- Worthington Farmers Market
Farmers Markets Are Essential. We're Open Nov 21! Welcome Special Guests. Thankful 4 Sweet Potatoes.
Yes, We're Open!
The Worthington Farmers Market will be open, as an essential source for groceries, this Saturday, November 21 from 9am-12pm at The Shops at Worthington Place.
As a source for fresh and local food and grocery access for SNAP customers, farmers markets, like grocery stores, have been recognized as essential businesses. In March, specific pandemic safety requirements and best practices were issued by the Ohio Department of Agriculture to which farmers markets must adhere in order to continue to operate. Our requirements are enforced through routine inspections by the City of Columbus Public Health inspectors.
The health and safety of our customers, our producers, our volunteers and our staff remains our highest priority. We remain committed to our pandemic safety protocol to continue to provide a direct source for local food. Masks are required for all guests visiting the Worthington Farmers Market and must cover nose and mouth at all times.
Capacity into the Market space is limited to ensure proper social distancing. And, space between producer stalls has increased to allow for wider aisles and additional space for customers waiting to make their purchases. Our pandemic safety protocol can be found here: https://www.worthingtonfarmersmarket.com/covid-19-operations
We will continue to adhere to the requirements set forth for us by the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Columbus Public Health Department. Should we need to change the format of the Market, we will post updates on our website: https://www.worthingtonfarmersmarket.com/
PLEASE NOTE: As we do every year, the Worthington Farmers Market will be closed next Saturday, November 28 to give thanks with our families. The Market plans to re-open on Saturday, December 5.
Alternative Ways to Shop the Market
Customers can access the Worthington Farmers Market in a variety of ways.
1) If you do visit the indoor Market, expedite your trip by familiarizing yourself with our layout. Producers are organized by category to make your trip quick and efficient. https://www.worthingtonfarmersmarket.com/market-map
2) Pre-orders are encouraged. Place and pay your grocery order with individual producers using our Producer Directory: https://www.worthingtonfarmersmarket.com/vendors
3) Sign up with Angel Lyons, the Grocery Boss, to have all of your pre-ordered groceries delivered to your door on Saturday or drive-up to the Shops at Worthington Place for Saturday curbside pick-up. Sign up with Angel here: https://shop.dumpling.us/angell or phone her with questions at
(614) 612-0940.
November 21 Producer List
Special Guests This Week
C.A.B.B. Farms (grass-fed beef) in Booth #24
The Blueberry Patch (all things blueberry -- Oh, those donuts!) in Booth #15
And be sure to stop by Booth #27 and say hello to Covey Rise Farms, a pasture-based meat (lamb, pork, chicken, turkey) farm in Radnor, Ohio.
Veggie Spy
Sweet Potatoes Are for Thanksgiving…and More!
Although we tend to associate sweet potatoes with Thanksgiving, their taste, versatility, and nutrition profile make them a great veggie anytime! In fact, sweet potatoes are the 6th most common food crop in the world, with 90% grown in Asia. And they are not just for eating, in Japan sweet potatoes are used to make a fermented beverage called shochu.
Sweet potatoes are thought to have been domesticated 5,000 years ago in Central America and may be our oldest root vegetable. Columbus found them to be popular among the natives in the West Indies and introduced sweet potatoes to southern Europe where they became very popular. They were popular in Colonial America as well. In the late 19th century famed agricultural scientist George Washington Carver, whose was born into slavery, created over 100 different products from sweet potatoes including a glue for stamps and an alternative to corn syrup. Hardy, adaptable, and able to produce quickly from just a few roots, sweet potatoes are now grown around the world.
Sweet potatoes are often confused with yams, but they are unrelated. Yams are originally from Africa and are starchier and larger. Sweet potatoes are also unrelated to regular (aka “Irish” or white) potatoes. White potatoes are carbohydrate storage reservoirs for the plant whereas sweet potatoes are actually roots with more complex nutrients. Sweet potatoes are in the morning glory family and their flowers are similar to the morning glory.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) includes sweet potatoes in their list of top ten best foods. They are ranked even higher than broccoli! One cup of sweet potatoes contains more than all the vitamin A you need for a day, half the vitamin C and almost half the manganese. Sweet potatoes are also a good source of potassium and fiber. As with other bright-colored veggies, they are high in antioxidants that reduce inflammation and have other benefits.
Sweet potatoes can be baked broiled, fried, roasted, steamed or stir-fried. Sweet potatoes get sweeter if they are first stored, or “cured”. Ask the grower about getting maximum sweetness from your purchase.
Thanksgiving is a great time to start a long-term relationship with sweet potatoes! You’ll’ find them at 9N Farm and Franklinton Farms.
The Versatile Vegan suggests that an easy way to get familiar with sweet potatoes, and have an excellent Thanksgiving side dish, is this recipe for Roasted Sweet Potatoes: https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/11/the-best-roasted-sweet-potatoes-thanksgiving-sides-the-food-lab-recipe.html
As the weather gets chilly, keep warm with Curried Sweet Potato Bisque: https://dishingupthedirt.com/recipes/curried-sweet-potato-bisque/
Finally, another wonderful addition to your Thanksgiving table is this grandma-inspired Pomegranate Orange Sweet Potato Bake: Pomegranate Orange Sweet Potato Bake |
Fresh Picks This Week: Producers have the following available for online pre-order and/or at the walk-up Market.
Apples - 13 varieties, Beets, Bok Choy, Callaloo, Celeriac, Celery, Collards, Garlic, Herbs, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Microgreens & shoots, Mushrooms (shiitake), Mustard Greens, Onions, Peppers, Popcorn, Pumpkins, Radishes, Sorrell, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes!, Swiss Chard, Turnips, Squash (multiple winter varieties), Tomatoes, Turnips
*** Note quantities are limited ***
Join Our Team!
Volunteers are the heart of the Worthington Farmers Market. And, these days, it takes many more hands to ensure a safe and healthy Market experience.
Become a Market Insider by joining our volunteer team on Saturdays! Learn a new skill or hone a talent. We have a variety of roles available (counting and welcoming guests entering and exiting, providing directions and customer service, assisting our farmers, set-up/clean-up) in 1-hour shifts.
Give an hour; learn a lot! Contact our Volunteer Coordinator, George Bleimes for more details: https://www.signupgenius.com/index.cfm?go=c.help...
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.