About the Auction

When Jean and Marvin Konkle moved to the Morgan County Village of Chesterhill in 2003 they brought with them a lifetime of experiences and a desire to positively participate in their new community. They had previously lived near Bainbridge, in Ross County, where they had witnessed the development and impact of a new produce auction in that area. In 2005 with the support of Rural Action the Chesterhill Produce Auction was opened.

A produce auction is a form of farmers market where produce is sold, at auction, often in large quantities, to a range of buyers. Buyers and sellers are issued numbers, a clerk records the transactions, customers pay at the end of the auction, and growers are given weekly checks for what they sell. Produce is usually brought in on horse drawn buggies, laid out on pallets for customers to inspect, creating an array of impressive bounty. The action is fast paced and exciting, like most auctions, and people come to witness the atmosphere, and enjoy the sense of community as well as to purchase the high quality farm products. Produce Auctions serve as a way to aggregate produce from multiple growers thus creating the capacity to serve larger buyers. They also create commercial destinations in rural areas.

When the Konkles decided to retire, Rural Action at the request of the growers, buyers and other local stakeholders decided to continue the Auction and grow it into a sustainable community based local foods venue. In April of 2010,Rural Action purchased the CPA from the Konkles through private and public investment; this included a group of eight local investors, and a $50,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.

The Chesterhill Produce Auction is held weekly from May through October, with Auctions on Thursdays and Mondays. For more information call Tom Redfern or Bob Fedyski at 740-767-4938. The Auction is located at 8380 Wagoner Road , between Route 555 and Route 377, southwest of Chesterhill, Ohio in Morgan County. For an in depth look at the establishment of the Chesterhill Produce Auction check out “The Chesterhill Produce Auction a Rural Appalachian Case History.”

The Chesterhill Produce Auction is held weekly from May through October, with Auctions on Thursdays and Mondays. For more information call Tom Redfern or Bob Fedyski at 740-767-4938. The Auction is located at 8380 Wagoner Road , between Route 555 and Route 377, southwest of Chesterhill, Ohio in Morgan County.

Click here to see a map of all produce auctions in Ohio