Sisters Holly Ousley, left, and Vickie Bell operate Black Barn Botanical, selling flowers and other plants. They’re one of the vendors at this year’s Akron Farmers Market at the town’s Downtown Square Park.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

AKRON — Jewelry, flowers and farm produce are just a few of the items people may find at the Akron Farmers Market.

The market, which is overseen by the Akron Chamber of Commerce, opened for the second year in May.

It operates every Saturday until “late September” at the town’s Downtown Square Park, said Brent and Aryn Bowser. Hours are 8 a.m. to noon.

Sarah Reynolds started and runs the farmers market.

“She likes the idea of local people getting together, offering … local wares, but she herself does not have a booth here,” said Aryn. “She just thought that was something Akron needed.”

Aryn said vendors can come and go “as (their) plans allow.”

At the market on Saturday, June 8, the Bowsers were selling eggs and goat meat. They also have honey and other produce at different times of the year.

New to the market this year is Rae of Sunshine Designs and Boutique, which is run by Chelsea Brubaker of Akron.

She sells resin pieces, beaded keychains and hair bows.

“I actually do custom funeral flower pieces too with jewelry,” Brubaker added. “I do T-shirts and children’s clothing from time to time, too, so kind of a variety of things.”

She hoped the farmers market fostered “community” as well as “letting people know what’s out there and what they can get from somebody small versus going to a big chain store.”

Black Barn Botanical is also a new Akron Farmers Market vendor. It’s operated by sisters Holly Ousley and Vickie Bell of Claypool.

“Actually it’s our new business, and we’re still growing, so hopefully next year we’ll have even more inventory early on,” said Ousley.

Black Barn sells flowers.

“We’ve also sold strawberry starts, peppers, tomatoes, pasta and then fresh vegetables as they start to come in,” said Ousley.

Aryn said other vendors include “a lady about every other weekend who does sourdough goods and baked goods and stuff and freeze-dried candies (and) Pleasant View Farms has soap and plant starts and lots of good stuff.”

Akron Chamber Secretary Khrista Boster noted the chamber was “excited” to have the market operating for a second year.

Aryn said she hoped people may gain “friendships and just … community connections” from the market as well as buying local goods.

Anyone is welcome to sell at the market. There’s no vendor fee, and Reynolds can help with any licenses that are needed.

People may email [email protected] or message the Akron Farmers Market Facebook page with any questions.