It is that time of year again! The Downtown Lima Farmer’s Market is back for another season. Starting on Tuesday, May 23, 2017, local vendors will be open for business with fresh, local and in season produce, plants, homemade baked goods, soaps and more! The market is being brought to the Lima/Allen County residents by the Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce and St. Rita’s Health Partners.
This year, some changes have been made to the market and we hope the residents of Lima/Allen County will enjoy them! For starters, the market will be located in the Downtown Lima Square area in the block in front of the Lima Civic Center and running down Market Street to Spring Street. Vendors will be outside on the street in this area. Also, the market will now run from 3 pm- 6:30 pm, adding an additional 30 minutes at the end of the market for those who are coming to the market on their way home from work. There have also been partnerships made with some of the downtown businesses and restaurants to offer discounts to those who use the market. If you have been to the market in years past, you may remember that vendors take turns creating a raffle prize of products each week and if you buy something from the market, you will be entered into the drawing that week. Throughout the summer, you will also see community partners and agencies out at the market engaging customers. There are so many exciting things to look forward to at the Downtown Lima Market this year!
At this time, 13 local vendors have committed to be at the market. As the summer continues and more produce is available, other vendors will join. Current vendors include: B&L Produce, Backyard Herbs, Sweet Note, Hilty Farm Market, Delicious Delights, Old Homestead Soaps, Live Life Years Younger Naturally, Just Natural Sweets, Sweet Dream Gourmet, Taste Tempters, Lima Community Gardens, and The Market. Last but not least Merrill Marie Soapworks will be at the market this year, but not just as a vendor. Jennifer Fickel, owner of Merrill Marie, is this year’s Downtown Lima Farmer’s Market Manager! Jennifer has been working hard to prepare for a great summer and fall at the market for all Lima/Allen County residents and is looking forward to working with vendors and community members to enhance the market. She states “I am excited to manage the market this year and I hope many people come and check out what we have in store for this year. I hope many people make coming to the Downtown Lima Farmer’s Market a weekly habit, since we have many different things planned from week to week.”
To stay up to date on what is planned for the market, please “like” the Downtown Lima Farmer’s Market Facebook page. There will be opportunities to win prizes and products via the page each week and the page will be updated with exciting things that will happen at the market each week. Activate Allen County will be at the market on Tuesday, May 30th, with materials, give-a-ways and some fun children’s activities! For more information about the market, please call the Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce at 419-222-6045.