As Local Roots Market and Café has grown, other communities have expressed interest in setting up markets following the same model. The first sprout for Local Roots has now taken root in Ashland, where a group of interested community members have selected a downtown site and begun the work of creating a new market for local growers.
Local Roots manager Jessica Eikleberry explains that at the beginning of planning in Ashland, the group quickly realized that instead of reinventing the Local Roots concept, the Wooster market could work with them by sharing resources and streamlining operations. While the Ashland market will need to handle their own on-site operations, sales and producer payments will run through a central computer system, and the Ashland sprout will be able to use the Local Roots logo, website, and other promotional materials and resources. The Ashland market will have the same types of products and follow the same guidelines as the Wooster store.
Eikleberry notes, Just as Local Roots enables many small farms and businesses to work together, the Local Roots Sprouts concept envisions many independent markets working together.
Since the first interest meeting a few months ago, the Ashland Local Roots group has formed an official steering committee, held a number of public meetings, and started a membership drive. Local Roots Ashland will be located in what is commonly referred to as the Old Gilberts Warehouse at 101 South Street, serving as an anchor store as the warehouse is converted to independently owned shops as part of the downtown revitalization project.
Producers interested in selling at the Ashland location will need to fill out a separate Local Roots membership and producer application, but the membership will be good at both locations.
As a year-round market for locally-produced foods and other agricultural products, Local Roots Market is located at 140 S. Walnut St. in Wooster. The market is open Wednesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Membership is not required to shop. To learn more about weekly news and events at the market, visit the website at www.localrootswooster.com and sign up for the newsletter.
