ASHLAND — The 20th annual Downtown Farmer’s Market kicked off Wednesday, June 3 with a variety of vendors selling homemade crafts and foods.
Organized by Ashland Main Street, the farmer’s markets will run every Wednesday throughout the summer from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce parking lot, 211 Claremont Avenue.
“We have some new vendors and some of the old ones came back, too,” Ashland Main Street executive director Sandra Tunnell said.
She counted ten vendors in total for the inaugural 2020 farmer’s market, but anticipates more in the coming weeks — especially when strawberries are in season.
The Downtown Farmer’s Market is operating under new hours this year. Previously, the market began and ended earlier, but the hours were pushed back after requests for hours that lined up with the end of the workday.
Diana Crist of Ashland has participated in the Downtown Farmer’s Market for about six years. She sells homemade blankets, bibs, burp clothes and throws.
“I retired and needed something to do in my spare time,” she said. “I like to go to these, talk to people and find out what they want or like.”
Often she sells items at the market, but she also enjoys connecting with potential customers for custom orders.
Rita Bartram of Mansfield was also set up at the first Downtown Farmer’s Market of the season.
The owner Oh So Delicious offered bypasses samples of her homemade dips and sweet spreads.
“This is my first time at Ashland’s farmer’s market. I live in Mansfield and do ones in Mansfield and Bucyrus,” Bartram said. “I had started out in farmer’s markets, and then I went on to do big festivals like the Prairie Peddler, and well, then COVID-19 changed everything, so I thought, I’d go back to my farmer’s market.”
Instead of placing her dips and spreads out for potential customers to try, she kept them in bottles and distributed them to potential customers with spoons and plates.
Booths at the farmer’s market were placed well over six feet apart from one another. Hand sanitizer was and will continue to be available at the event. Those in attendance are encouraged to practice safe distancing.
