Athens, Ohio and the surrounding area is home to a community dedicated to supporting local food producers and the local economy as a whole. In this essay, we follow the production from farmer to consumer and meet individuals as well as organizations along the way that help facilitate food production and distribution in the region of southeastern Ohio.
Photographs by Alex Cenci and Jilly Burns
The barn at Green Edge Organic Gardens sits atop the highest point of the property owned by Kip and Becky Rondy. The structure houses the packing room, storage, and a room dedicated to cultivating mushrooms. (Photo by Jilly Burns)
Rick Vest brushes dirt off of the beets he harvested. He works at harvesting produce all day so it's ready to sell at the Athens Farmers Market. (Photo by Alex Cenci)
Farm hand Alex Davis loads up the truck at Green Edge Organic Gardens in preparation for a delivery to Athens Hills CSA members in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jilly Burns)
Design by Alex Cenci
Toni Riley places her pick of apples on the scale as Christian DeLotell records the weight during Community Food Initiatives’ distribution in Athens, Ohio. (Photo by Jilly Burns)
Mike Hamilton of Shade River Farm, makes a delivery of produce to Casa Nueva. Along with providing organic produce for Casa, the Hamilton's also sell at the Athens Farmers Market and to numerous grocers. (Photo by Alex Cenci)
Back Porch Swing Band, Casa Nueva, Saturday, October 19, 2016. Left to right, Caleb Hutslar, Andy Merritt, Dave Irwin, Kris Geis, and Pete Shew. (Photo by Jilly Burns)
Grapes from Wagner Fruit Farm are displayed at the Athens Farmers Market. (Photo by Jilly Burns)
Michelle Wasserman spends the morning shopping at the Athen's Farmer's Market wih her two-year-old son Ori Graybeal. Michelle uses food stmaps to buy a majority of her food, including pears from Neil Cherry of Cherry Orchards. The Athens Farmer's Market is one of the few markets in the state of Ohio that accepts food stamps. "The Program is great", says Michelle. "It's made local food available for everyone". (Photo by Alex Cenci)
Michelle's husband, Andy Graybeal, helps out with making dinner by rolling meatballs. "Usually Andy does all the chopping and I do all the cooking", says Michelle. "I'm good at making the food taste good and he's good at cutting it up just right". (Photo by Alex Cenci)
Michelle Wasserman and her 2-year-old son Ori sit down for dinner. She’s done everything they can to eat as much local food as possible. “I know [the food is] getting cared for and it’s not getting a bunch of chemicals sprayed on it, or if it is getting chemicals sprayed on it I can ask what the chemicals are and they can tell me,” says Michelle. (Photo by Alex Cenci)