Community, connected by food
The Tuscarawas Valley Farmers Market is all about community and relationships, and we use food as the fulcrum of those relationships. It’s a place of community gathering that serves the full spectrum of demographics in our community. The market helps to create a strong community and value within that community.
Mission Statement
Facilitate a Producer’s Only Farmers Market for Tuscarawas County, Ohio, which promotes and nurtures the promise and possibilities of bringing locally produced fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy and value-added products to the full cultural diversity of our community. To serve as a catalyst for generative dialogue and projects that emphasize responsible stewardship of our local food economy and our local environmental resources on which the well-being of our entire community depends.
History
The Tuscarawas Valley Farmers Market began as an idea among members of the 2008 class of Leadership Tusc. Participants Mark McKenzie, Jonna Cronebaugh, and Valerie Yoder spent almost two years traveling to other markets to find out best practices to determine what works and what doesn’t when it comes to operating a farmers market. The group felt they needed two strong produce growers to build the market around so people could come shop and fulfill their weekly food needs. They scouted out vendors to help them build a legitimate market, and Weaver’s Truck Patch and Yoder’s Produce became the two anchor produce growers of the Tuscarawas Valley Farmers Market. The first market was held in June of 2009.
The market has always functioned as a local food business incubator. As we’ve built the market, mom-and-pop entities have been able to test their products at the market without a large investment…it still costs just $13 per market day for 12×12 space. When compared to the cost of operating a brick-and-mortar storefront, the market offers up-and-coming businesses a great opportunity to test their products on local shoppers.
Documents
Non-Profit Proof
Financial Status