Normally, the Pataskala Farmers Market, held each Friday starting at 4 p.m. on the Veteran's Green downtown, would be edging toward the end of its annual season soon.
But recently, citing so much closed-down to Pataskala residents because of COVID-19, city officials announced an agreement had been struck to extend the market season a bit further.
Pataskala Mayor Mike Compton noted the market provides potential foot traffic for other close-by businesses and, by its nature, is outdoors and so for the most part "socially distanced."
On Aug. 28, vendors were again on the green, but under stormy skies made unpredictable by the leading bands of former-hurricane-turned-tropical-storm Laura.
Locally-based and veteran-owned Smoky Trail BBQ is among those vendors looking forward to continuing through the extended market season.
The family-owned business is based out of Beechwood Trails.
Tiffany McCane said of the season so far under COVID, "Generally speaking, there's been a nice flow. It was nice they asked us to come back."
Bailey's Drive In Donuts is another Beechwood Trails-based entrepreneur and a frequent staple not just at the Pataskala Farmers Market, but also the Granville Area Chamber of Commerce's Market held each Saturday morning and recently moved to Raccoon Valley Park, fronting Ohio 16.
Josh Nelson said of doughnut sales on Pataskala Friday nights, "It's been going pretty good," and he says he's happy "to keep going" at the market, "as long as we can."
Thousand Hills Farm Grass Fed Beef is another frequent Pataskala market vendor.
Father and son Paul and Rosten Miller made the trek to Pataskala under stormy skies from their home base in Guernsey County on Aug. 28.
Thousand Hills launched its association with the Pataskala market six years ago, Paul said.
"We were just starting, and my wife was looking on the internet for meat vendors, because we're from Amish Country."
She learned of the Pataskala market and they have been a staple here most weeks since, he said.
COVID has posed particular problems for their business, Paul said, citing market unpredictability.
"We're really struggled to keep inventory growing," he said.
The Millers raise their own steers, but processing is the real challenge.
Paul said reports of meat processing impacts resulting from Coronavirus spread at processing facilities is somewhat misleading, as booking for processing -- the Millers process their meat out of Sugar Creek, Ohio -- is always a challenge with long lead times.
"You always have to book 10 to 12 weeks in advance," Paul explained. "I met a guy here who bought a steer and wanted to get it processed, and I said, 'I hope you're going to enjoy that steer in January.' It's always easy to get an animal, but it's hard to get it processed."
Of processors, Paul said, "If they're any good, they're always booked."
About mid- to end of August, the Millers tend to pull back from Friday farmers markets because of the erosion they see resulting from Friday night football.
But under COVID-19, conditions, that might possibly change this year, Paul said, as he described how visitor access to away football games back home has been greatly restricted and so perhaps the Friday night lights might not be the lure away from Pataskala markets they've proven to be in past years.
"Market" - Google News
September 05, 2020 at 06:21PM
https://ift.tt/2F9MWGq
Vendors talk Pataskala Farmers Market season under pandemic conditions - The Newark Advocate
"Market" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2Yge9gs
https://ift.tt/2Wls1p6
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/bostonglobe/VNG7YMZTRWJ5WBFTJ5NVETPCQI.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment