PORTSMOUTH- Main Street Portsmouth in Bloom (MSPiB) has had an extremely successful summer with its farmers market, which takes place seasonally on the Roy Rogers Esplanade every Saturday between 8 a.m. and noon, between the end of May and the first weekend in October.

They celebrated this success at the Farm to Table last week, which was another great chapter in the fundraiser’s legacy. With the dinner comes the reminder that the market season is nearing its end with shoppers only having four more weeks to enjoy.

The fundraiser is a longstanding tradition for the market, in which organizers work with vendors to decorate, source food, and then prepare a meal for guests using items from the market.

For over a decade, Scott Claypool of Sunshine Catering has created fantastic menus featuring farm fresh food from the market, using few ingredients but packing a powerful punch for guests consisting of vendors, businesses, and individual supporters.

“The Farm to Table was fabulous. We had so many generous sponsors and donors and bidders. It was one of our best Farm to Table Dinners ever,” MSPiB Executive Director Emily Uldrich said.

For the first time, the group offered Farmers Market Awards at the dinner. According to Uldrich, the awards went out to Farmers Market Outstanding Vendor of the Year, as well as New Farmers Market Vendor of the Year.

“I think it is a great reflection of our Farmers Market. I mean, the dinner as a whole is a good reflection of our Farmers Market, but the celebration of agriculture only makes sense to have an award ceremony to recognize these amazing vendors who make the market what it is with their food and products,” Uldrich said. “It will be really rewarding to recognize these people for their efforts in making our market a success.”

The winners were Suzy’s Sweets and Rocky Acre Farms for Farmers Market Outstanding Vendor of the Year.

“I don’t think the awards could have gone any better than it did. I was so excited for the tie for the Outstanding Vendor award, as they’re such an anchor to the market. They’ve been with us for the full 15 seasons that the market has run. They’re a prime example of what a cottage industry small business can offer.”

Including the September 14 market, there are four remaining opportunities to shop local crafters and farmers until the event closes for another season.

“We have a week or two left of sweet corn,” Uldrich explained. “We’ve been well prepared, as most people are out, but we still have plenty. We have canning tomatoes and other produce as well. Of course, now is a perfect time to start thinking about Christmas shopping and we have plenty of crafters and Appalachian goods to start that.”

More information on the market may be received by calling Uldrich at 740.464.0203 or visiting the Community Action Organization of Scioto County Welcome Center at 342 Second Street. Additionally, the group has a Facebook page and website, www.mspohio.org.