Local fruits and vegetables available at Trinity Lutheran farmer’s market (VIDEO)

MANSFIELD — Like two peas in a pod, one market manager and her husband coordinate a farmer’s market at their church to support local farmers and provide healthy food alternatives to the public.

For eight years, Steve and Cindy Shasky have run the Holy Trinity Farmer’s Market at 525 West Cook Road in Mansfield on the southwest corner of Lexington Avenue and Cook Road.

“Our farmer’s market is a great way to share the abundance that GOD has given us,” says Cindy Shasky. “Our market provides interface between the actual growers and customers. Every Tuesday from 3:00-6:00 PM the public has the opportunity to support the local economy and build trust with the producer so they (public) can feel confident about where their food is coming from.”

At some farmers markets, producers will buy fruits and vegetables and resell the product at another farmer’s market so the customer does not know where the product comes from.

“I am very picky about who we select as producers and the quality of product they bring. We do garden inspections of our producers to verify. And our market only accepts fruits and vegetables coming from a fifteen mile radius. We really do have a great team of producers,” says Shasky.

Several of the market producers include the Hidden Acres farm on Mansfield-Lucas Road, which exists to serve and honor GOD. The family farm provides pastured-poultry and grass-fed beef.

Share N’ Dipity from Taylor Road provides breads and pastries, and the Odd Sprout Farm in Plymouth, Ohio which produces beets, basil, carrots, red green lettuce, and baby romaine lettuce.

According to Steve Shasky, “Lori is another one of our vendors that provides different jams and jellies, herbs, squash, cucumbers, beets, and egg plant. Tia also provides fresh sweet deserts.”

Steve adds, “Despite the abundance of rainfall that has hampered gardens and farms in the region, we are seeing yellow squash grow like crazy.”

Weekly Ohio crop updates are made available by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Reverend Penti Maki, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran comments, “We support the Shasky’s ministry, it is an outreach of Holy Trinity Lutheran. The farmer’s market provides ample opportunity for relationship-building and gives healthy food alternatives for the public which is a real blessing to the community.”

Local farmer’s markets cut down on shipping time which translates to less time for vegetables to lose their nutrients.

A diet rich in vegetables and fruits can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, prevent some types of cancer, lower risk of eye and digestive problems, and have a positive effect upon blood sugar, which can help keep appetite in check

Farmer’s markets also reduce areas known as “food deserts.” Food deserts are geographic areas where access to affordable, fresh fruits and vegetables are limited or nonexistent because grocery stores are too far away. According to a 2009 report, about 23.5 million Americans live in food deserts.

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The Bottom Line:

The Bible in Isaiah Chapter 58 says, “The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”