Go Local Or Go Home

With the West Side Market celebrating 100 years, there is no better time to get in on the hottest trend in the country: locally grown foods. The demand for local, healthy and organic dining options has never been greater. Luckily, Cleveland already has a leg-up. In a 2008 SustainLane ranking of the best cities for Local Food and Agriculture, Cleveland came in at number two. The fact that there are 225 community gardens and 25 for-profit farms within city limits certainly helps make CLE the place to be if you want local.

Cleveland also has an array of world-renowned chefs, such as Jonathan Sawyer (owner of Greenhouse Tavern on East 4 St.), who are championing this “farm-to-table” movement. But this type of fare is not reserved solely for a pro chef. Thanks to organizations like the North Union Farmers Market and places like the West Side Market and Ohio City’s Urban Farm, farm-fresh options are readily available.

The North Union Farmers Market is a nonprofit group that began operating in 1995 with the goal to provide Clevelanders access to healthy, fresh, local produce sold directly by farmers. Currently, the group runs eight farmers markets in the Greater Cleveland area. Through perseverance and dedication, the North Union Farmers Market has became extremely successful, receiving awards in 2009 and 2010 from the American Farmland Trust ranking in the Top 20 large farmer’s markets in the U.S.

All of this food talk got you hungry? Check out the information below and hurry on over to the nearest farmer’s market.

SATURDAYS
Shaker Square Market
8am – Noon
April 7 – December 22
13209 Shaker Sqaure
Shaker Square Shopping Center, Cleveland
FREE PARKING

Crocker Park Market
9am – 1pm
April 14 – December 22
189 Crocker Park Blvd., Westlake
FREE PARKING

WEDNESDAYS
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus Market
10:30am- 1:30pm
June 6 – October 24
Carnegie Ave. & E. 100th St, Cleveland

Cleveland Clinic Beachwood Market
11am – 2pm
July 25 – September 26
26900 Cedar Rd., Beachwood
FREE PARKING

THURSDAYS 
Cleveland State University Market
11am- 2pm
June 7- September 27
1930 Euclid Ave., Cleveland (In front of Marshall Law School)

Crocker Park Evening Market
4pm – 7pm
June 14 – August 30
189 Crocker Park Blvd., Westlake
FREE PARKING

SUNDAYS
Chagrin Falls Market
10am -1pm
June 3 – October 21
Corner of N. Main St and N. Franklin St

For more information on the individual farmers and the process to become a certified vendor visit www.northunionfarmersmarket.org.

- Nate Klein 

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