Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
A favorite stop at the Indiana State Fair is the Indiana Grown Marketplace, a chance to shop local and learn about the hundreds of products produced by Indiana businesses.
More than 90 Hoosier businesses will have a selection of 407 products in the Indiana Grown Marketplace. Two businesses from the Radius Indiana region will have products to shop – Monastery Baked Goods in Ferdinand and JavAroma Roasters in Mitchell.
Monastery Baked Goods will offer a variety of German recipe cookies, including the popular Springerle cookies, and flavored pretzels.
Monastery Baked Goods is operated by the Sisters of St. Benedict, a monastery that has been in Ferdinand since 1867. Manager Kris Lasher said the bakery started about 30 years ago after the sisters made and sold a Springerle cookie at Ferdinand’s Christkindlmarkt. The cookie was a hit and that led the sisters to pursue opportunities producing baked goods. As the business grew, other products were added.
The Springerle cookies take two days to make. Each one is imprinted with a picture. Lasher said the bakery sells 59,000 Springerle cookies a year.
Other cookie varieties include a gingersnap, St. Hildegard cookie, starlet and shortbread cookies, available in several flavors. Products are made by sisters and lay people. During the busy season, volunteers help out.
Monastery cookies and pretzels can be purchased at the gift shop on the campus of the monastery and an online retail shop. Lasher said their products are sold and shipped all over the United States.
The bakery is a longtime member of Indiana Artisans and Indiana Grown. Lasher said the organizations have been great resources as the bakery has grown.
“They’ve been incredibly supportive and helped us reach out to potential customers and other vendors,” she said.
JavAroma Roasters
JavAroma Roasters was founded in 2015 by Joana Wade. A small batch roastery, JavAroma has a storefront that is open for seasonal events and by appointment at 1228 W. Warren St., in Mitchell and an online shop. JavAroma products are sold at retailers including Evansville, Jasper, Bloomington, Greenwood, Avon and Indianapolis.
Wade schedules several open houses during the year for customers to buy ground coffee, coffee drinks and specialty baked goods and desserts. Upcoming events include a fall open house Sept. 25-27, National Pumpkin Day Oct. 25, Christmas open house Nov. 11-15 and Christmas shopping days Dec. 5-6, 12-13 and Dec. 19-20.
“Getting a taste of Indiana has never been easier,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “If you are looking for quality products created by people who care about their craft, look no further than the Indiana Grown Marketplace.”
Other Indiana Grown products for sale include sauces, cookies, fudge, teas and popcorn. Also available are body care items like handcrafted soap, bath bombs and lotions.
State Fair dates
The Indiana State Fair runs from Aug. 2- Aug. 18 (closed Mondays). The Mercantile building, formerly known as the Agriculture/Horticulture building, is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Mercantile is located to the right of the Midway on the west side of the fairgrounds. Product samples are available to taste each Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 11 a.m.