Updates
COME TO THE TABLE!
'250 PLATES' We are honored to be part of a new collaboration between Destination Downtown Lancaster and the Fairfield County Foundation. Introducing "250 Plates" - September 22nd from 4 - 7 pm in downtown Lancaster! Enjoy an inspired menu of locally sourced food prepared by the chefs of participating downtown restaurants, a cash bar and live music, all situated in the unique setting of Bank Alley, which will be transformed into a cozy, outdoor dining room centered around a long table where friends and neighbors can mingle and enjoy the bounty of the season. Proceeds from the evening will benefit Fairfield County food pantries and the Keller Market House. Click here for more details and to reserve your spot at the table! 
WHY BUY LOCAL FLOWERS?
This time of year, we have lovely cut flowers from Down the Road Farm and Bluegreen Gardens. Each week, we're excited to see something new in the bouquets as they are truly seasonal. Keep the market house in mind when you need a bouquet for a special occasion or just to brighten your day! You buy local food ... Why buy local flowers, too?
WELCOME LHS INTERNS!
Introducing this year's Lancaster High School Culinary Arts student interns Makayla Clark and Adam Allen. They'll be with us for the month of May, helping out around the market house and offering cooking demos to highlight local ingredients at the Lancaster Farmers Market Saturday, May 18th and 25th. Makayla chose to enroll in the culinary program because of a family tradition of working in the food industry. Makayla loves to bake - brownies, pies and bread. Adam's favorite is to prepare a steak dinner with garlic mashed potatoes for family. Adam chose culinary arts because of a passion for food and the opportunity to make people happy, "one stomach at a time." Both are graduating seniors who will move on to Sullivan University in Louisville, KY, to study Baking & Pastry. 
6 KITCHENS: DINNERS TO SUPPORT THE KELLER MARKET HOUSE
Join us Saturday, June 15th at 6:30 pm. Members of our community will generously open their homes, each hosting a different and uniquely themed dinner. All proceeds from the event will go to fund the necessary improvements and equipment for the first phase of the Keller Community Kitchen project. Read more here ... Click here to see the menus and reserve your tickets for $100 donation per person. 
THE FRY PIE LADY IS BACK!
Don't indulge in too much Easter candy, you'll want to save room for these! After much anticipation, the Fry Pie Lady returns on Tuesday, April 23rd! After a planned break and settling into a new kitchen space, the Fry Pie Lady is ready to return. You can come out of your fry pie withdrawal with Apple Blackberry, Blueberry, Lemon Blueberry, Cherry, Red Raspberry and Lemon Red Raspberry! 
KELLER COMMUNITY KITCHEN RECEIVES GRANT FROM THE FAIRFIELD COUNTY FOUNDATION
We're one step closer to a kitchen space that will allow us to host better cooking classes and community events! Many thanks to the Fairfield County Foundation's Wendel Family Fund for a grant in the amount of $14,000 that will be instrumental in our completion of phase one of our kitchen project. We're at work on plumbing and electrical upgrades and acquiring the equipment that will transform the area at the rear of our retail space into the Keller Community Kitchen. Stay tuned for updates! Pictured left to right: Jeff Beard (FCF Grant Committee Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board), Kate Adler (KMH Board), Elizabeth Zawislak (KMH Board), Jane Hill (KMH Board), Kim Sheldon (KMH Board), Erin Harvey (KMH Manager), Amanda Everitt (KMH Board), Elizabeth Baker (KMH Board), David Scheffler (KMH Board), Abby King, FCF Program Officer 
ACCEPTING FARMERS MARKET APPLICATIONS
It might feel like we're still in the throes of winter, but preparations are underway for spring and the kickoff of the Lancaster Farmers Market. (Saturday, May 4th!) We are accepting applications for vendors at the Lancaster Farmers Market through March 31st (and then on a rolling basis as space allows). If there's a new vendor you'd like to see there, please let them know and send them to the website for more info and to apply: LancasterOhFarmersMarket.org 
GOT MILK?
We do. New Milk! ... Introducing Green Field Farms Certified Organic Milk. For the Hartzler fans out there, Green Field checks all the same boxes AND it's certified organic for the same price. (We're promised they even use the same brand of chocolate for the chocolate milk!) Green Field is a farmer-owned coop of all Amish & Mennonite farmers who use horse & buggy - read more about them here.
NEW YEAR, NEW MISSION
At the Keller Market House, we are feeling grateful for a fantastic holiday season. A huge thanks goes out to all of you who made Lancaster's community market a part of your holidays, whether through thoughtful, handmade gift giving or through making local foods a part of your festivities. We enjoy the fruitful pace of the growing season and the joyful hustle and bustle of the holidays, but we are busy now in a different way, with behind-the-scenes work and planning for the season ahead. This quieter winter season affords us a chance for reflection and refinement. As we grow and evolve as a young organization, we thought it was time to reaffirm who we are and our role in the community. You may know us best as a market house, but we are a 501(c)(3) non profit organization - Lancaster Fresh Market, Inc. - that does many things! At our board retreat in November, we adopted a new mission statement to express our goals: We champion the production and accessibility of local foods and products for the enrichment of our community. With this mission in mind, plans are underway for 2019 ... Right now we're thrilled at the fresh veggies our farmers are bringing us even in the midst of winter and the work that's begun on our Keller Community Kitchen. We're looking forward to upcoming classes and partnerships. We're excited for the possibilities that lie ahead and hope that you'll join us in 2019! 
NEW HOURS
Starting Saturday, October 13th, we'll return to our fall/winter Saturday hours of 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. It's been a busy harvest season, and now we're all looking forward to enjoying more leisurely winter mornings! We hope you'll keep your Saturday morning market routine, we just look forward to seeing you a little bit later! 
NEW VENDOR SPECIAL
Now through the end of the year we are offering a new member vendor special and waiving our $50 annual vendor fee. If you are a local farmer, food producer or artisan based in Ohio, now is a great time to explore becoming a Keller Market House vendor! For more details and the complete guidelines and application, please click here. We accept new member vendors on a rolling basis, according to our guidelines and with an effort towards maintaining a healthy diversity of products. Please contact us with any questions. 
"FAMILY FARM FIELD DAY DRAWS 4000 TO BALTIC"
Read about Keller Market House & Lancaster Farmers Market vendor Brad Berry of Berry Family Farm in the latest issue of 'Farm and Dairy.' "Brad Berry, a seventh-generation farmer from Fairfield County, Ohio, raises livestock and crops on 200 acres, and direct markets his meats and eggs, along with his crops, as non GMO feed. Berry worked 20 some years for a local factory and farmed on the side, but when the factory job went away — he returned to his roots. 'When that job ended, I had to use a lot of creativity to keep everything flowing,' he said. And while diversification has worked well for him — it’s also presented some challenges. On the plus-side, it’s given him a year-round market and some balance for when the markets change.... " Click here to continue reading 
KELLER COMMUNITY KITCHEN UPDATE
Many of you know we have been quietly working away at the first steps toward installation of Phase One of our commercial kitchen project. Initial plans are being finalized and thanks to grant funding from the Fairfield County Foundation and funds raised via our 5 Kitchens dinners and Chef Weber's cooking classes, we are almost ready to finally begin! This basic kitchen will improve our space for community events, space rentals and cooking classes and allow us to serve coffee and other beverages. We can't wait and we're excited to build on what we have to offer the community and to better welcome you into our space! 
PRODUCE PERKS LAUNCH
On August 1st, we launched our 2018 Produce Perks program - making fresh fruits & vegetables more affordable! For anyone making a SNAP/EBT food purchase at the Keller Market House, we'll give you a voucher for free fresh fruits & vegetables. How Does It Work?
Help us spread the word so everyone can enjoy fresh, local produce! 
WINE!
In July, we launched our new wine department. Now you can visit us for a sustainable & unique wine selection, available by the bottle. You might be wondering .... "Are these all Ohio wines?" No, they are not. While our mission at Keller Market House is to support local Ohio foods and businesses, with wine we're taking a little departure. In keeping with our goal of sustainable micro-business incubation, we're seeking out wines from all over the world that best meet our criteria for biodiverse sustainable farming methods while offering great value and amazing flavors. "Sustainable" to us might include wines that are certified organic or chemical free, contain no detectable sulfites, are vegan or Demeter certified. We look forward to exploring wines with you, with a carefully selected selection for purchase by the bottle and through organized tastings. 
BLUEGREEN GARDENS FEATURED IN JOHNNY'S
Maybe you've heard of Slow Food .... have you heard of Slow Flowers? There's a growing movement of farmers who focus on raising cut flowers and we're lucky to have these two in our market! Read about Bluegreen Gardens' Mike Zawislak and Elizabeth Fox Zawislak in this article from Johnny's Selected Seeds. (For those of you who aren't farmers, being featured in Johnny's is making it big time!) MEET OUR LHS CULINARY ARTS INTERNS!
We're pleased to welcome Willow and Rebekah, two seniors from the LHS Culinary Arts program housed at Stanbery. They will be interning with us for April and May (2018), helping out in the Market House and preparing cooking demonstrations for the Farmers Market. Through participating in the school's catering business and traveling to culinary competitions, these two already have a great base of knowledge and are ServSafe qualified. The Culinary Arts program trains its students in basic cooking and knife skills and introduces them to a wide range of cooking methods and equipment. Under the direction of Chef Debra Bates, their program has been recognized as one of the 'Elite 50' - the top 50 secondary school hospitality programs in the country - four years in a row! Willow joined the Culinary Program because she loves the idea of transforming just a few ingredients into something great. She especially loves creating desserts and will seek a job in the culinary field when she graduates. Rebekah enjoys cooking so much because it helps her to relax and clear her head. She'll continue her education at Sullivan University in Louisville and hopes to open her own bakery someday. Make sure to say 'hi' and thank them if you see them at the market! 
A WORK IN PROGRESS
Our stage shrank! A big thanks to the Lancaster-Sherman Rotary! A dedicated group of volunteers spent part of their sunny Sunday inside tackling the stage in our community room. This is just the first step in a series of improvements to this multi-purpose space. Bigger isn't always better - We're looking forward to a smaller but safer stage that better suits our needs as we host speakers, workshops and live music in the future. |
New Vendors
SWEET IRIS BAKERY
What started as a Christmas gift in the form of a cookbook, quickly became an obsession for local baker Kelin Wilkins. And now you can enjoy his artisan breads at the Keller Market House! Kelin uses the best, locally sourced ingredients he can find, such as black walnuts from Integration Acres and flours from King Arthur, Stutzman Farms and Shagbark Seed & Mill. Sweet Iris debuts this week with three kinds of loaves - Black Walnut Sourdough, White Poolish Bread and 50% Whole Wheat Biga Bread. (Yes, that's Poolish not Polish. Learn about the sourdough jargon here!) Give one a try and follow Kelin's baking adventures on Instagram @sweet_iris_bakery. 
OCHS FRUIT FARM
Many of you know Ochs Fruit Farm for their fabulous fruit at the Lancaster Farmers Market. They are a family owned and operated fifth generation farm, established in 1872 and located just north of Lancaster on State Route 188. (You can visit them there at their on-farm store beginning in August.) The Ochs grow apples, pears, and peaches - when Mother Nature lets them - along with some nursery plants, small fruits & vegetables. They try to offer a maximum number of apple varieties - currently at just over 100 different varieties! Taste is very important to them, and they want to share all the flavors with you. We're excited to have a few of those flavors here - come get a whiff of their fresh herbs, starting with basil, rosemary, chives & dill! 
BOTANIBITES
We're delighted to add another gluten free option to the market house - Botanibites Functional Mini Muffins! Botanibites are gluten free, paleo friendly, low carb snack options created by founder Sasha Bruno. Not only are they free of gluten, grain, dairy, soy and nuts - foods that are a challenge for many of us with food sensitivities - but they also include blends of medicinal herbal extracts. Organic herbal powders and tinctures are used to deliver the desired function: energize, uplift, unwind and bliss... Bites for every feel! Look for them in the fridge and try each flavor: Bliss Goji Lavender, Relief Apricot Spice, Unwind Lemon Floral, Energize Matcha Mint Trip, and Uplift Maca Marble. 
WREN VALLEY TRUFFLES
We are very excited to welcome an artisan chocolatier into our community! Janet Bowers and her team at Wren Valley Trufflesin the Hocking Hills create beautiful chocolates that are perfect for special occasions or sure to brighten any day. They use the finest ingredients and source what they can locally - such as Snowville Cream and Sticky Pete's Maple Syrup. Discover delightful treas like frog or koi (fish) shaped solid chocolates, candy bars with cacao nibs or early grey tea and the wonderfully mysterious 'Fairy Dust.' We're also looking forward to some special offerings for Easter! 
OL' DIRTY SHEETS HOT SAUCE
Heat things up with hot sauces and spice rubs from our brand new vendor, Ol' Dirty Sheets Hot Sauce! Ol' Dirty Sheets' small-batch products are lovingly made and bottled at Local Roots in Wooster. (Local Roots is a marketplace much like ours that helped to inspire the Keller Market House! It includes a shared commercial kitchen space and cafe in addition to its retail space in downtown Wooster, OH.) Chef and Owner Joshua Sheets works with his family to spread great flavor that will complement your food. His hope is to help bring family & friends together over the dinner table, while enjoying a well-prepared meal. Try their two hot sauces - People of the Trees & Senor Smoke Dog - and two spice rubs - Powder to the People & Ere' Day Spice - today! 
SWEET NOTES CUSTOM COOKIES
From Owner/Baker Kylie Ogg: "For as long as I can remember, I've enjoyed baking; from standing beside my grandmother in her kitchen to making fun confections for family and friends in my own home. While my career path led me to teaching music, I always wanted my baking to surpass that which I did for family holidays, so I am glad to be able to share the recipes I care so deeply about with my community. I use time-tested family recipes combined with new flavor combinations and all-natural, locally sourced ingredients." 
SCATTERED
Just in time for Valentine's Day, we're introducing new jewelry from local artisan Linda Craine of 'Scattered' Jewelry. Discover necklaces, bracelets and more incorporating gemstones and sterling silver. With thoughtful craftsmanship and affordable pricing, these pieces would add a bright spot to your winter wardrobe! 
BEEPOTHECARY
Just in time for this winter season that's hard on your skin and the immune system... We're excited to introduce BEEpothecary! BEEpothecary manufactures - in small artisan batches - supplements and skin care products "powered by bees." They include propolis, honey, beeswax and pollen in their products to capitalize on the amazing health benefits of all the beehive resources. They use only natural ingredients thoughtfully chosen for their health benefiting qualities. Come check out their creamed honey blends, tinctures, skin creams, lip balms, unique shaving products and more! 
BLUE OWL GARDEN EMPORIUM
Blue Owl Garden Emporium is a Licking County herb farm that offers locally and sustainably grown culinary herbs, edible flowers, herbal seasoning blends and teas, and a variety of other unusual herbal concoctions. With more than 200 dried herbs available during the winter, there's a flavor for everyone! At their farmers markets, they also offer fresh culinary mushrooms and more than 125 fresh herbs during the growing season. At both the herb farm and their complementary forest farm operation, Blue Owl is committed to ecologically sustainable practices which make conservation and biodiversity as much a priority as the economic bottom line. They use no petroleum-based fertilizers or pesticides, create habitat for pollinators/beneficial insects, and employ energy-efficient/low-impact techniques whenever possible. Check out the selection of their teas, seasonings, mulling spices and baking mixes that we've just added! 
FARM ON THE RIDGE
Elise & Derrick Allison operate their pasture-based pork farm in Jackson County, Ohio, where they raise heritage breeds of pigs that are known for their foraging abilities, mothering instincts and ultimately, superior taste. Their philosophy is to allow the pig to be a pig. Unlike in more industrial operations, their pigs live in multi-generational herds, rotating through pastures and woods. The Allisons can now expand their sales to retail markets like ours as they've become the first vendor to work out of ACEnet's brand new ODA-inspected meat processing facility in Nelsonville. Read more about that new venture here. You'll appreciate their pork products designed for food conscious consumers who also have a need for convenience. Look for pre-seasoned or marinated items like their Chorizo Sausage and slow-cooker ready Pork Carnitas Shoulder Roast in the new chest freezer. 
SWEET SPACE BAKERY
We got to taste test these handmade caramels, so we can vouch that they're amazing! The seasonal apple cider caramels make the perfect fall treat - make sure you try these while they're around! Then look for traditional caramels year round. The caramels are available individually or by the dozen. 
KOFFEE GEEKS
There's a new family-owned coffee roaster in the area! We're excited to introduce locally roasted, sustainably sourced whole coffee beans from Jodi & Mike of Koffee Geeksof Laurelville. A passion project that has grown into a business, Koffee Geeks has recently scaled up with their rose gold Bideli Roaster "Rosie." We're starting with these five blends and look forward to hosting Koffee Geeks for a tasting some day soon! Signature Breakfast Blend Signature Farmhouse Blend After Hours 4:00 AM Campfire 
QUESTIONABLE PRESS
Lancaster artist Sarah Brown creates her charming 'whim-wham' using hand set vintage type, hand carved wood engravings and a Heidelberg Windmill letterpress from 1958. Whether you're feeling snarky or sweet, you'll find a greeting card that expresses just what you're feeling. The care that goes into her creations is tangible, and a welcome departure from today's mass market goods. We're charmed by her paper animal sculptures and her notepads have us giggling! Learn more about Sarah's process on her website. 
R & R CANDLES
Just in time for Lancaster Brew Week, we're excited to introduce our latest vendor - R&R Candles! Handpoured 100% soy wax candles are made locally with upcycled craft beer cans and wine bottles. A perfect gift for your favorite Ohio beer lover, they'll fit right in on your back patio, picnic or camping trip. 
SUSTAINABILITREE
Local artisan Carol Abbott has lovingly turned the native wild black cherry trees of her childhood into beautiful wooden creations to share with you! We're excited to introduce her cutting boards, wall plaques and foot stools. And check out her charming 'Hatimals' as well! If you have leftover yarn you'd like to donate to the cause, Carol will gladly repurpose it and offers a discount on a future Sustainabilitree purchase in exchange. Also look for Sustainabilitree as a vendor at the outdoor Lancaster Farmers Market the first Saturday of each month and meet the artist! 
NATURE'S MAGIC
We're excited to introduce our newest vendor - Nature's Magic! This Ohio-based, woman-owned business offers something unique to the market house: fresh smelling cleaning products that are biodegradable and phosphate and surfactant free. Make your home a healthy, non toxic environment for you, your children and your pets! Choose from Deep Clean, Multi-purpose Spray, Glass Cleaner, Wood Polish and Gentle Scrub, and check out the Concentrates so you can refill your spray bottle! 
2nd AVE CANDLE Co.
NEW! 100% soy candles from Amy Blake of the 2nd Avenue Candle Co. in Middleport, Ohio. Made with no additives, phylate free fragrance oils and cotton core wicks, look for new scents each season! We'll be carrying both hand poured candles and wax tarts. 
HOLLY GROVE GRANOLA
Lancaster residents Cindy & Gary Cook have spent years perfecting their granola recipe. They've gotten such good feedback from family and friends that now they'd like to share their granola with you! With a light, crispy texture and just the right amount of sweetness, we hope you love it as much as we do... We can't stop snacking! If you're looking for a healthier option for Easter baskets for the kids or the adults in your life, Holly Grove Granola is just the ticket. 
SIMPLY MENDED
We love these sorts of stories! Local resident Natalie had struggled with skin issues for years. After frustrating experiences with commercially available moisturizers, dietary adjustments and dermatologists' prescriptions, she set out to create something herself that would offer relief for psoriasis. The end result was her creamy Face & Body Butter and tremendously improved skin conditions. Made from only three natural ingredients, Simply Mended is great for hands and body and even face and lips. Natalie has heard from many other people that it has helped their psoriasis, eczema and other skin ailments. But even if you're just looking for an all natural moisturizer for seasonal dry skin, give it a try! |
