Medina County Health Department brings Pop-Up Farmers' Market and Resource Fair to Lodi

LODI — Farm stands, vendors and local organizations set up tents in Lodi's Central Park on Thursday night for the Lodi Health and Motion's Pop-Up Farmers Market and Resource Fair. Medina County Health Department health educator Erin Scmitt said Thursday's market was part of Lodi Health and Motion, which is part of the Health Department's Creating Healthy Communities work. In November, the Health Department received a $95,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Health's Creating Healthy Community grant program. With the funding, the local health department has focused on Lodi, finding ways to improve access to healthy foods and promote active living. To lead the efforts, a coalition was formed with representatives from several community organizations, as well as Lodi community members. Since its formation, Schmitt said they've been able to expand the coalition with more organizations and community members, building up their partnerships. With the coalition's efforts, the Lodi Walking Group was formed and participates in bimonthly walks in the community. The next walk will be at 10 a.m. on Aug. 7 at Cloverleaf's outdoor track, 8525 Friendsville Road. Additionally, Schmitt said that Creating Healthy Communities recently completed a walk audit in downtown Lodi with the help of Toole Design. "With our Creating Healthy Communities programming that we have, we had a focus area on fresh produce and getting that healthy eating out into the community," Schmitt said. "Back when interest was polled on what the community would be interested in seeing in the Lodi area, farmers markets were one of the top voted." During Thursday's event, people could visit farmers from Arters Acres, Baker's Fresh Produce and Breezy Slope Farm. Additionally, organizations like Lodi Family Center, the Medina County District Library, Akron Children's Hospital and OhioGuidestone had representatives available for visitors to talk with. Throughout Thursday's event, residents stopped by to purchase fresh produce and learn more about the community organizations. Schmitt said many people expressed how happy they were to have the market there. Schmitt wants to continue the pop-up market in Lodi, stating they'd have to see how they could do so. "Lodi is such a strong community base and (by) really learning to connect with the community partners is how we are going to make progress in Lodi," Schmitt said. "I've been able to get connected with so many more people that connect you with the next person who knows a community member that might want to be involved in something." Contact reporter Sara Crawford at (330) 721-4063 or scrawford@medina-gazette.com.