- Worthington Farmers Market
Support Worthington Resource Pantry. 8-9am Reserved for High-Risk Shoppers. Masks Required.
Worthington Resource Pantry
The Worthington Resource Pantry started serving food in 2009 from the basement of the Methodist Children's Home and was entirely stocked by community donations of shelf-stable food. Now they operate a full-service food pantry and resource center that provides personal care items, fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy in addition to shelf-stable products.
This month, the Worthington Farmers Market is excited to welcome the Worthington Resource Pantry back to our Saturday morning market in our new temporary location at 450/500 W. Wilson Bridge Road. Stop by their booth to learn how you can help support their mission through food and monetary donations or by volunteering. And while you’re there, say hello to Barry — a WRP volunteer who’s been manning the market booth since 2009!
The Worthington Farmers Market and the Worthington Resource Pantry have a long history of partnership. Market donations were among the very first that allowed the Pantry to open its doors in 2009. Together, we have helped raise awareness of food insecurity in our community and provided much-needed assistance to thousands of our neighbors, totaling more than $65,000 to date!
Responding to emerging needs has never been more important and the Pantry has quickly organized a variety of innovative programs and services to continue to provide food and nutrition amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Car-side service and home delivery are just two ways the Pantry is able to serve the community in these challenging times, along with designated hours for on-site pantry service.
Covid-19 has amplified the need for WRP services. Comparing statistics from May and June of 2020 to the same period last year shows just how widespread the need for food assistance is in our community. There’s been a 76% increase in new families visiting the Pantry and the number of Pantry visits has nearly doubled. In response, WRP has provided nearly 69,000 meals to more than 6,000 of our neighbors in need.
WRP will be at the Market this Saturday, July 25, accepting donations and sharing information about their programs and services and their commitment to providing food assistance during the pandemic. If you are able, please consider making a food or monetary donation to WRP while visiting the Market this weekend. Thank you!
Learn more about the Worthington Resource Pantry's programs, how to donate, and volunteer opportunities at worthingtonresourcepantry.org.
Help Protect Our Most Vulnerable
If you are not a member of a high-risk or vulnerable population (expectant mothers, elderly, immune compromised or care-taker of a high-risk individual), please visit the Worthington Farmers Market after 9am. Our first hour is reserved shopping for our most vulnerable customers.
*Masks are required for the duration of your visit to the Market* per City and State mandates. Additional COVID-19 safe shopping protocol is available here:
Thank you for your help to ensure everyone has a safe shopping experience and continued access to fresh and local food!
Veggie Spy
Call it Eggplant, or Call it Aubergine;
It's a Really Cool Veggie That's Got to be Seen!
Like tomatoes, eggplant is actually a fruit, not a veggie. But no need to quibble; eggplant is doing just fine as an undercover fruit. In the UK and France it's called aubergine. In India it is brinjal, and is referred to as The King of Vegetables. Eggplant is native to India and has been cultivated for thousands of years. In some parts of Europe people believed eggplant caused madness, so it was primarily used as decoration in England and the US until the late 1800's.
Eggplants come in a wide variety of shapes and colors. Colors include white, pink, purple, dark purple, black, and even striped. Check out Somerset at the Market; they have a purple and white striped variety called Nubia. Eggplant can be eaten raw, though it can be a little bitter. Salting and rinsing sliced eggplant will remove the bitterness. Cooking is the typical way to prepare eggplant, and that removes the bitterness as well. Cooked eggplant has a rich flavor and a soft, creamy texture. It is extremely versatile. Eggplant can be grilled, baked, braised, or cooked and pureed into a dip. Baba ghanoush, the classic Middle-Eastern appetizer, has a base of smashed, cooked eggplant. It also a staple of Italian, French, Turkish, Chinese, and Japanese cuisine. Its texture and density also make it a great candidate for a meat substitute. Eggplant is high in fiber, low in calories, and has lots of antioxidants. There is some evidence it may reduce the risk of heart disease. Check out eggplant at 9N Farms, Somerset, and Tilley.
The Versatile Vegan likes this Roasted Eggplant Hummus recipe: http://dishingupthedirt.com/recipes/roasted-eggplant-hummus/. If you think you don't like eggplant, this creamy and garlicky concoction may change your mind! It calls for garlic, which you can get from Gillogly and Tilley. And, you can get parsley from Franklinton and Jorgensen.
You can also go for something a bit different with this Crispy Eggplant "Bacon" recipe: https://minimalistbaker.com/wprm_print/35061
Fresh Picks for This Week: Apples (Gold Rush), Arugula, Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Broccolini, Cabbage, Carrots (baby white, orange), Celery, Collards, Cucumbers, Dandelion (baby Italian), Eggplant!, Garlic, Garlic Scapes, Green Beans (yellow, roma), Herbs (basil, chives, cilantro, dill, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, tarragon), Kale (dino lacinato, Siberian), Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce (baby, heirloom, bibb, romaine, blends, & others), Microgreens & shoots, Mushrooms (Shiitake, Oyster), Onions (white, mini-purple, sweet), Peaches, Potatoes, Purslane, Radishes (French breakfast), Scallions, Squash (patty pan, summer), Sweet Corn!, Swiss Chard, Spinach (baby), Tomatoes (heirloom, cherry), Turnips (Hakurei, Purple Top), Zucchini
Interactive Market Map
Now you can find your favorite vendors with just a click!
http://maps.managemymarket.com/4097
To use the map, click on a vendor name in the upper left corner and their location will be highlighted in orange. Or if you are interested in a specific type of product (Meat & Eggs, Baked Goods, Produce, etc.), click on the booth locations highlighted in blue in the designated section to find vendors participating in this week's market. You can also find the new interactive map on our the Worthington Farmers Market website.
The Market is arranged by product type with one-way foot traffic and a single point of entry and exit. There will be plenty of signage, volunteers in bright orange vests, and traffic cones and barricades to help direct you safely through the market.
Please stay on the marked pathways inside the market and don't take shortcuts across the medians and landscape islands.
Pre-Order & Pick-Up
Did you know you can place an order for your favorite fresh and local foods today and pick-up at the walk-in Market on Saturday? Use our Producer Directory to place your order with participating producers.
If you like to sleep in on Saturdays, want to ensure the availability of some of our more popular items, or limit your time in the hot sun or among large groups of people, this option is for you!
Worthington Mask Ordinance
UPDATE: Effective July 7, the City of Worthington requires wearing a facial covering when in public places. We thank you, in advance, for wearing your mask (properly covering your mouth and nose) at the Worthington Farmers Market in support of the health of our vendors, volunteers, staff and other customers. For more information on this requirement, click here.
Parking at the Market
Park only in those areas designated below as Market Parking or Market Parking Overflow. For best access, use the entrance at the 450/500 W. Wilson Bridge Road address marker/office directory (not the traffic light at Reiber Street).
We're All In This Together . . .
For your health and safety and all our vendors, staff, and volunteers, we continue to operate under Covid-19 protocols as set forth by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the Ohio Farmers Market Network, and the City of Worthington. Please familiarize yourself with our Market rules and Market Maps to help you plan your visit to the Worthington Farmers Market. THANK YOU!
Vote for Us!
VOTE Here: https://markets.farmland.org/ma…/worthington-farmers-market/#
Sippel Family Update
Please keep Lisa, Charlie and Miriam Sippel in your thoughts. Six years after his initial cancer diagnosis, Ben Sippel passed away on Sunday, at home with his family. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/morrowcountysentinel/obituary.aspx?n=ben-sippel&pid=196518808
If you would like to contribute to the GoFundMe campaign that was set-up for Ben's medical expenses and read Lisa's most recent update, you may do so here:
You can also support the Sippel family by visiting the Kokoborrego Cheese Company booth at Saturday's market.
Sending comfort, strength and much love to the Sippel family.
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.