Athens Farmers Market promotes community & local agriculture

Photo via Ava Jelepis/The New Political

The article was published as part of The New Political’s 2025 Fall Print

The first Athens Farmers Market season took place in the summer of 1972 and was held at 10 a.m. on Saturdays. The idea of a farmers market originated from Harold Dodd, a technician at the Soil and Water Conservation District office in Athens, who suggested it to John Millar, the district conservationist at the time. They used an unmarked paved area near the East State Street city park, with three producers present. The following week, there were five. Over the summer, the number of vendors grew to a dozen. The following season, the farmers' market was open each Saturday from late April to Thanksgiving and a Wednesday morning market was added. The market began to grow in customers, but took longer to develop in sellers. 

During the following years, the market continued to expand. After the first 10 years, the farmers market was relocated a couple of hundred feet away to a larger parking area situated closer to State Street. As the market grew, so did the number of products. Plants, trees, flowers, eggs, baked goods and a variety of fruits and vegetables could all be found at the market. By the 1990s, poultry, smoked and frozen meats were also offered.

The market grew steadily in popularity, and some producers even drove two hours to reach the market. In the summers in the mid-1990s, 50 vendors and hundreds of customers would come to the markets on Saturdays. The displays became more colorful, and the products became more diverse. 

Since then, the Athens Farmers Market has relocated twice. In the spring of 1998, the front section of the Market on State (formerly the University Mall) had its parking lot as the site of the farmers market. More recently, in 2022, it relocated to the Athens Community Center campus parking lot. The Athens Farmers Market's popularity has continued to grow, making it a staple in the Athens community. The market has been featured in publications such as The Columbus Dispatch and The Athens Messenger. Although the location and market have continued to change and develop since 1972, the Athens Farmers Market has helped promote not only local agriculture but also the community. 

Today, Saturday mornings are as busy as ever at the farmers market. Poultry, flowers, honey,  pottery, pastries, jams, you name it, can all be found fresh at the farmers market. Tanya Hire, the Athens Farmers Market Manager, believes the farmers market is the number one way local agriculture is promoted within the area. The agriculture is not only locally grown, but also sold as fresh as can be.

 "Things that are grown here, people are taking them out of the ground, off the vine or plant the night before the morning of the market. You can't get any fresher," said Hire. She described the farmers market as a "rainbow of different colors" due to its large selection of not only the basics, but also unique products. The combination of fresh and diverse local food adds to the appeal of the farmers market.

Customers of the farmers market are not just the general public, but also other vendors, such as bakers. There's a good chance that when someone buys a pastry from the farmers market, the ingredients inside are those of other vendors. "A lot of the processors will use our farmers' produce to make their stuff," says Hire. This is one of the many examples of the community within the Athens Farmers Market.

"The Athens Farmers Market is a staple in the community here. For the size of the city Athens is, it should not support a market that is this size, but Athens is super supportive of the market," said Adam Blaney of Blaney Family Farm, which grows organic vegetables and cut flowers. 

"This is sort of like the hub of the farm business here," Blaney says.

For Blaney, he appreciates the farmers market not only for the business aspect, but also for the social atmosphere. "I work on a farm, so I don't spend a lot of time with tons of people, so this is nice to just socialize and get to see all my people every week, so it's just great." 

Kelly Fisher of Fisher Farm grows and sells fresh raspberries and a variety of raspberry jams. In the winter, Fisher also sells maple syrup and maple syrup-related products from the 450 trees that they tap. Fisher loves that the farmers market helps to provide fresh produce to the Athens community. "[The Farmers Market] lets us grow stuff locally and bring it to sell. Easy access," Fisher said.

Outside of local agriculture, the farmers market also helps to promote local artisans. Throughout the market, you can find a variety of local art, including jewelry, prints, paintings, yarn, and pottery.

"We have such good community support. So many people come to the market, both local and from out of town, it’s great exposure for presenting my work and also for customers having the opportunity to purchase locally made work whether its my pottery or any of the other artists that are part of the Athens Art Guild who sell here or the farmer vendors," says Beth Weingroff of Sledding Hill Pottery. 

Like Blaney, Weingroff also loves the social and community aspect of the farmers market. She has met people who have become good friends of hers at the market and enjoys receiving feedback from those who buy her pottery, gift it to others and then return to the Athens Farmers Market. 

Blaney, Fisher, Weingroff, Hire, and all of the vendors, executive committee, customers and entire Athens community come together to help turn the Athens Farmers Market into not only a business but a beloved Athens staple. As Weingroff said, "It's a great way to spend a Saturday morning."