New at BG farmers’ market: Check produce at ‘Veggie Valet’ - Sentinel-Tribune | Sentinel-Tribune | Sentinel-Tribune

New at BG farmers’ market: Check produce at ‘Veggie Valet’

Written by Sentinel-Tribune Staff

Saturday, 16 March 2013 07:38

File photo. Linda Joseph arranges zucchini at her booth at last year's Farmer's Market in downtown Bowling Green. (Photo: Enoch Wu/Sentinel-Tribune)

When the Downtown Farmers' Market in Bowling Green returns in May, organizers will be incorporating several suggestions gathered from the community in a year-long study that concluded in late 2012.
"The new features we're implementing at the market this year are intended to make the downtown more of a summertime destination for area residents and to make the market more responsive to our customers' needs and wishes," said Barbara Ruland, executive director of Downtown Bowling Green and the leader of the strategic planning study.
The Downtown Farmers' Market was begun in 2010 and has grown steadily since. The planning study was funded by a grant from the Center for Farmland Policy Innovation at Ohio State University and sought input from community members, downtown business owners, and market vendors through a combination of surveys and focus groups. The study also surveyed other markets for best practices and evaluated available downtown spaces to accommodate the market's growth.
The downtown space study was the first component completed and resulted in last year's move to a bigger space, donated for the market's use by Huntington Bank, at 201 S. Main St.
Comments made in the surveys and focus groups have led the market staff to create a "Veggie Valet" service, which operates like a coat check. According to Ruland, "Many of our customers make their market shopping trips an event, combining them with visits to downtown shops and restaurants. But there's always a dilemma about what to do with their market purchases. Carry them around or leave them in the car? Now market customers can check their packages at the Veggie Valet while they're exploring the downtown."
Study participants also asked for more information about the foods available and their preparation, so the market will feature on a recipe contest. It will be a regular part of the market schedule.
Downtown Bowling Green will be collaborating on the recipe contest with Wood County Hospital, Heritage Corner Healthcare Campus, the Sentinel-Tribune and members of BGSU's Recreation and Wellness and Family and Consumer Sciences Departments.
A couple initiatives that debuted last year will also return this season. The Frequent Farmer program, which rewards regular market customers with Downtown Dollars certificates, is returning this year. So is the Downtown Sidewalk Sale, which will be offered the last Wednesday of every month during the market season. Local community groups will be invited to participate in the sidewalk sales, along with the downtown businesses.
The 2013 Downtown Farmers' Market season runs from May 22 to Oct. 16. The market is open Wednesdays from 4 to 8 p.m.

Last Updated on Saturday, 16 March 2013 07:48

Comments

# 2013-03-16 12:12

I'm sad to see that the city still refuses to give credit where credit is due. Many residents remember that the first of the current Farmer's Markets began in a parking lot on Pearl St. It was oranized by a private citizen because she believed in the need for local produce for health and economic reasons. People were able to walk and ride bikes to this market. The city did not approve of her having the "glory" for this idea and took control, moving the market to the mall, a horrible location because of the heat from the asphalt and it's lack of convenience for customers. Finally, after customers and vendors complained, the city moved the Market to a location downtown where customers could access it more easily. The city wants you to believe the Market was their idea, but those of us connected to the original Market know better.

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# 2013-03-17 03:29

Sad also that the hours of operation are not conducive to Second shift workers.Not everybody in BG is married with Family some of us are single.

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# 2013-03-17 03:32

I could have somebody do the shopping for me as I work second shift,but the whole idea of an open air farmers market is to see the produce and products available and choose that which is pleasing to me.

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# 2013-03-16 12:24

I guess if one works second shift without taking time off they would never be able to utilize this service. I have to be at work at 4pm maybe they can add a weekend day perhaps.

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# 2013-03-17 17:51

I agree, a Saturday farmers market would be great. I recall the market set-up on S.Main on the west side, near the crosswalk years ago. I don't know if it was an organized event, maybe farmers just showed up to sell produce.

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# 2013-03-17 13:36

BG is a great town and community but it is also one sided. The market could be there on Wednesdays afternoons and sat Saturday mornings to meet everyone's needs. That could be another suggestion when making changes or it could be changed before the 2013 season starts, hint, hint.

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# 2013-03-18 14:49

Seems the City always takes someone else's idea and reworks the simplicity into a frenzy. Saturday would be GREAT for more people. I personally really don't like where it is now,hard to find parking !

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# 2013-03-21 13:51

The Farmer's market is not run by the City. It is run by Downtown BG. This small organization's hardworking staff does all they can to bring people downtown to support the shops and businesses, plus they clean the walks, plants the flowers, host the car show, etc. Geesh, give them some credit instead of always complaining. They surveyed folks last year and are doing their best to make requested changes now. Stop second-guessing everything. More info about Downtown BG can be found at: http://www.downtownbgohio.org/about.php

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