The colorful staples you find at a farmers market, from fresh nectarines to ripe tomatoes, come from local farms. Many of these farms are independent or family-owned, some are passed down through generations. The average age of today?'s farmers is fifty-nine years old yet many people in their twenties and thirties are turning to farming as a career. Raising crops and livestock is a rewarding way of life for many but isn'?t without its challenges.
Here to discuss the future of independent, family-owned farms in the area are Mark Luff, from Finn Meadows Farm, Pam Shaw from Shaw Farms and Eric Pawlowski from the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA).