Original Farmers Market Returns for a Bountiful 18th Season Downtown
April 17, 2015
New vendors round out great product mix for 2015 season
Indianapolis –Just as the early-season vegetable sprouts peek through tilled fields throughout central Indiana, City Market officials are preparing for the launch of the 18th annual Original Farmers’ Market season set to begin May 6 at 9:30 a.m. The downtown market runs every Wednesday May through October from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Market Street between Alabama and Delaware Streets rain or shine.
“Mark your calendar, grab your market bag and join the more than 60 Original Farmers’ Market vendors for a great season of fresh produce, meats, eggs, cheeses, free-trade coffees, vegetable starts, flowers, baked goods and more!” says Stevi Stoesz, Executive Director of the Indianapolis City Market. “As always, we’re eager to kick off and celebrate another season of superb Indiana product and farmer-to-consumer exchanges.”
In its 18 years, the Original Farmers’ Market has helped sustain the state’s food and farming community by providing a lively and profitable sales outlet for small family farms and local producers, many of which count on farm-direct sales as their main source of income.
DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR MATCHING THROUGH FRESH BUCKS
The Fresh Bucks program enables those who use SNAP benefits to double their spending dollars up to $20 on Indiana-native fruits, vegetables, honey, herbs and spices, maple syrup, and seedlings for edible plants. The program’s expansion last year to include several area markets was made possible through a Specialty Crop Block Grant awarded by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture in 2014 and continues this year.
NEW VENDORS
The Original Farmers’ Market is pleased to welcome several new Indiana-based vendors to the OFM family this year, including Redwine Farms from Westfield, Buffalo Trail Farm from Odon, and the local Indy Urban Acres, a local 8-acre organic farm that donates 100% of the fresh fruits and vegetables harvested to local food pantries through a partnership with Gleaners Food Bank, but will be offering flowers at the OFM.
PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES
Buy Two Give One
Buy Two Give One is a raw foods gleaning program administered through the Original Farmers’ Market. Shoppers are encouraged to buy additional product and give it to those in need. All donations are given to one of three downtown Wheeler Mission homeless missions where it is used in healthy meal preparation. In the 6-month outdoor market season last year, the Original Farmers’ Market collected 15,000 pounds of produce to donate.
Market Day Music
The Market District Stage on City Market’s Whistler Plaza comes alive every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. when local musical and performing acts take the stage to entertain market-goers.
In the Kitchen Series
The “In the Kitchen” series boasts local chefs from the area’s top restaurants who shop for product at both the Original Farmers’ Market and inside City Market, then prepare a meal for an audience. Market-goers will leave with an understanding of how chefs choose products and use them in meal preparation. Demonstrations occur during lunchtime on Wednesdays May through October.
The Indianapolis City Market is a non-profit organization, and the Original Farmers’ Market was established in 1997 to provide a platform for local producers to sell their Indiana products directly to consumers. For further information, visit our website www.indycm.com, our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/IndyCM?ref=ts or follow us on Twitter @IndyCM.