By Liz Gordon-Hancock
Hot or cold, rain or shine - Bluffton Farmers Market is the place to be on Saturday mornings in town.

In celebration of our small but mighty farmers market, the Icon featured a market vendor each week over the course of the summer. If you missed this series, see bottom of article.

The final market day for this season will be Saturday, Oct. 26.

According to Paula Scott, CEO of Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce, "Despite a wet and challenging June, this has been a great year thanks to our dedicated vendors and shoppers."

If you spend any time at the market, you'll notice the vendors are a friendly bunch, and they set up shop each Saturday morning because they love what they do. It's not just vendors and customers, but friends.

"I do the farmers market because of the community" said Ann Boyd of My Own Back Yard Herbs and Flowers, in reference to both vendors and customers. "No matter what the weather, people come out. There's a real cohesiveness. I get a lot of love here."

Many of the vendors sell at multiple markets, but, as Denise Ziebold of Muddy River Homestead said: "Bluffton's been fabulous to us."

Previte of Previte's Italian Home Products and Middle Eastern Delicacies, said he sees the market as a "community-wide celebration every Saturday."

The chamber hosts an annual Christmas party to give vendors and their families a time to discuss the past season, plan for the next, and enjoy each other's company - and cooking talents - outside of work.

A number of businesses have gotten their start at our farmers market - John and Sharon Calvelage started selling cinnamon rolls and other baked goods at Saturday's market, before opening up the Dough Hook storefront business on Main Street. The Bent Spoon bakery, Shawnee Rd, Lima, began selling bagels at our market (among others) a couple years ago. And this is to name but a few.

The farmers market certainly draws the community out to Main Street on Saturdays.

Did you ever wonder how the farmers market got its start?

Potted history of the farmers market
Back in 2005, Peter Previte was approached by the secretary of the Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and asked if he would help the chamber start a farmers market in Bluffton.  With Previte's help, the Ada Chamber had already started one in Ada.

A few years down the road, Previte was asked to become the volunteer manager of the market.

Fourteen years later, Bluffton Farmers Market is still going strong.  

"It's the best farmers market in a small community in Northwest Ohio," said Previte. "The reason for that is the vendors are a wonderful group of individuals and the community of Bluffton has come out and supported the farmers market."

Other farmers markets were started in local communities but didn't last - both the area chamber and the vendors note that Bluffton is an exceptional community.

Greg Probst of Probst Family Farm took over as manager of the market in 2016.

The vendors will meet again in late March to organize for the new season. Anyone interesting in becoming a vendor can visit explorebluffton.com/farmers-market.

The market is open each Saturday through October 26 from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Citizens National Bank parking lot, 102 S. Main St. For vendor information, contact Greg Probst, market director, at blufftonfarmersmarket@embarqmail.com.
This story is the final part of a summer series on Bluffton Farmers Market vendors. If you missed this series, see below:

• Special thanks to Peter Previte for sharing his knowledge and experiences.
• Probst Family Farm
• Old Homestead Soaps and Lotions
• Sweet Dream Gourmet
• Revive Coffee Co.
• Sugarcreek Baked Goods
• Muddy River Homestead
• Eileen's Natural Soaps
• Seasonal Sun Farm
• Taste Tempters
• My Own Back Yard Herbs & Flowers
• Granny's Treats
• Anita's Sweets and Treats
• Hilty's Farm Market
• Bountiful Blooms
• Chris Freed
• Previte's Italian Home Products and Middle Eastern Delicacies

This is not a comprehensive list of vendors , as the Icon was unable to interview all the vendors at the market.