Healthy New Albany Magazine July/August 2020

A Fresh Take The New Albany Farmers Market makes changes in the midst of COVID-19

By Brittany Mosley

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icnic blankets, live music and family time – New Albany residents love spending time together and supporting local businesses at the farmers market. Now in its 10th year, the market can host more than 40 vendors and 1,200 attendees in a given week. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic though, things have changed. This season, the market has moved from its regular Market Square location to the Church of the Resurrection to ensure the safety of vendors and market shoppers. Guests have two options: a walk-up market and a drive-through market. The flexibility helps New Albany adapt to ever-changing guidelines surrounding COVID-19, whether the state continues to open up or stronger precautions need to be taken again. “We have worked so hard to watch, observe and investigate what other mar-

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kets are doing around the country,” says Kristina Jenny, market manager. “New Albany doesn’t say, ‘I don’t think you can do that,’ but instead, ‘How can I help?’ and, ‘Who do I know that can help?’ That’s a central theme of this community.” High Bank Distillery is providing hand sanitizer for free and the New Albany Community Foundation has continued its partnership with the market. Jenny and her team are seeing success with the new structure and hope that success continues throughout the summer. “I think our community will continue to support us even though it’s different this year,” says Jenny. Many vendors share Jenny’s confidence in the community. “New Albany is great at coming together for a good cause,” says Jim Cushing of Charlotte and Olivia’s Sublime Ice Creams. In fact, the market may be the best place to get your goods right now since

it supports the local economy and features right-from-the-farm produce. Plus, patrons can get their groceries in open air and socially-distanced spaces rather than indoors at a grocery store. “We are a producer-focused market,” Jenny says. “The person that’s behind the booth is the person that planted the seed, watered the plant, picked the weeds. … That’s a very personal thing.” The vendors’ commitment to their craft is why so many patrons return year after year. Each vendor prioritizes highquality and authentic goods created, sourced or grown in Ohio. “For many of the vendors, we aren’t big enough to supply stuff to Kroger or Giant Eagle, or really don’t have the desire to do that,” says Cushing. “So, if you don’t see them at the farmers market, you don’t have a place to get their product.” Leah Latshaw of Latshaw Apiaries agrees. 21