Area growers supply produce for auction

By Erin E. O’Neill, eoneill@mariettatimes.com
Earlier this month, the Chesterhill Produce Auction, located in Morgan County at 8380 Wagoner Road, opened its fourth season with festivities including refreshments and a guest speaker, executive chef Matt Rapposelli with Ohio University in Athens.

Local growers from Chesterhill to Belpre supplied the produce for the May 15 auction, which acts as a wholesale operation supplying bulk buyers, including restaurants, suppliers to farm markets and institutions such as colleges and nursing homes. Individuals can also bid on produce at the auction.

“It is a true produce auction,” said Tom Redfern, sustainable agriculture program coordinator with Rural Action in Trimble, a partner of the CPA. “Auctions are fun to watch. They really are a community outing.”

Smaller, retail-sized lots, featuring baked goods, hanging baskets and other items, were also available to the dozens of folks who attended the event that was started in 2005 by Chesterhill residents Jean and Marvin Konkle, with help from Rural Action, and the Ohio State University Extension.

Organizers started the project in the hopes of serving the needs of both producers and buyers from Morgan, Athens, Meigs, Gallia, Vinton, Hocking, Perry, Washington and Muskingum counties. They also wanted to provide new opportunities for people who want to become buyers for area restaurants.

“Anyone that would like to buy or sell is welcome to do so,” said Jean Konkle in a news release, “because that’s something I feel everybody should have the opportunity to do.

“If you want to sell whatever vegetables you have, or if you just want to buy the vegetables, you can do either,” she said.

Konkle credited Rural Action for helping set up the CPA.

“Rural Action is one of the best organizations that I’ve ever been associated with. They strive each and every day to bring the communities closer together, and I really appreciate their efforts,” she said.

Rural Action is a nonprofit organization with projects in 14 Ohio counties and impacting most of the 29 counties of Appalachian Ohio. Its mission is to promote economic, social, and environmental justice in the region.

At its inception, the Chesterhill Produce Auction obtained small business grants from the Southern Ohio Agricultural Development Foundation and Ohio University’s Cooperative Development Center.

Organizers said they would like to see many southeastern Ohio families not only getting their food at the Chesterhill Produce Auction, but marketing produce as well.

“We’re always looking for new growers,” said Redfern. “Like any small business, it’s a struggle but it’s also been really exciting.”

The CPA was modeled after similar auctions in Amish and Mennonite communities. There are six such auctions in Ohio, designed to suit restaurant, store and roadside vending stand owners wishing to sell fresh and healthy locally-grown food items.

Auctions are handicap-accessible and are held at 4 p.m. every Thursday through June 16 and Mondays and Thursdays thereafter for the rest of the summer.

Seasonal produce, flowers, garden plants baked goods and woodcrafts will be available. Ohio WIC is accepted and, according to Redfern, the CPA is working with Ohio Job and Family Services to be able to accept food stamps as well.