Adams County Farmers Market strengthens local food economy and access

Residents across Adams County have an ongoing community resource for fresh food and locally made goods through the Adams County Farmers Market in West Union. The market links local producers with shoppers, supports small businesses, and expands access to nutrition through programs such as SNAP/EBT acceptance and partnerships with health and education organizations.

Market organizers maintain a public website with practical details for residents and vendors, including exact location information, vendor application and contact procedures, typical season dates running spring through fall, and announcements of special market days. The site also outlines services that make participation more inclusive, notably SNAP/EBT processing that lets low-income households use federal benefits at the market. For more information or to apply as a vendor, visit adamscountyfarmersmarket.org.

The market’s mix of fresh produce, baked goods, and locally made products creates direct economic links between county residents and small producers. Keeping commerce local helps recirculate dollars within the community, preserves farm and artisan livelihoods, and adds redundancy to the county’s food supply by diversifying sources beyond regional grocery chains. That resilience matters when supply chains tighten or prices spike elsewhere.

Community health and education partnerships further broaden the market’s civic role. Those collaborations bring nutrition education, outreach, and occasional special events to market days, increasing the public benefit beyond simple transactions. For households that rely on SNAP/EBT, the market can be both a source of fresh food and a site for learning about healthy options and seasonal cooking.

Vendors and prospective volunteers can use the market’s application process to join the season and help shape offerings. For policy makers and county officials, the market highlights a low-cost point of intervention to boost food security: enabling SNAP/EBT acceptance, supporting vendor outreach, and partnering with public health can magnify the market’s reach without large capital investments.

Local impact is practical and immediate. Shoppers gain regular access to seasonal produce and goods; small producers gain retail outlets and community exposure; public programs gain a venue to connect benefits with nutrition. The market is not a silver bullet for every food system challenge, but it is a durable piece of Adams County’s food economy infrastructure.

Our two cents? Check the market calendar, bring your SNAP/EBT if you use benefits, and consider whether you or a local producer should apply to vend or volunteer. Small actions at the market level make a big difference for community food access and economic resilience.