By HEIDI GASSER
BGSU Journalism Student
A new, local market is bringing fresh produce, craftsman foods and beverages, and life to the northern end of Bowling Green – in the parking lot of the Woodland Mall, 1234 N. Main St.
The BG Community Market, which opened in early April, recently hosted a rotation of vendors ranging from full farm stands to start-ups selling home-made products. Linda Joseph, from Joseph’s Greenhouse, ran a stand that attracted a constant stream of buyers for both vegetable and flowering plants sold in flats, and individually. Joseph said her business does farmer’s markets often, and that she is already seeing familiar faces at this new market.
“I think this market is really starting to take off and grow,” Joseph said. “Seeing repeat customers is always kinda nice. It’s like seeing old friends. We’ve grown a lot of friendships doing markets in the area.”
Businesses, distributors, and home-based providers alike offered unique products. Beez Nuts, a handmade candied nut stand, started as a project to raise money after a death in the family, business owner Shonia Brooks said.
“It started off as a fundraiser. I had a family member who passed, and like many, we didn’t have life insurance. We came up with the idea from another friend who did honey coated nuts at her church, but we wanted to do something different,” Brooks said.
Brooks’ tent supplied coated almonds, cashews, pecans and more. “Beez Nuts” earned its name, according to Brooks, from a joke with her brother.
“It was my brother, my husband and myself. Once we had decided we were going to go ahead and do this as a business, we had to come up with a name. And when [Brooks’ brother] said Beez Nuts, I was so against it. I was like ‘No, that sounds too close to the deez nuts joke.’ But then we decided to just go rogue with it, and people love it,” Brooks said.
Down the pathway, Jan Clevenger manned a stand distributing goods from Rinehart Acres, a specialty vendor based in New Knoxville, Ohio. Clevenger stumbled upon the company’s pickled products – garlic, pickles, and more – and became a loyal customer before deciding to spread well-seasoned goodness in Bowling Green.
“You can’t get better than this. All of my products are all-natural products, and they’re not sold in stores,” Clevenger said.
Clevenger noted the importance of shopping local, as opposed to purchasing at a supermarket.
“You can find any fresh vegetables here, or pickled garlic; it’s just good quality at a farmer’s market,” Clevenger said.
Dozens walked the parking lot up and down the tent aisles. Darla Poole said the market was “so far, so good.” She enjoyed a meal with her grandson, with whom she often tries to “get out and do things.”
“I love coming here and getting dinner, fresh. You have to love it when food is fresh like that,” Poole said.
Juliet Smith, a stay-at-home mother, traveled from McClure, Ohio, to see the market for a second time. Since her visit in early Spring, she noticed that foot traffic has increased alongside warming weather.
“It’s a way to give back,” Smith said. ”The market has definitely picked up. I think this will bring in more business for this establishment and the Woodland Mall as well.”
Small-business owner of Happy Trees Painting, Joshua Torres, said he loves supporting other small businesses and giving back to his community. In fact, Torres said that he wants to see more opportunities in Bowling Green to do so in the future.
“I like the idea. I feel that Bowling Green needs to progress. They usually just have that little market downtown, but I like everybody getting involved.”
The BG Community Market invites those of all ages to enjoy its vibrant atmosphere on Tuesdays from 4-7 p.m. now to October.
