In the Worthington area, we're fortunate to have one of the region's most vibrant farmers markets practically in our backyard. For those who can walk over on a Saturday morning, buying fresh local food couldn't be easier. But not everyone lives within walking distance—or has a Saturday morning schedule that cooperates. Between hectic mornings, parking, and crowds, shopping directly from local farms isn't always as convenient as we'd like it to be.
That challenge helped bring FarmSource founders Nicholas Piotrowski, Bryce Maners, and Evan Campbell together. Connected through family, the three shared an interest in health, local food, and supporting the people who produce it. They also share a belief that today's industrialized agricultural system makes it difficult for smaller farms to compete—and that micro to medium-sized farms need better tools and resources to build a stronger, more resilient local food system.
Agriculture has long been part of their families and lives. Bryce, FarmSource's CFO, grew up in Mount Vernon surrounded by 4-H and farming influences, while Evan, a Powell native whose grandparents were farmers, brought a healthcare background and passion for health and wellness. Together, the three set out to make locally produced food easier for families to access while helping smaller farms reach more customers.
FarmSource gives shoppers a modern, digital way to buy local. Users can discover nearby producers and shop for locally raised meat, eggs, dairy, produce, and pantry goods, with pickup or delivery making local food easier to fit into everyday life. Just as importantly, shoppers can see where their food comes from and who produced it. For farmers, reaching customers online means another avenue for selling what they produce without spending every Saturday away from the farm.
As the idea took shape, the founders were joined by a small team that included founding employees Abbey and Tyler, who helped turn the vision into what FarmSource is today. That collaborative approach has also shaped the way FarmSource works with farmers. Rather than simply adding farms to a database, the team personally visits farmers markets throughout Central Ohio, meeting producers who take pride in what they grow, raise, or make. Those relationships matter, and farmers themselves are helping shape FarmSource. More than half of the platform's features have been developed in response to farmer requests, reflecting the team's commitment to listening to what those smaller producers actually need.
For now, that growth is centered close to home. FarmSource launched in May with 12 founding farms and continues to add producers throughout Central Ohio. For local families, that means discovering farms and growers they may not have known existed—even when they're just a short drive away.
This vision extends well beyond convenience. FarmSource hopes to help reshape the way food is produced and accessed by giving regenerative, mindful, micro- to medium-sized farms more opportunities to thrive within their own communities. Ultimately, the team envisions a more resilient local food system that challenges the scale-driven model of industrial agriculture and creates stronger connections between farmers and the people they feed.
The Community Hub adds another layer to that vision, helping families discover reasons to visit the farms behind their food, from pumpkin patches and hayrides to other agro-tourism activities. Future plans include non-food farm products and expansion throughout Ohio, creating more ways for smaller farms to connect with their communities.
For the FarmSource team, it's ultimately about strengthening the connection between the people producing local food and the families who want to support them. Central Ohio already has exceptional farms, growers, and farmers markets—including the Worthington Farmers Market. FarmSource simply provides another way to participate in that local food community.
While it won't replace a Saturday morning at the farmers market—that's not why it was created—it does make buying local possible on all the other days, too. Plus, there are no subscription fees for shoppers or farmers. Explore local farms and learn more at Farm-Source.org.
We’re putting farmers first and removing barriers to build a more local, sustainable, and connected food system. -Co-Founder Evan Campbell.