes and corn, cantaloupe and watermelon. The taste of August is truly something special!

From August 2-8, the Ohio Farmers Market Network (OFMN) celebrated National Farmers Market Week with farmers markets, farmers and communities across the country. But our celebration won’t stop on August 9. This is just the beginning! 

National Farmers Market Week provides an opportunity to highlight the essential role farmers markets play in supporting local agriculture, improving food access, and strengthening community ties. This year, in honor of America’s signing of the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago and the ongoing America 250 initiative, we’ll celebrate Ohio’s farmers and farmers markets with “250 Ways to Love, Support and Participate in Ohio’s Farmers Markets.” Here are some of our favorite entries!

OFMN also invited Ohio students ages 5-18 to participate in the first annual Ohio Farmers Market Network National Farmers Market Week Design Contest honoring this year’s theme. The submissions were impressive and diverse, and difficult to compare. But we did it, and selected Delana Ragan, an 11-year-old student from Youngstown as our winner. Congratulations Delana! 

Finally, this month’s celebration wouldn’t be complete without a bushel of THANK YOUs to Governor DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel for recognizing our contributions.

We hope you’ll continue to celebrate and support our farmers and farmers markets. Our celebration will continue through October when we join together with America 250 to celebrate Ohio Grows: Food & Farms.