At the Franciscan Weight Loss Center in Indianapolis, the farmer’s market runs every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. from June to September, providing fresh, local produce to support healthier eating habits in the community.
Amy Gillard, Franciscan Health Bariatric Burse Coordinator who runs the market, hopes that the community can find healthier habits through their hard work.
“We started it about seven years ago as a service to help out our bariatric patients who maybe didn’t have the funds to purchase fresh produce or didn’t have the access to fresh fruits and vegetables,” Gillard said.
The market’s mission is to connect the community to local farmers and their produce and goods. Like many other farmer’s markets in the city, the Franciscan Weight Loss Center Market is a weekly event.
Beginning with just seven vendors, the market has expanded to 35-40 vendors this year. The offerings range from fresh vegetables and fruit to snacks, plants and homemade goods.
“We have fresh flowers, a goat farmer that makes goat milk soap , salad dressings, homemade barbecue sauce, some arts and crafts, ice cream, baked goods. We really have a wide variety,” Gillard said.
While the appearance of the market is simply to get fresh produce from farm to table, Gillard explains that the market means much more than just shopping to attendees.
“I think it’s a cheaper alternative for many to get produce at a lesser cost than the grocery store,” Gillard said. “I think it is beneficial for the vendors but also for the community to support small, local farmers. I think it’s a great resource for the community.”
The market runs rain or shine every Wednesday and is at 5230 E. Stop 11 Road. For more information about the market, visit Franciscanhealth.org. For vendor information, contact Gillard at 317-528-6711.
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
