Franciscan Health Continues Weekly Farmers Markets this Summer
The Community Health Improvement team at Franciscan Health will again be hosting a weekly farmers market this year on the south side of Indianapolis and one in Beech Grove. The farmers markets provide nutritious options for locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables to the community.
The Beech Grove Farmers Market will take place on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Franciscan VNS Home Care offices, located at 1300 Albany Street in Beech Grove. The Beech Grove Farmers Market will run weekly from May 5 through September 29.
New for this year, one week a month, the Beech Grove Farmers Market will feature a Kids Market, which will be operated by young entrepreneurs, ages 5-17. The first Kids Markets will be Tuesday, May 19. Additional Kids Markets will be held on Tuesday, June 16, Tuesday, July 21, Tuesday, August 18 and Tuesday, September 15.
The Indianapolis Farmers Market will take place on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Franciscan medical office building located at 5230 East Stop 11 Road in Indianapolis, across the street from the Franciscan Health Indianapolis hospital campus. The Indianapolis Farmers Market will run weekly from May 6 through September 30.
The farmers markets feature fresh fruits and vegetables that are grown in Central Indiana and a wide array of other products that are locally sourced.
“We had a great time last year hosting the farmers markets and learned quite a bit,” said Stacey Fink, community health specialist at Franciscan Health. “Providing the opportunity for our neighbors on the south side to purchase healthy items, especially produce, is very important to the health of the community. We have a loyal group of vendors returning and look forward to welcoming new vendors as well. Also, we are adding the Kids Market once a month in May, June and July in Beech Grove, which is going to be a very fun and rewarding experience for the young people who take part.”
Over the years, the Indianapolis Farmers Market, which started in 2016, has grown exponentially. It began as a small market with fruits and vegetables and now also features baked goods, arts and crafts, coffee, fresh flowers and soaps with vendors coming from across central Indiana. Now in its second year, the Beech Grove Farmers Market continues to grow as well.
The Community Health Improvement team at Franciscan hosts numerous community events throughout the year and operates the Fresh Start Market Pantry in Greenwood.
Those interested in becoming a vendor at the farmers markets are asked to contact Fink at Stacey.Fink@FranciscanAlliance.org.