Haymaker Farmer's Market

Översikt

Haymaker Farmers’ Market began in July of 1992 as a shared vision between Jo Anne Jones, her husband Fritz Seefeldt and Rick Hawksley. The “Haymaker Farm Market” as it was then known opened with just 4 vendors and an article in the Record-Courier. Traffic was slow those first few Saturdays, but as awareness grew, so did the popularity and attendance.

The market was organized to provide an outlet for locally grown agricultural products as well as to encourage enterprise in Kent’s struggling central business district. Rick left after the end of the market’s second year and his wife Joan Inderhees joined the team until 1996. Joan’s valuable contributions included a new logo and much needed creative work on signage design as well as the vendor brochure.

During these early years, local farmer Dan Kamburoff helped with book keeping as well as providing the growing farm market a bountiful supply of fresh sweet corn and assorted locally grown produce. Fritz Seefeldt and Jo Anne Jones managed day to day operations by setting up street side signs, arranging newspaper advertisements, paying bills and contacting area farmers about selling at the new market.

Since this time the market has enjoyed the assistance of volunteers who included farmer Donna Pawlicki. Donna contributed by painting the market name on the trim of the vendor umbrellas. Recently, local writer and graphic designer, Kelly Ferry has helped with a new market web site as well as filling in as needed when Fritz or Jo Anne aren’t able to set up the market.

During the past five years, the market now known as Haymaker Farmers’ Market has grown to over 45 vendors offering a wide variety of local fare. The addition this past season of the “Music @ the Market” series has forged a stronger connection between the market and Kent’s vibrant music community.

Northeast Ohio Green Map
updated 01/2011 by rpiip