Mount Vernon Farmers Market ready for 2026 season

The Mount Vernon Farmers Market begins the 2026 season on May 2, on Public Square, from 9 a.m. to noon. Now in its 23rd year, the market brings together local farmer, bakers, vendors and musicians to offer one of the most popular weekend destinations in Knox County. The market is held each Saturday, May through October, rain or shine.

Whether you're looking to get healthy or just want to try new fruits and vegetables, the market is the place to go. Early season offerings include asparagus, rhubarb, lettuce, and garlic scapes. Later in the year strawberries, cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, mushrooms and sweet corn take center stage. All produce sold at the market is grown within 50 miles of Public Square.

All produce vendors are required to take Good Agricultural Practices training offered by OSU Extension Educator Sabrina Schirtzinger. This training ensures that all fruits and vegetables are grown and handled in compliance with food safety regulations set by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Shoppers will also find a wide variety of items from locally roasted coffee to baked goods and treats including sourdough bread, nut brittle, cookies, pies, and cinnamon rolls. Raw honey, flavored honey and maple syrup are quite popular as well. And this year a new vendor will offer knife sharpening.

Everyone is invited to experience what the market has to offer and that is why several incentives are in place to make shopping available to those at all income levels including:

• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

• Produce Perks

• Fruit & Vegetable Program from Produce Perks

• Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

• WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Nutrition Program

• Knox County Task Force for Older Adults Eat Fresh, Eat Local program

• Produce Rx offered by Knox Community Health Center

Vendor list for 2026 (subject to change): Angry Acres; Bagel Notes; Baked for You; Bee Kind Acres; Bees & Bakes; Deep Blue Coffee; Glen Hill Orchards; Grandma’s Hands; Green Valley Sweet Corn;

Hickey Family Farm; Hilltop Farm; History in the Baking; Holocene LLC; Hopewell Farm; ITM (knife) Sharpening' LC Garden & Grove; Majestic Canopy Chestnut Farm;

Honey Bee Acres; Sigler Bakery; Simply Sweets; Stickee Sweet Gourmet Popcorn; Sue’s Herbs & Jellies; Sweet Grass Dairy; Tangled Up Farms; The Least of These; Watts Landing; Wesco Produce & Sugar Shack; and Yankee Street Garlic.

Local artists provide market music on several Saturdays throughout the season. Park National Bank and Wesco Produce have partnered with the market to present:

• May 23, Desmond McLennon

• June 6, Side Effects

• June 20, Mary Miller

• June 27, Echo

Market music will continue throughout the season.

Representatives from Knox County Safe Communities will promote the annual Click or Ticket seatbelt safety campaign at the market May 16. Law enforcement officers from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, The Mount Vernon Police Department and the State Highway Patrol will be on hand.

Community businesses or organizations who wish to set up booths at the market can do so for a fee to promote their business, distribute swag or just visit with customers. No political or religious groups permitted at the market. Contact the market coordinator for more information.

Fredericktown resident Deva Geiger has been named market coordinator for 2026. Geiger is a small business owner with an interest in holistic health and marketing.

For updates follow Mount Vernon Farmers Market on Facebook and Instagram and on the first Friday of each month on WMVO 100.9 FM at 10 a.m. for AM Knox County.

Questions can be directed to Geiger at Farmersmarketmountvernon@gmail.com.