Community Corner
Multitasking Momma: To Market, To Market
The author and her daughter enjoy the best of Ohio's local foods with a weekend stop to Countryside Farmers' Market in nearby Peninsula.
Is it done raining yet? I love spring, but April’s showers have overflowed into May, and I’ve had enough wet weather for a while. But all this rain must mean that summer is just around the corner and summer means local, Ohio-grown produce is here.
This Saturday is opening weekend of the Countryside Farmers’ Market in Peninsula. If you haven’t been to Countryside Farmers’ Market before, it’s just south of Szalay’s Sweet Corn Farm on Riverview Road, at Howe Meadow. We try to include the market in our weekend errands whenever possible; it’s a great place for kids.
usually has some local produce – especially corn, tomatoes, beans and zucchini – toward the end of summer, and surpasses all expectations by incorporating locally-produced pasta, meats and dairy products along with the produce.
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But it doesn’t compare to a farmers’ market.
My daughter enjoys the market, but she really enjoys trying all of the samples. We’ve had many busy Saturday mornings where the majority of her breakfast consisted of grazing. Amelia knows her favorite stops and happily makes her rounds through the market sampling a variety of locally grown (and baked) goodies. Amidst the live music, vendors are always more than willing to answer questions and we’ve oftentimes stumbled upon special activities for kids.
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In addition to produce, you’ll find cheeses, eggs, meats, pasta and baked goods, plus a good selection of flowers, beeswax, soaps and candles, chocolates, jams and jewelry. You can enjoy breakfast while you’re there with a cup of freshly-roasted coffee and a breakfast burrito (or Amelia's favorite treat -- a croissant). You can also catch a cooking demonstration or even a puppet show.
Produce selections change as the season progresses, so there’s always something new. But you’ll probably find Amelia with a big smile on her face: some things don’t change.
About the Countryside Farmers' Market:
Dates: Saturdays, May 14 through October 29
Hours: 9 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
Location: 4040 Riverview Rd., Peninsula (Howe Meadow)