Dear North Market Shopper,

It’s a new year and here we go. I’ve got “Ten Thoughts for the New Year,” and ten ways to take advantage of this landmark on 59 Spruce Street:

1. Eat Fresher. Fresh food tastes better. We have an amazing array of the freshest, finest food anywhere in Columbus. Fresh, local food simply tastes better. Way better.

2. Learn more about craft brewing. Craft beer is the new wine and one of fastest growing beverage segments in the category. Jen and Collin at The Barrel and Bottle are experts in the field. They can get you started on a fun, new journey.

3. Get to know your butcher. David and Cheryl. Annmarie and Jerry. Doug, Angelo and Shawn. Red meat. Poultry and Game. Seafood. Our food comes with expert advice. Free of charge!

4. Try something new. Break your routine and try something new. Clever Crow Pizza, perhaps? Consistently rated one of the best in town. Dine-in or take and bake. True Belgian Liege-style waffles at Taste of Belgium will change the way you think about waffles…forever.

5. Tune-up your spice cabinet. I’m guessing about half of the spices in your cabinet might be classified as “antiques.” Throw them out. They’ve lost their taste and character. Slowly, but surely build a new spice cabinet with the help of Ben and Cindy at North Market Spices.

6. Buy a new kitchen gadget. On your next trip to the Market spend five minutes in North Market Cookware. Take home a new gadget that a) you never knew existed and b) will make your life in the kitchen more fun and much easier.

7. Turn up the heat. Bring home one of Cajohn’s award winning hot sauces. Put it on eggs, sandwiches, entrees. Keep it on the counter and put it on whatever you want. John “Cajohn” Hard is one of the country’s most highly awarded hot sauce/salsa producers. One of the best. Right here in North Market.

8. Change your routine (and create a new one). Every Saturday morning we host groups of shoppers who gather upstairs for some social time. It is part of their routine, a ritual, you might say. They’re here EVERY Saturday to “catch-up.” Use the Market to connect with your friends. A great cup of coffee from A Touch of Earth, an Omega Artisan Baking Cinnamon roll and a little re-connecting. What could be better?

9. Get out your calendar. Once again, this year, we’ll have a schedule full of festivals and events celebrating local foods, beverages and crafts. Get them on your calendar and take advantage of the fun, great food and energy that we provide for our community.

10. Celebrate your Market! Just recently, North Market was named as one of our city’s top cultural icons. And while there are times that we might take this 136-year-old institution for granted, I’m here to tell you that North Market is one of the country’s finest public markets. This is truly a special place.

There you go. Ten Thoughts for the New Year. Give ‘em a try. You won’t be disappointed. Promise.

Sincerely,

Dave

Dear North Market Shopper,

Without question, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. It’s a time when those who are closest come together for a true sharing of the spirit.

We celebrate with family and friends, those who are often closest to us.

With the feast as a focus, why not let our “family,” the family of North Market merchants, make your Thanksgiving the best ever?

Jen and Collin at The Barrel and Bottle have the perfect craft beers and holiday wines.

Annemarie and Jerry at North Market Poultry and Game offer fresh free-range turkey, the best ever.

Cindy and Ben at North Market Spices have a wide array of special seasonings and a brining blend that can take your meal to the next level.

Colleen and Michael at The Greener Grocer offer fresh, local produce for the greatest complementary side dishes.

“Cheese-Mike” offers Columbus the best selection of the finest cheeses anywhere at Curds & Whey.

Read the rest of Dave’s note here⇒

Farmers’ Market update for November 12

Participating Farms:

Blossom Acres Produce  I will have baked goods, candy onions, cilantro, collard greens, garlic,  lettuce, mizuna, mustard greens, parsley, potatoes, radishes, red beets, spinach, Swiss chard, turnips and whole grain baked goods.

Ehmann & Sons Greenhouse  We will have beets, cauliflower, greens, peppers and turnips.

Persinger Farm  This week I will have beets, cabbage, winter squash, gourds, sweet potatoes, pumpkins and turnips.

Rhoads Farm Market We will have tomatoes, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, eggplant, peppers, beets and turnips. Soon we will preview our cut and live Christmas trees for sale at North Market. 

Rock Dove Farm  We should have carrots, escarole, fennel, kale, lemon mint, lettuce, mint, parsley, radicchio, sage, scallions, Swiss chard and turnips.

Thomas Family Orchard We will have thirteen varieties of apples and apple cider!

Toad Hill Farm   I will have arugula, lettuce mix, head lettuce, mustard, Asian stir fry mix, kale, parsley, potatoes (French fingerling, carola and blossom), winter squash (acorn, kabocha, butternut, delicata, dumpling), eggplant, Tatsoi, Mizuna, Senposai (all three are mild west Asian greens in the cabbage/bok choi family and can be eaten raw or used in soup or light cooking/brazing), ornamental corn and turnips.

Wayward Seed Farm We’ll have bok choi, broccoli, certified organic greens, leeks, sweet potatoes, winter squash, herbs and radishes. Come visit us in our new location at the north end of the pavilion! 

Bosca Leather Sale

November 18-27 in the Dispatch Kitchen

A year-end sample sale by luxury Bosca Leather Company from Springfield, Ohio. This annual event will be held in the Columbus Dispatch Kitchen on the second floor of the North Market and open during regular Market hours. Find high quality unique leather items at discounted prices including: wallets, purses, gloves, portfolios, brief cases, belts, coats, luggage, key rings and more!

Dear North Market Shopper,

Without question, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. It’s a time when those who are closest come together for a true sharing of the spirit.

We celebrate with family and friends, those who are often closest to us.

With the feast as a focus, why not let our “family,” the family of North Market merchants make your Thanksgiving the best ever?

Jen and Collin at The Barrel and Bottle have the perfect craft beers and holiday wines.

Annemarie and Jerry at North Market Poultry and Game offer fresh free-range turkey, the best ever.

Cindy and Ben at North Market Spices have a wide array of special seasonings and a brining blend that can take your meal to the next level.

Colleen and Michael at The Greener Grocer offer fresh, local produce for the greatest complementary side dishes.

“Cheese-Mike” offers Columbus the best selection of the finest cheeses anywhere at Curds & Whey.

Doug, Angelo and Shawn at The Fish Guys have plenty of fresh oysters for dressing.

Marty and Bob from Market Blooms will make sure that your holiday table is magnificent in every way.

Baked goods from Gay and Luann at Expressly Market Bakery & Bistro and Amy at Omega Artisan Baking are handmade and artisan baked.

Ice Cream from Jeni and her new Sublime Holiday Collection add a flavorful conclusion to a festive gathering.

We’ve said it all along and it’s never been more important, at North Market you buy from people not a store. We serve up high-quality, fresh, local food that comes with a generous helping of free and expert advice.

For those who want Thanksgiving to be a memorable gathering of family and friends, shop North Market.

Sincerely,

David Wible
Executive Director

While other Farmers’ Markets in town are beginning to wind down, we’re still going strong. And this recent spate of warm weather has provided an extra boost to our growers.

This season started a little late with a cool and rainy Spring, but as the summer has progressed growing conditions have been ideal. So, don’t be surprised when you see some customarily summer produce along with the more traditional Fall offerings.

Additionally, as we don’t have an established end date for our Farmers’ Market, this season you can most likely expect freshly picked produce late into October and possibly into November.

As the holiday season approaches it’s time to start thinking about those special occasions and festive gatherings. It’s never too early to start planning and “shopping” the Market for creative ideas. Every year, we’re the focal point for the finest and freshest local ingredients. This year will be no different.

Every merchant in every corner of our Market offers something to make your holidays special. From fresh, free range turkey, to unique cheeses and specialty baked goods, North Market should be on your holiday shopping list.

This season we have some newer merchants that can make your holiday planning even more special. Jen and Collin at The Barrel and Bottle have a tremendous selection of craft beers and wines. Seasonal craft beers are hotter than ever and The Barrel and Bottle are specialists in this area. Cindy and Ben at North Market Spices have created a shop that has become a trusted source for local restaurant chefs and adventuresome foodies, as well. They have a complete selection of conventional and unusual seasonings that are served up with a large helping of expert advice. Jeni’s, of course, will have their seasonal flavors and a best-selling cookbook for holiday giving.

As we move from season to season, the Market is always in style. That’s what happens when you focus on fresh, local and seasonal tastes.

It’s never too early to start thinking about the holidays and at North Market we always make them special.

Hope to see you at the Market,

Dave Wible

A Note From Dave

Dear North Market Shopper

I read an interesting story the other day about shopping at markets such as ours. The story talked about the consumer’s experience when they shopped at a grocery store versus a public market/farmers market.

Shoppers who shop at their local grocery, it said, are simply attempting to meet a need for food stuffs and products. On the other hand, shoppers who patronize places like North Market “are part of the process.”

What does it all mean? Those who shop at North Market are participating in a community building activity. They are supporting local businesses, they are assisting local economies and they are contributing to a greater good. In a recent survey more than 85% of our shoppers said that shopping at North Market adds value to our community.

Read the rest of Dave’s note online here⇒ 

Farmers’ Market update for August 6

Anderson Orchard   I’ll have sunflowers, gladiolus, fig plants, mixed flowers and bouquets, papaya plants, tomatoes and zinnias.

Blossom Acres Produce  I will have naturally grown cherry tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, pickles, potatoes and squash.

Bridgman Farm I’ll have cherry tomatoes, eggplant, summer squash, cucumbers and peppers.

Ehmann & Sons Greenhouse  Annuals, perennials, hanging baskets and radishes.

Honeyrun Farm  This week we will have black locust honey and summer and fall honey stix.

K & R Garden Fresh Produce We will be bringing basil, cucumbers, eggplant, flowers,  Malabar spinach, okra, onions, hot and sweet peppers and squash.

Oakvale Farmstead Cheese We will be bringing our family’s Farmstead Gouda washed in Barley’s Russian Stout. 

Ohio Farm Direct  We’ll be bringing our whole milk cheeses including cheddar, mozzarella, baby swiss, pepper jack, garlic and herb, tomato basil pinenut and lemon zest. Plus, blueberry and strawberry drinkable yogurt and soft serve vanilla ice cream.

Oink Moo Cluck Farms  We will be bringing our beef, pork and chicken.

Persinger Farm This week I will have beets, broccoli, cabbage, greens, okra, onions, peppers, radishes, tomatoes, zucchini and green beans.

Quiver Full Farm  We plan to bring blackberries, heirloom tomatoes, popcorn, potatoes, granola, pancake mix, honey, whole wheat flour, eggs, and cornmeal.

Rhoads Farm Market We’ll be bringing CANTALOUPE!, blackberries, peaches, sweet corn, tomatoes, green beans, eggplant, zucchini and peppers. You are invited to visit www.rhoadsfarminc.com and place any advance orders.

Rock Dove Farm  We should have parsley, beets, radishes, basil, mint, scallions, and baby leeks.

Shady Brook Farm We will have broccoli, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes and baked goods.

Somerset Greenhouse  I will have fresh herbs including BASIL, cherry tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic, hot peppers, peppers and five types of zucchini. 

Summer Thyme Farm  This Saturday we will be bringing a selection of fresh herbs (BASIL!), potted herb planters, perennial sedums, hens and chicks, succulents, succulent planters and an assortment of fresh annual planters.

Thomas Family Orchard We will have peaches and Gingergold plus four additional varieties of apples.

Toad Hill Farm   I will have lettuce mix, head lettuce, chard, cucumbers, miniature white cucumbers, patty pan squash, summer squash, zucchini, parsley, basil and five varieties of eggplant.

Toby Run Growers  Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms.

Wayward Seed Farm We’ll have greens, herbs, peppers and tomatoes.

Wishwell Farms Produce  We will have sweet corn! As well as tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, zucchini, and cabbage.

North Market School of Cooking Fall Series Schedule

We are excited to announce the fall schedule for the North Market School of Cooking and Chef Series classes. Classes are held in the Dispatch Kitchen on the second floor of the North Market. Classes are $35 per person unless otherwise noted.

Our  School of Cooking classes include some great menus for entertaining including the Autumn Dinner for Casual Entertaining on September 18, Holiday Hors D’oeuvres on October 23 and Crowd Pleasing Vegetable Side Dishes on November 13.

Our Chef Series includes chefs from all of your favorite restaurants including: Alana’s Food & Wine, Barcelona, Latitude 41, The Refectory and The Worthington Inn.

New to this series are the Beer and Cheese and Wine and Cheese pairing classes that are a collaboration between Curds and Whey and The Barrel and Bottle. The pairings classes are specially priced at only $20 per ticket.

For the full fall class schedule and to buy tickets click here⇒

Artisan Sunday

Columbus’ creative class of artisans and crafters converges on the farmers’ market on the first and third Sundays from May through October peddling their handmade wares. To apply for Artisan Sundays 2012 please send an email to info@northmarket.com to be added to the application mailing list.

Sunday, August 7 from 12-5PM
Music by Ira Chaiffetz, banjo, from 12-2PM
Music by The Shaw Brothers from 2-4PM
For a list of participating vendors and their handmade goods click here⇒

Dear North Market Shopper,

I read an interesting story the other day about shopping at markets such as ours. The story talked about the consumer’s experience when they shopped at a grocery store versus a public market/farmers market.

Shoppers who shop at their local grocery, it said, are simply attempting to meet a need for food stuffs and products. On the other hand, shoppers who patronize places like North Market “are part of the process.”

What does it all mean? Those who shop at North Market are participating in a community building activity. They are supporting local businesses, they are assisting local economies and they are contributing to a greater good. In a recent survey more than 85% of our shoppers said that shopping at North Market adds value to our community.

At North Market you are a participant in the process. You select each loaf of bread, fresh tomato, hunk of cheese, filet of fish and fresh cut flower. Your relationship with your grower or merchant is built on trust. You know them and they know you. It’s their responsibility to make sure your purchase is just right.

The benefit? The freshest, tastiest, highest quality local food in Columbus. Our food tastes better, plain and simple.

So, your support of your local public market has many benefits. By shopping at North Market you insure that a tradition dating back to 1876 continues. The community benefits by your support of the many local businesses and family farms that rely on your patronage. There’s a face on your food, it has a certain and special provenance.

Thanks for not only being a shopper, but part of the process. Our close connection has kept us a vibrant and prosperous Columbus landmark for more than 135 years.

See you at the Market.

David Wible

A Note From Dave

Dear North Market Shopper,

This Market is a wonderful community of 35 diverse businesses that create a singularly unique and high quality shopping experience.

Oftentimes, it’s only a handful of businesses that get a majority of the credit and coverage, but it’s the entire community that makes us great.

Take for instance, Mozart’s North Market Bakery. Mozart’s is a true European pastry shop with a long-standing tenure in both Clintonville and the North Market. Owner, Anand Saha, is not only a great baker, but he’s a committed community and neighborhood partner. The bakery consistently garners recognition in the local media and is often a “Best of” winner in many polls. Every day, the cases at Mozart’s are full of gorgeous pastries and we’ve just learned that they have added handmade ice cream to their lineup. If you’ve never given them a try, it’s time you did.

Read the rest of Dave’s note here⇒
  

Farmers’ Market update for June 11

Anderson Orchard I’ll primarily have peonies.

Blossom Acres Produce  I will have heirloom tomatoes, red Romaine lettuce and spinach.

Ehmann & Sons Greenhouse  Annuals, perennials and hanging baskets.

Folck Family Farm  We’ve got new peas, honey, the last of the strawberries and pork sausage will be on special: buy 2 get one free. Cindy makes jam in our farm kitchen and we’ll have red raspberry, black raspberry, blackberry and mixed berry.

Honeyrun Farm  This week we will have fresh bee pollen, summer and fall honey, beeswax candles, handcrafted soap and miniature sunflowers.

Ohio Farm Direct  We’ll be bringing our whole milk cheeses including cheddar, mozzarella, baby swiss, pepper jack, garlic and herb, tomato basil pinenut and lemon zest. Plus, drinkable yogurt and soft serve ice cream.

Oink Moo Cluck Farms  We will be bringing our beef, pork and chicken.

Rock Dove Farm  We will have salad mix, head lettuce, scallions, possibly turnips (though not likely), possibly broccoli and we’re placing even odds on arugula.

Rhoads Farm Market  The first of our red raspberries will be available, quantity will be limited. We will also have yellow squash, lettuce and zucchini. You are invited to visit www.rhoadsfarminc.com and place any advance orders.

Somerset Greenhouse  It’s not too late for to plant herbs, perennials, heirloom tomatoes, or annuals for pots and gardens. We will also be bringing some beautiful fresh herbs!

Summer Thyme Farm  This week we will be bringing a great selection of potted herbs and herb gardens. Also in the mix will be perennial sedums, succulents, mosses, hens and chicks in pots and in our hand made hypa tufa containers. We will also have fresh Zahara zinnias in 6 packs to brighten up your flower beds. See you Saturday!

Toad Hill Farm   I will have arugula, lettuce and spinach.

Toby Run Growers  Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms.

Wishwell Farms Produce  We will have tomatoes, asparagus, strawberries, lettuce and spinach.  

*Note: the Park Street Festival is this weekend. Access to the market from the west side will be restricted from Goodale Street to Spruce Street beginning Friday morning through noon on Sunday. Vine Street will remain open.

Save the Date!

For the North Market Food & Ohio Wine Festival Presented by PNC. July 8-10 at the North Market.

The following wineries from around Ohio will offer select wines by the taste (50 cents to $2.00 each), glass, bottle and case: Brothers’ Drake Meadery, Columbus; Chalet Debonne Vineyard, Madison; Ferrante Winery, Geneva; Firelands Winery, Sandusky; Henke Winery, Cincinnati; Laurello Vineyards, Geneva; Maize Valley Winery, Hartville; Markko Vineyard, Conneaut; Meranda-Nixon Winery, Ripley; Mon Ami Winery, Port Clinton; Raven’s Glenn Winery, West Lafayette; Soine Vineyards, Powell; St. Joseph Vineyards, Thompson; Stoney Ridge Winery, Bryan; Troutman Vineyards, Wooster; The Winery at Wolf Creek, Norton; Valley Vineyards, Morrow; Viking Vineyard, Kent and Wyandotte Winery, Columbus.

The North Market Food & Ohio Wine Festival Presented by PNC is sponsored by PNC Bank, Ohio Grape Industries, Master Clean, Columbus Alive, Columbus Crave, Ohio Magazine and YELP.

Dear North Market Shoppers,This Market is a wonderful community of 35 diverse businesses that create a singularly unique and high quality shopping experience.

Oftentimes, it’s only a handful of businesses that get a majority of the credit and coverage, but it’s the entire community that makes us great.

Take for instance, Mozart’s North Market Bakery. Mozart’s is a true European pastry shop with a long-standing tenure in both Clintonville and the North Market. Owner, Anand Saha, is not only a great baker, but he’s a committed community and neighborhood partner. The bakery consistently garners recognition in the local media and is often a “Best of” winner in many polls. Every day, the cases at Mozart’s are full of gorgeous pastries and we’ve just learned that they have added handmade ice cream to their lineup. If you’ve never given them a try, it’s time you did.

Everyone needs a great cup of coffee and A Touch of Earth delivers on a daily basis. Whether it’s the smiling face of one of our longest tenured owners, Ann Leonard or the most capable talents of her lead barista, Shawn, A Touch of Earth delivers an honest, perfectly brewed cup of coffee every day. Located smack dab in the middle of the market house, A Touch of Earth is the real heartbeat of the Market.

Foodies need their tools and North Market has two wonderful stops to get EVERYTHING you need to prepare and serve the perfect meal. North Market Cookware can outfit your kitchen with All-Clad or Le Creuset equipment and every gadget tool or implement under the sun. To serve it up just right, The Source by Wasserstrom has a broad selection of restaurant quality servingware for any occasion.

And on the food side, there is a fast growing fan base for the barbecue at Holy Smoke BBQ. Perhaps the most delicious looking displays in the Market, present some classic smokehouse goodness. A broad selection of daily offerings makes the decision a tough, but tasty choice.

These are a few of the businesses that might not always get the full attention of our shoppers, but next time you are in, make it a point to check them out. You’ll be surprised…pleasantly…I promise.

Dave Wible

Dear North Market Shopper,

As the days grow warmer and longer, it’s Farmers Market time!

Back in the ‘80’s we were one of the pioneers in the Farmers Market trade. The old Quonset Hut was home to some of our community’s first growers selling their fruits and vegetables directly to their customers on Saturday mornings.

Since then, the growth in Farmers Markets has been vigorous. The Columbus metropolitan area is now home to more than 2 dozen markets. There is now, more opportunity than ever to shop at a Farmers Market.

As demand has grown and new markets have opened, it is more important than ever to know your grower.

Every participant in the North Market Farmers Market sells what they grow. That may seem logical, intuitive, obvious, and you might even say, what’s the big deal? The big deal is that at other places the person you buy from may not have been the person that grew your food.

Why is that important? It is clear that when a shopper buys at a Farmers Market, there is an implied message that the seller has grown the goods. When a shopper buys at a Farmers Market they are looking for a bond with their grower. They want to know what was grown, how it was grown and what is its’ provenance. It’s important to our shoppers.

As market managers we want our shoppers to know that we operate a market with integrity and that you can buy with confidence. We’re also providing our shoppers the very best opportunity to make informed decisions about their food sources.

Why is this and issue and why are we bringing it up? Quite simply as Farmers Markets grow, not everything sold is grown by the seller. It may be purchased at wholesale, at an auction, or from other sources…not grown by the seller.

Every grower at North Market signs a pledge that they will sell what they grow. We promise. It may be subtle, but it’s awfully important when you sell at a Farmers Market.

From now until late October, we hope to see you every Saturday morning at our Farmers Market. Thanks for shopping.

David Wible

Dear North Market Shoppers,

On March 24th Columbus Alive published their annual “Best of Columbus” issue. It’s a compilation of results from nearly 17,000 online voters and covers a wide array of Columbus interests and attractions.Deep into the story on page 48, next to the fold was the winner of the “BEST LOCAL FOOD MARKET” category. We’re proud to say that when the votes were cast, Columbus rated us the best.Here are just a few of the comments and quotes from the story:

“…one of the first places proud Columbusites take their visiting foodie friends to impress them with our city’s shopping and culinary sophistication.”

“…world-class ice creams (Jeni’s), breads (Omega), cheeses (Curds & Whey)”

“…this wonderful place has it all.”

Well, we are “proud” of our Market and we hope our offerings and place in the community make you proud, too. This is truly a tremendous public market.

We are “world-class.” Our choices from Jeni’s Ice Creams to the pork, beef and lamb raised on the farm of Bluescreek owners, David and Cheryl Smith are as fine and high quality as you’ll find anywhere.

We are “wonderful.” From our community of merchants and growers who deliver personal service, passion and expertise; to our energizing Market atmosphere; to the lofty role we play in our city’s history, the North Market is a wonderful place.

It’s always nice to be recognized by your community and we’re thrilled that we’re the Best Local Food Market in Columbus. Thanks to those of you who voted for us and thanks to those of you who visit us on a regular basis.

We’ll work hard to earn our role as the best and we look forward to seeing you on your next shopping trip.

Thanks,

David Wible
Executive Director