Local

Valley farmers markets open, capitalizing on new network

By Mahoning Matters staff and Jeremy Harper
Sev Tripoulas, right, manager of the Warren Farmers Market, and Tony Santone of Sleepy Hollow Farm in Newton Falls show off some of the fresh fruits and vegetables available at the weekly market in Perkins Park. The Warren market is among seven that have teamed up to form the Mahoning Valley Farmers Market network to promote the benefits of these events. (Contributed photo)
Sev Tripoulas, right, manager of the Warren Farmers Market, and Tony Santone of Sleepy Hollow Farm in Newton Falls show off some of the fresh fruits and vegetables available at the weekly market in Perkins Park. The Warren market is among seven that have teamed up to form the Mahoning Valley Farmers Market network to promote the benefits of these events. (Contributed photo)

Farmers markets in Youngstown, Warren and four other Mahoning Valley communities will open over the next few weeks featuring fresh produce from throughout the Valley.

Farmers market managers and the local farmers that supply them recently formed the Mahoning Valley Farmers Market Network to collaborate on promotional efforts and other activities.

"By working together, we're able to undertake some initiatives none of us could do as effectively on our own," Cassandra Clevenger, community resource coordinator for Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership in Warren, the coordinating agency for the network, said in a news release. "We're sharing best practices in marketing, fundraising, food safety and other priorities to build a sustainable farmers market system in the Mahoning Valley.

"Our goal is to make sure we can continue to bring Valley shoppers what they like most about farmers markets — fresh, healthy, local food at a great value."

The network recently landed a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farmers Market Promotion Program to develop and place a television commercial, which will air from late June through early September on 21 WFMJ-TV. The markets collaborated with Pecchia Communications to develop a series of TV spots.

Here are the seven farmers markets and their days and times:

  • Youngstown Common Wealth Kitchen, 907 Elm St.: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through Sept. 25;
  • Youngstown ACTION and GROW Urban, various locations throughout the city: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays through Sept. 17;
  • Warren, on the Kinsman House grounds in Perkins Park: 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Oct. 5;
  • Austintown, at Austintown Township Park: 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 25;
  • Howland, at Orwig Park: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 9;
  • Hubbard, at Tylee Park: noon to 5 p.m. Sundays from July 11 through Oct. 31;
  • Niles, at 438 Robbins Ave.: 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Sept. 29.

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This story was originally published June 29, 2021 at 2:15 PM with the headline "Valley farmers markets open, capitalizing on new network."