A crowd of shoppers browses produce and other items at the farmers market at the Hancock County 4-H Fairgrounds in August 2021.
Daily Reporter file photo
HANCOCK COUNTY — The weather is warming up, which means so are plans for farmers markets throughout the county.
Locally produced foods and other goods are returning to locations in Greenfield, Cumberland, Fortville, New Palestine and McCordsville this spring and summer. The upcoming season will bring a couple new developments as well, including special events at Greenfield’s market and a new downtown location for Fortville’s.
Barb Smith runs the farmers markets at the Hancock County Fairgrounds, outside Cumberland Town Hall and at Hancock Health’s Healthway Park outside New Palestine. She also participates in them as the producer behind Blue River Natural Foods.
The market at the fairgrounds, located at 620 Apple St. in Greenfield, continues its fall and winter season through April on the first and third Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Starting May 7, the market is slated to be every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon through October. In July through September, Wednesdays will be added, also from 8 a.m. to noon.
Smith is still signing people up for the market at the fairgrounds this spring and summer, but expects the venue to have 20 to 25 vendors.
“Of course we’ll have our produce vendors, which is our staple,” Smith said, adding there will also be meats and cheeses, baked goods and a few craft dealers with items like candles, wax melts and soaps. Chai tea and lemonade will be among the offerings as well.
She’s hoping for another successful season.
“The markets went really well last year,” she said. “We continue to have better turnouts each year. There’s a lot of new people moving into the area that are looking for farmers markets too.”
The reason is clear, she continued.
“I think a lot of it is they can talk directly to who’s producing the food, to know how it was prepared or how the animals were raised, how the produce was raised, all that kind of stuff,” Smith said. “It’s that connection of the consumer to the producer.”
Smith said plans are underway for the market at the fairgrounds to have a special event once a month, like a cooking demonstration and kids events. More details on those will be released as their dates get closer.
A club from Indianapolis that flies radio-controlled airplanes will bring out its simulator a few times for attendees to try too, Smith said.
The simulator is also expected to make appearances at the market at Hancock Health’s Healthway Park, 4055 S. Roy Wilson Way outside New Palestine. That market is returning for its second year, and will be 4-7 p.m. every Tuesday June through September. Smith expects about 12 vendors.
“For being a first-year market, it started off really well,” she said of last year’s run. “It kind of slowed down a little bit, but in my experience it takes about three years to really build a market, to make people aware that it’s there. With it being there at the Healthway Park, the wellness center and stuff, it got a lot of interest early on.”
Like the fairgrounds market, the one outside Cumberland Town Hall, located at 11501 E. Washington St., will also be 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday May through October. Smith anticipates around 15 vendors.
The Fortville Farmers Market is moving from Fortville Nazarene Church to the town’s downtown on South Main Street, starting in front of 305 Wine Garage and spanning the road until Broadway Street. Part of Noel Street will be closed for additional space. Hours are 4-7:30 p.m. every Thursday starting May 19. The market has 35 vendors so far, according to its Facebook page.
Also returning for a second year is The Market in McCordsville, noon to 3 p.m. Sundays May 22, July 24 and Sept. 25 in the grass area outside Trax BBQ and Scarlet Lane Brewing Company, 7724 Depot St., McCordsville.
Farmers markets
HANCOCK COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, 620 APPLE ST., GREENFIELD
Availability through April: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. first and third Saturdays
Starting May 7: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays through October; starting in July, Wednesdays added from 8 a.m. to noon through September
CUMBERLAND TOWN HALL, 11501 E. WASHINGTON ST., CUMBERLAND
8 a.m. to noon Saturdays May through October
HEALTHWAY PARK, 4055 S. ROY WILSON WAY, NEW PALESTINE
4-7 p.m. Tuesdays June through September
DOWNTOWN FORTVILLE, INTERSECTION OF SOUTH MAIN STREET AND NOEL STREET
4-7:30 p.m. Thursdays May 19 through Sept. 29
OUTSIDE SCARLET LANE BREWING COMPANY, 7724 DEPOT ST., McCORDSVILLE
Noon to 3 p.m. Sundays May 22, July 24 and Sept. 25
