Who We Are...
The Ohio Farmers Market Network, formerly known as the Farmers Market Management Network or FMMN, is a 501(c)3 organization representing the interests of farmers markets throughout Ohio, their managers and vendors. Founded in 2008 as a cooperative, our mission is simple:
"To support and strengthen farmers markets in Ohio."
Today, the Ohio Farmers Market Network (OFMN) provides Ohio farmers markets and vendors with resources, tools, networking opportunities and a unified voice for public policy. Over the past 10 years, OFMN has worked with member and non-member markets and farmers, as well as the general public, throughout Ohio.
Our network works cooperatively with market managers, vendors, municipalities and other agencies to identify common goals and align resources when possible. In doing so, we address concerns of markets large and small, representing urban, suburban and rural markets and producers.
Our vision for the future? Sustainable markets and profitable farmers and food producers.
Why We're Here...
The mission of the Ohio Farmers Market Network is to:
- Provide access to local foods.
- Assist area farmers, food producers, and artisans with sustainable business opportunities.
- Further the economic development of our communities.
- Assess and address the needs of farmers markets around Ohio.
- Provide opportunity for professional development.
- Represent our agricultural partners in local, state, and federal issues.
Who We're Workin' With...
Our work is generated by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of managers, vendors and stakeholders from around Ohio. Allow us to introduce the 2021-2022 board members:
Jaime Hadji
Chair
Get Fresh Markets & Ohio Nutrition Incentive Network
Jaime Hadji is a passionate advocate for local farmers and consumer access to locally-sourced and produced goods—both as co-founder and co-owner of Wayward Seed Farm and Great River Organics, and as a Certified Farmers Market Manager of several Central Ohio farmers markets.
Hadji has a bachelor’s in Hospitality Management from The Ohio State University, and more than 15 years of experience in both food and customer service. She brings a unique blend of business acumen and an understanding of marketing that is a rarity in farming. With a genuine passion for agriculture and fresh and local food, Hadji is an ideal ambassador for not only the farm itself, but for the education and expansion of farmers markets and CSA throughout the community.
Charlie Ernstes
Candu Farm
Together with his family, Charles Ernstes started Candu Farm 25 years ago in Bethel, Ohio. From selling peppers at roadside stands, Ernstes has grown his business to include more than 50 varieties of vegetables sold at markets throughout the greater Cincinnati area.
As an active member of several farmers markets boards, Charlie is a voice for farmers market vendors, vegetable farmers and his community. And as Charlie says, “I'm hoping I can do this for another 25 years—it's a love affair with growing food for people.”
Dan Madigan
Toledo Farmers’ Market & Ohio Nutrition Incentive Network
Dan Madigan is the Executive Director of The Farmers Market Association of Toledo. Since 2003, Madigan has overseen the farmers cooperative that operates the Toledo and Westgate Farmers Markets. He serves on the Ohio Nutrition Incentive Network advisory committee, Produce Perks, and is the head of the Northwest Ohio regional spoke. Prior to Produce Perks, Dan implemented Double Up Food Bucks, an incentive program of the Fair Food Network.
Madigan’s primary work has been the Director of Facility Services for MaritzCX in Maumee, Ohio since 2004. In addition, he serves as an associate board member of the Sun Federal Credit Union. Dan has been married to his wife, Robin, for 36 years. They have two children and live in Waterville, Ohio.
Dan Woods
9N Farm
Bio coming soon!
Ross Olson
Oxford Farmers Market
Manager of the Oxford Farmers Market since 2018, Ross is new to the world of direct-to-consumer marketing. A long-time Farmers
Market enthusiast, Ross found his calling to get more involved in local food and agriculture through the Oxford Farmers Market, in Oxford, Ohio.
A transplant to the area from Northern California, Ross has happily found himself putting down roots in Ohio. When he isn’t working on Farmers Market activities, Ross is often outside, getting his hands dirty clearing invasive species, or working on a landscaping project.
If you ask him what the best thing about the Farmers Market is, he’ll say, "It’s the sense of community.”
Other areas of interest to Ross include working on increased access to locally grown produce, with the Institute for Food at Miami University, and with student groups at the University to promote local agriculture and sustainability.
Liz Stites
Vice Chair
Hyde Park Farmers' Market
Liz Stites took the helm as owner/general manager of Hyde Park Farmers’ Market (HPFM) in 2018, after many years of being a market volunteer. HPFM is the premier farmers’ market in the greater Cincinnati region. Stites has a clear vision for how HPFM can continue to evolve, strengthen the regional food shed and bring the community closer together.
Her passion for fresh, local food is derived from her long-time study of Ayurvedic medicine and modern science’s understanding of the impact daily diet and lifestyle decisions have on one’s wellbeing.
Prior to HPFM, Stites was a corporate marketing executive and owner of a tech market consulting firm. She earned a B.S. in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Michigan. Stites is a board member of both the Ohio Farmers Market Network (OFMN) and the Ohio Food Policy Network (OFPN).
Michelle White
Secretary
Clintonville Farmers’ Market & Get Fresh Markets
Michelle White is a Certified Farmers Market Manager, and has served as manager of the Clintonville Farmers’ Market since 2013. She is co-founder of Get Fresh Markets, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting small family farm and food businesses by operating successful neighborhood farmers markets. White graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in English Literature in 2006. Ever since, she's been passionate about mapping the story of local food and farming and passing it along to others.
Sara Hill
Garrettsville Farmers Market
Dennis Phillip Moore Jamandre
Uncle Giant
Dennis is a Newark native and along with his husband Brian own Uncle Giant, a local, home bakery based in Newark, Ohio. Dennis is a founding member of the Vendor Advisory Committee of the Newark Canal Market District where he was charged with authoring the preliminary market rules and guidelines. Uncle Giant currently sells in the Clintonville Farmers Market, The Canal Market District, Moonlight Market and Coffee Fest. He is the founding past President of the Newark Ohio Pride Coalition.
Dennis spent time traveling and living abroad working primarily in the field of Retail Technology on the east coast and Ljubljana, Slovenia where he encountered a full-time farmer’s market operating 7 days a week. This gave him an appreciation and desire to encounter and perhaps be a part of something similar back home. Dennis attended the Ohio State University majoring in Journalism.