May 2 Drive-Thru Pre-Order/Pick-Up

Thank You for Your Support!

The first Saturday in May is historically the season opening of our outdoor market. While a celebratory kick-off is postponed, due to the pandemic, we continue to offer our pre-order and drive-thru pick-up service every Saturday morning at the Worthington Community Center.

We appreciate your understanding and especially your patience as we continue to evolve and expand our capacity to serve more customers and bring in more producers and more products. We are working diligently with local and state agencies to adjust our operations to comply with required safety protocol and best practices to maintain the health of everyone involved with the Worthington Farmers Market.

Veggie Spy

Give Yourself Some Little Treats, Try the Greens That Go With Beets!

Of course, everybody is familiar with beets, but did you know that the greens are edible and delicious? And this time of year you can eat baby beet greens, which are delicate, mild, and slightly sweet. If your kids are anti-greens, beet greens may be a good way to get them started on the road to becoming fans! In ancient times, people considered beet greens food and the beets themselves as medicine. Nowadays, we know that it is the beet green that could be considered medicine with its high levels of Vitamins A,C, and K, plus fiber, iron and potassium. In fact, beet greens are more nutrient dense than beets themselves. Note that both the beet leaves and stems are edible. You can pre-order baby beet greens from Franklinton Farms.

The Versatile Vegan likes baby beet greens in salads and sauteed. She suggests this recipe for Spicy Beet Green Crostini (https://www.thedailymeal.com/recipes/spicy-beet-green-crostini-recipe). Note the recipe includes garlic, and you can pre-order small garlic from Jorgensen Farms!

Fresh Picks Available This Week: Apples (Fuji, Pink Lady, Gold Rush, Golden Delicious), Arugula, Baby Italian Dandelions, Baby Lettuce Mix, Beet Greens, Baby Bok Choy, Cabbage Raab, Cilantro, Garlic, Herbs, Kale Rapini, Lettuce (baby, heirloom, bibb, salanova, & others), Microgreens & Shoots, Mizuna, Baby Mustard Greens, Oregano, Ramps, Red Mustard, Senposai Spinach (baby), Komatsuna Japanese Sorrel, Swiss Chard, Turnip Greens (baby)

*** Note quantities are limited, so put your order in early! ***

These producers are taking orders for produce delivery on May 2: 9N Farm, Blue Owl Emporium, Franklinton Farms, Gillogly Orchard, Jorgensen Farms, Kennedy Farms, Rock Dove, Stonefield, Tilley Farmstead, Van Scoy

Go to our Producer Directory for contact information and pre-order instructions!

LOCATION: Worthington Community Center 345 East Wilson Bridge Road, Worthington OH

**Please enter the driveway at the East Wilson Bridge Road entrance** Customer Pick-Up Hours: Saturday, May 2, 9:00am — Noon

Our Producer Directory has been updated! Use it to find and place your order(s) with nearly 50 local producers. Be sure to specify WFM Pick-Up and we’ll have your items bagged and tagged for quick and easy — and safe! — pick-up Saturday morning!

Producer Directory: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DgGA8SdFFe2wF-XXw8neRf1nscNfH5vWM6udbWUO2Wo/edit#gid=1601512311

Tips for Success:

Pick up your pre-orders like a pro by following these guidelines for our drive-thru market. For your health and ours, this is a minimal contact service.

☑️ Pre-order pick-ups only. NO sales or transactions onsite.

☑️ Hours are 9am-12pm. PLEASE do not arrive before the market opens!

☑️ Please reserve 9am-10am for those in vulnerable populations (seniors and immuno-compromised) and those picking up from a single producer.

☑️ ENTER ONLY from East Wilson Bridge Road

☑️ Please stay in your vehicle. Just pop your trunk and we'll load your purchases for you.

☑️ Place an 8.5" x 11" sign on the passenger side dashboard or right-side backseat window (not rear or trunk window!) with the following information to help us locate your order:

LAST NAME, First Name

Picking Up From:

VENDOR NAME, Order #

VENDOR NAME, Order #

VENDOR NAME, Order #

☑️ Volunteers, signage and traffic cones will help direct you through the process

☑️ EXIT ONLY via Highland Avenue (connects to Route 23/Worthington-Galena Road)

☑️ Expect a minimum 15-20 minute wait to receive your order

☑️ Please be kind, courteous & patient. We're all in this together, Ohio!

We are committed to supporting small businesses during this crisis and connecting customers to them. We are equally committed to the health and well-being of our producers, volunteers, staff and you, our customers. Social distancing and and safety and sanitation protocols will be in place for the duration of this event.

Help Test "No-Tokens"

SNAP/EBT Purchases!

We're continuing to adapt our service offerings to maintain a minimal contact purchase process. This week, we are experimenting with 3 of our producers to test a pre-order option for grocery essentials for our SNAP/EBT customers.

CABB Farms (Grassfed beef) - Please email cabbfarms@gmail.com to place your order. Choose from the following packages:

* Package 1: 2 packages of all beef hot dogs and 1 package of ground beef for $15.00.

* Package 2: 4 packages of ground beef and 1 package of all beef hot dogs for $25.00.

Head to the Market Information table in Section 5 on Saturday and we'll process your Ohio Direction card for your order and deliver your meat right to you.

Kennedy Farms (Eggs)- Please email kennedyfarmsohio@icloud.com to request your code and place your egg order.

Head to the Market Information table in Section 5 on Saturday and we'll process your Ohio Direction card for your order and deliver your eggs right to you.

Franklinton Farms (Produce) - Call or text (614) 680-2381 to request your code and place your order. Payment will be processed by Franklinton Farms at the time of ordering.

On Saturday, you'll pick-up directly from their booth (Section #3 - Produce), if driving. If biking or walking, enter from Highland Ave., head to the Market Information table in Section 5 and we'll deliver your produce to you.

We appreciate your help in testing this process! What we learn on Saturday will help to shape and evolve our service for upcoming weeks.

The Market Sharpener Returns!

The Market Sharpener, Jim Allen, returns to the May 2 market! He will be taking your knives, scissors and garden tools, sharpening them, and then bring them back to the next market OR he will deliver them by Tuesday following the market to your home. Delivery is $5 extra. You will receive an invoice for your order and you can pay online by credit or debit card.

You will find The Market Sharpener in Section 5, near our "Pantry." If you are bringing items to be sharpened, please remain in your vehicle and use the table in front of his booth to place your items.

Ride-Up/Walk-Up Station

For our customers that walk or bike to the market, we will again offer a walk-up/ride-up option near our "Pantry" station this Saturday. For your health and ours, if you are riding or walking, please wear a mask during your visit. Pedestrians and cyclists should enter only from Highland Avenue -- all other customers should continue to use the Wilson Bridge entrance.

Upon entering from Highland, look for the "Walk-Up/Ride Up" sign, located in Section 5 near our "Pantry." Let the volunteer or staff member know your name and the producers from whom you have ordered, either verbally or with a sign, and a "runner" will retrieve those items from the producers.

Please Note: We will be using barrier tables to maintain 6' social distancing between customers and our team. The volunteer or staff member will then set the retrieved items on the table for you to pick-up in accordance with our minimal contact service. All items must be pre-ordered and pre-paid.

Need Home Delivery?

Browse the Home Delivery column of our Producer Directory for this option and contact vendors directly to make arrangements for yourself, family, and friends who are staying home right now.

The Market Doctor's Weekly Wellness Tip

Vitamin C and E

Vitamins are available in either "natural "or synthetic forms. "Natural," which often means the product has been purified from a plant or animal product. Others are synthetic, which can mean that the biochemical has been manufactured from chemicals that were not directly obtained from plants.

You can be assured that when you buy inexpensive synthetic vitamin C, you are getting the pure L-ascorbate vitamin that prevents scurvy and is a necessary co-factor for many biological enzyme reactions. To achieve the greatest benefit from vitamin E, the best forms to purchase are "mixed tocopherols" and "tocotrienols" which cannot be synthesized, but must be purified from natural sources. These forms contain a mixture of alpha, beta, delta, and gamma forms of tocopherols and tocotrienols. Although the "mixed tocopherols" and "tocotrienols" forms of vitamin E cost more than synthetics, they can activate more pathways in the body and provide the best health benefit.

Interestingly, human primates and guinea pigs are unable to manufacture vitamin C while other mammals can produce their own vitamin C. Therefore, we must obtain it through our diet and supplementation. For most of us getting adequate vitamin C through diet alone is challenging and supplementation is often necessary.(1)

Vitamin C is an antioxidant (also used in the regeneration of other antioxidants). It is involved in cholesterol metabolism, the production & function of WBCs and antibodies, and the synthesis of collagen, norepinephrine and carnitine. Deficiency may occur with oral contraceptives, aspirin, diuretics or NSAIDs. Deficiency can result in scurvy, swollen gingiva, periodontal destruction, loose teeth, sore mouth, soft tissue ulcerations, or increased risk of infection. Food sources include oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, tomato, sweet red pepper, broccoli and potato.

Alpha-tocopherol (body's main form of vitamin E) functions as an antioxidant, regulates cell signaling, influences immune function and inhibits coagulation. Deficiency may occur with malabsorption, cholestyramine, colestipol, isoniazid, orlistat, olestra and certain anti-convulsants (e.g., phenobarbital, phenytoin). Deficiency may result in peripheral neuropathy, ataxia, muscle weakness, retinopathy, and increased risk of CVD, prostate cancer and cataracts. Food sources include oils (olive, soy, corn, canola, safflower, sunflower), eggs, nuts, seeds, spinach, carrots, avocado, dark leafy greens and wheat germ.(2)

Although both vitamin C and vitamin E can be synthesized, only synthetic vitamin C (L-ascorbate) has identical biological activity to natural vitamin C purified from plant products.You can be assured that synthetic vitamin C (L-ascorbate) and natural "mixed tocopherols" and "tocotrienols" are the most effective and health-promoting forms.(1)

Stay the course. Learn something new everyday. We will get through this together.

Be well.

The Market Wellness Doctor

None of these statements should be construed as dispensing medical advice ,making claims regarding the cure of diseases,prevention or cure of any disease state.This information is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. They are solely the opinion of the Market Wellness Doctor. Please consult your physician regarding any specific medical symptoms or conditions. Please direct questions to the Wellness Doctor at mattheweverett84@gmail.com

Sources: 1) Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, Apr 27, 2020, Forms, Doses, and Effects of Vitamins C and E, by Robert G. Smith, PhD; 2) Genova Diagnostics, Nutra Eval, April 2020, Asheville,N.C.

Meet Our New Assistant Market Manager

You've probably seen Karen Chrestay at recent Markets. She's been working behind the scenes for the past couple of months, learning the ropes, getting to know our producers and their products, and helping transition the Worthington Farmers Market to its "new normal" during the pandemic. Karen will also assist Christine with a variety of administrative tasks including compliance coordination with regulatory authorities and producers, SNAP/EBT reconciliation and reporting, community engagement, and publication of the weekly newsletter.

The Worthington Partnership is pleased to announce that COhatch is furthering its investment in the Worthington community. Together the organizations will continue to drive initiatives to bring positive attention to the historic district, and support professional development and educational seminars for local merchants and business owners. The Partnership also will support soon-to-be-announced COhatch community events geared toward improving the lives of local residents.

COhatch will provide funding, hosting venues and people resources to help design and plan future programs for the community in collaboration with the Old Worthington Partnership. You will also see the COhatch airstream trailer, a multi-purpose office on wheels named "Mobi" at various events.

Thanks to COhatch for bringing energy and resources to Old Worthington! We are thrilled to work even more closely together to enhance the Old Worthington experience.

For more information, or questions related to any of our services, please contact us via email at worthingtonfarmersmarket@gmail.com

The Worthington Farmers Market is an event of The Worthington Partnership.