Last Thursday, the Bexley Farmers’ Market held its last day of sales for the season. Since May, the citizens of Bexley have gone to the market every Thursday for fresh foods and treats.
In honor of the market’s eighth season, several vendors discussed their experiences and what the market means not just to them, but also the Bexley community as a whole.
The market was set up along South Dawson Avenue, which is practically a three-minute walk from the heart of Capital’s campus. Dawson Avenue is mainly brick road, which aesthetically contributed to the overall experience of exploring the market. Seeing all the stalls peddling various goods down the brick road can make anyone feel that they’re in a traditional marketplace.
Among the stalls that sell traditional market foods such as fruits and vegetables, there were also some interesting ones that were tailored to specific products and customer wants. For instance, one stall ran under the name of Tie Dye Larry, which was run by the husband-and-wife team of Larry and Laura Todd. Products included tie-dye shirts and colorful jewelry, along with the classic little treats known as “buckeyes,” which of course look similar to the famous state nut.
“My buckeyes have gone well with the Capital students, and his tie-dyes always do,” Laura Todd said.
Some other savory treats that were available for purchase in the market were mini doughnuts. A food truck was completely dedicated to preparing and cooking the dough from scratch. Customers had the opportunity to choose the seasonal flavor of pumpkin spice, and could also fancy up their doughnuts with toppings that included powdered sugar, cinnamon, and chocolate syrup. Eating warm doughnuts on a chill, fall day is the perfect combination.
Another stall that was present was Ohio City Pasta, which specializes in the creation of fresh pastas, raviolis, and sauces. Greg Hriczo was the vendor here, and explained that the small business had been participating in the market for several years now. For him, markets like this mean a lot to small businesses.
“It’s a good place to support local small businesses,” said Hriczo. “A lot of vendors here come from within a 50-mile radius.”
Farmers’ markets are indeed a good way to support local producers, but they also serve as a great resource for local residents. Barry Keller, a vendor selling SaraBee Pure Honey products, elaborated on this.
“I think for Bexley, it’s a great neighborhood market,” Keller said. “It allows people to be able to walk to the market and find fresh produce, pure honey, baked goods, jams, and coffee. Residents can come and get their favorite things weekly.”
The importance and popularity of the market can definitely show in its average customer base that arrive every Thursday. Jaime Moore, who has been coordinating this event for several years now, mentioned the amount of people they can usually expect to see.
“We have always been impressed by the crowd here in Bexley,” said Moore. “Short of a day like today when it gets a little cold and chilly, but usually we can see anywhere from 4,600 customers a day.”
Among all the customers at the market was first-year Capital student Hannah Singleton. Singleton was attending the market with a group of friends and talked about her experiences there.
“It’s been fun, it’s been interesting, and you know, it’s neat to see all the local things that people do. It’s nice to support locally.”
