Dear North Market Shopper,

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.
 

Read the rest of Dave’s note here⇒

Farmers’ Market update for October 8

Participating farms;

Anderson Orchard   I’ll have sunflowers (pollenless) , zinnias and mixed bouquets, potatoes, quince, assorted pumpkins and decorative squash, wreaths of wild viniferous vines entwined with bittersweet, sprigs of bittersweet,
papaya plants and apple dumplings made from organic apples.

Blossom Acres Produce  I will have naturally grown beans, candy onions, collard greens, garlic, ground cherries, heirloom tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, lettuce, mizuna, mustard greens, okra, peppers, potatoes, radishes and delicious red Russian kale.

Bridgman Farm I’ll have delicious tomatoes, onions, peppers and winter squash.

Ehmann & Sons Greenhouse  Annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, MUMS are here and assorted vegetables including beets, cabbage, collards, eggplant, mustard greens, okra, poblano peppers and radishes.

Honeyrun Farm  This week we will have lemon verbena infused honey, chunk honey, comb honey, spring and summer honey, honey stix, handcrafted soap and beeswax candles.

K & R Garden Fresh Produce We will be bringing cucumbers, eggplant, 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, fall squash, gourds, okra, onions, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, seedless watermelon, tomatoes, zucchini and green beans.

Quiver Full Farm  We plan to bring Keiffer pears, dried tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, popcorn, granola, pancake mix, chunk honey, honey, whole wheat flour, farm fresh eggs, cornmeal and pears. And we will be sampling pancakes with our homemade pancake mix!

Rhoads Farm Market This week we will have tomatoes (ask about field specials for canning), peppers, eggplant, beets, turnips, butternut squash and possibly a limited supply of Brussels sprouts.

Rock Dove Farm  We will have turnips, fennel, head lettuce, salad mix, eggplant, beets, parsley, sage, lemon mint, mint, and basil.

Somerset Greenhouse  I’ll be bringing butternut squash, potatoes, garlic, basil, lots and lots of peppers and lettuce.

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

Toad Hill Farm   I will have arugula, Asian stir fry mix, kale, mizuna, onions, parsley, potatoes, summer and winter squash, tatsoi  and turnips.

Toby Run Growers  Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms.

Wayward Seed Farm We’ll have certified organic arugula, celery, daikon radishes, sweet potatoes, winter squash, fall greens, herbs, onions, and leeks. Special guest Jim Budros will be onhand from 10AM-12PM grilling up calcots!

Harvest Festival Schedule of Activities

• Farmers’ Market and Market merchants open at 8 a.m.
• Market to Market breakfast in Dispatch Kitchen, 8 – 10 a.m.
• Cooking demonstrations at Local Matters tent, 9 – 11 a.m.
• Live music by Joey Hebdo, 9 – 11 a.m.
• Face painting, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Free cookies for kids, from Mozart’s Bakery, 10 a.m.
• Mark Wood Cowboy Fun Show, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Autumn crafts with Columbus Artmobile, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Live music by Gipson and Fitz Trio, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Pumpkin Pie contest, 1 p.m.
• Live music by Cowboy Hillbilly Hippy Folk, 1 – 3 p.m.
• Apple pie contest, 2 p.m.
• Live music by Folkwood Players, 3-5 p.m.
 

Market to Market Ride

Ahoy maties! We’re coming down to the final hours to pre-register for the October 8 Market to Market ride for $15. Register online here⇒ until noon Friday.

Choose “Team Zombie” or “Team Pirate” and dress accordingly or choose your own team and costume entirely, but  make sure to get your photo taken at the Nash Imaging Events photo booth at The Hills Market for chances to win additional prizes!

Three cheers for our participating sponsors and organizations: The Hills Market, North Market, B1 Bicycles, Columbus Alive, Columbus Crave Magazine, Crimson Cup Coffee, Columbus Food Adventures, Dine Originals Columbus, The Fawcett Center, FLOW, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Local Matters, Nash Imaging, OEFFA, The Olive Orchard, Open Heart Creatures, Pattycake Bakery, Seagull Bags, Slow Food, Small Business Beanstalk, Snowville Creamery, WCBE: Central Ohio’s NPR Station, Wexner Center for the Arts and Yelp Columbus.

Participating Farms:

Anderson Orchard  I’ll have Asian pears, baked goods, pollen-free sunflowers, gladiolus, fig plants, papaya plants, tomatoes and zinnias.

Blossom Acres Produce  I will have naturally grown beans, candy onions, collard greens, garlic, ground cherries, heirloom tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, lettuce, mizuna, mustard greens, okra, peppers, potatoes, radishes and delicious red Russian kale.

Bridgman Farm I’ll have delicious tomatoes, onions, peppers and winter squash.

Ehmann & Sons Greenhouse  Annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, MUMS are here and assorted vegetables including beets, cabbage, collards, eggplant, mustard greens, okra, poblano peppers and radishes.

Honeyrun Farm  This week we will have lemon verbena infused honey, chunk honey, comb honey, spring and summer honey, honey stix, handcrafted soap and beeswax candles.

K & R Garden Fresh Produce We will be bringing cucumbers, eggplant, 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, fall squash, gourds, greens, okra, onions, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, seedless watermelon, tomatoes, zucchini and green beans.

Quiver Full Farm  We will be away this week, but we will return on October 8.

Rhoads Farm Market This week we will have tomatoes (ask about field specials for canning), peppers, eggplant, beets, turnips, butternut squash and possibly a limited supply of Brussels sprouts.

Rock Dove Farm  We should have baby turnips, beets, chard,  fennel, kale and sage.

Somerset Greenhouse  I’ll be bringing heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, butternut squash, potatoes, garlic, basil, lots and lots of peppers, lettuce and green beans.

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

Toad Hill Farm   I will have arugula, Asian stir fry mix, kale, mizuna, onions, parsley, potatoes, summer and winter squash, tatsoi  and turnips.

Toby Run Growers  Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms.

Wayward Seed Farm We’ll have herbs, leeks, paste tomatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, celery and peppers.

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 from 12-5PM. Enjoy music by Willie Phoenix from 12-2PM.

Things you should register for on October 8:

(1) The Market to Market Ride on Saturday, October 8. Grab breakfast at the North Market or The Hills Market then hit the Olentangy River Greenway to the market at the opposite end of the trail. Visit with local vendors and organizations along the way to get your passport stamped, then pick up a backpack of goodies and discounts when you reach your destination, oh, and a scoop of Jeni’s Ice Cream too! Registration is $15 in advance (limit 400) and $20 at the door. Register online here⇒

(2) Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home demonstration in the Dispatch Kitchen at the North Market on Saturday, October 8 from 12-2PM. Cost is $10 per person (limit 75) and includes free ice cream tasting! Register online here⇒

(3) The Harvest Festival Pumpkin and Apple Pie Contests. If you make a marvelous pumpkin or apple pie, you should enter it into our Harvest Festival baking contests for a chance to win $100 in North Market gift certificates. The Pumpkin Pie Contest will be held at 1PM and the Apple Pie Contest at 2PM. Limit 15 entries per contest.  Email mmartineau@northmarket.com for more details.

The North Market Harvest Festival is one of the culminating events of Local Matters Local Foods Week on Saturday, October 8. In addition to our usual extravaganza of harvest produce, baking contests, live music and kids’ activities, as part of their Local Foods Week celebration, Local Matters will do cooking demonstrations in a tent on the farmers’ market plaza.

This festival is a fun one for the kiddies with a plethora of activities and entertainment. Mark Wood will be twisting balloon animals and executing fancy rope tricks. Rita Miller will be on hand for fanciful full face painting. There will be give-aways of cookies and the Columbus Artmobile will offer harvest-inspired craft projects for the kiddies.

Jeni Britton-Bauer will host an ice cream making demonstration in the Dispatch Kitchen at the North Market from 12 – 2 p.m. Jeni will be discussing techniques and recipes from her recently published book, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home. Registration for this limited attendance affair is $10 and available online here⇒. A free book signing will take place in the Dispatch Kitchen following the demonstration at 2 p.m.

Enterprising customers have a couple of opportunities to take home a prize in our Harvest Festival baking contests. In the pumpkin and apple pie contests, entrants are invited to submit their favorite recipe for judging. Each pie competition winner will receive $100 in North Market gift certificates. Second place will receive $50 in North Market gift certificates. Participation is limited to 12 entries per contest. To register or for more information, please email mmartineau@northmarket.com

Scheduled Harvest Festival activities include:
• Farmers’ Market and North Market merchants open at 8 a.m.
• Market to Market breakfast in the Dispatch Kitchen, 8 – 10 a.m.
• Cooking demonstrations at the Local Matters tent, 9 – 11 a.m.
• Live music by Joey Hebdo, 9 – 11 a.m.
• Face painting, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Free pumpkin cookies for the kids, courtesy of Mozart’s Bakery, 10 a.m. while supply lasts.
• Mark Wood Cowboy Fun Show, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Autumn crafts with the Columbus Artmobile, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Live music by Gipson and Fitz Trio, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Ice Cream making demonstration and book signing with Jeni Britton-Bauer in the Dispatch Kitchen, 12 – 3 p.m., registration fee of $10 required.
• Pumpkin Pie contest, 1 p.m.
• Live music by Cowboy Hillbilly Hippy Folk, 1 – 3 p.m.
• Apple pie contest, 2 p.m.
• Live music by Folkwood Players, 3-5 p.m.

The North Market Harvest Festival begins at 8 a.m. and is a free event. For more information or to sign-up for any of the contests, please call the North Market at (614) 463-9664 or visit www.northmarket.com.

North Market Harvest Festival - Baking Contests for Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Pie or Apple Pie

Celebrate the autumnal bounty of Ohio at the North Market Harvest Festival this weekend. There is still room for contestants in all three of our Harvest Festival Baking Contests so if you make a mean Pumpkin Bread (contest at 12PM), Pumpkin Pie (contest at 1PM) or Apple Pie (contest at 2PM), send an email to mmartineau@northmarket.com to get signed up! North Market gift certificates will be awarded to first and second place in each contest.

There will also be live music, cooking demonstrations, adoptable dogs from Columbus Dog Connection and kids activities including free cookies from Mozart’s North Market Bakery, face painting, the Mark Wood Fun Show and fall arts and crafts with the Columbus Artmobile!

For a full schedule of Harvest Festival activites click HERE>

Market to Market Ride Saturday

The weather forecast for Saturday is 60 degrees with only a 10% chance of rain. That sounds like the perfect temperature for a scenic ride up and down the Olentangy River Greenway on the Market to Market ride! So grab a friend or two (or go solo and make some on the path) and sign up for this two-wheeled bicycle adventure with benefits! 

Pre-registration is $15 and includes breakfast (either at North Market or The Hills Market - you choose), a sweet t-shirt, a scoop of Jeni’s Ice Cream, a goody bag (or two) and chances to win prizes including an awesome Seagull Bag, a gift certificate bonanza from the Small Business Beanstalk or two tickets to the Local Matters Local Foods Week Harvest Ball. What are you waiting for? You CAN procrastinate and sign up at the door at either location for $20, but we’ve sold out the last two events so why risk it?

Local Matters Local Foods Week

Local Matters is committed to sharing why local food connects us to the most important issues of our time with their 2nd Annual Local Foods Week from Saturday, October 2nd through Friday, October 8th. The week kicks-off on Saturday with the Market-to-Market bike ride and breakfast and concludes with a Harvest Ball on Friday night. During the week, the entire Columbus-area community is invited to add a little more delicious to their lives by competing in Local Matters “Eat Local Challenge” and win some fabulous prizes! For more information and a detailed schedule visit www.eatlocalohio.org.

CupcakeCampColumbus IV coming up next week!

Attention local amateur cupcake bakers, cupcake aficionados and those with crazy cupcake attire…we have a little event we think you just might be into and it’s coming up next Sunday, October 10.

For you cupcake bakers there are still spaces left to enter your cupcake concoctions in the following categories: Bacon, North Market Inspired and Vegan. Email mmartineau@northmarket.com for more details and to register.

And for those who just love to eat cupcakes or wear your love of cupcakes on your sleeve, there are still tickets available. Tickets are $10 and entitle the bearer to abundant cupcake sampling all while supporting the Mid-Ohio Food Bank who benefits from the event. Get your tickets online HERE>

Participating Farms on October 2

Anderson Orchard This week I shall bring sunflowers, pumpkins, cosmos, mixed bunches, organic apple dumplings and free range pork including bacon, Canadian bacon, loin and sausage.

Beech Meadow Farm  Chicken, turkey (legs & breasts) and eggs. Welcome to our newest farmers market family member, baby Noah!

Ehmann & Sons Greenhouse It’s time for fall MUMS! We’ll have a huge display with every color and variety that you can imagine!

Elizabeth Telling Farm CSA pickup only.

The North Market Harvest Festival is helping to kick off Local Matters Local Foods Week on Saturday, October 2. In addition to our usual extravaganza of harvest produce, baking contests, live music and kids’ activities, as part of their Local Foods Week celebration, Local Matters is working to pair local chefs with some of our farmers to do cooking demonstrations right out of their stalls.

This festival is a fun one for the kiddies with a plethora of activities and entertainment. Mark Wood will be twisting balloon animals and executing fancy rope tricks. Rita Miller will be on hand for fanciful full face painting. There will be give-aways of cookies and apples and the fine folks with the Columbus Artmobile will be offering harvest-inspired crafts. Not to mention, if you are looking for a new four-legged friend, the Columbus Dog Connection will be on hand with adoptable dogs.

Enterprising customers have several opportunities to take home a prize in our Harvest Festival baking contests. In the pumpkin bread contest, entrants are invited to submit their version in loaf or muffin form. Our two other contests feature the time-honored tradition of pie baking and participants can submit their favorite pumpkin or apple pies for judging. The first place winner of the bread competition will win $50 in North Market gift certificates and each pie competition winner will receive $100 in North Market gift certificates. All home-baked entries will be available for purchase with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit North Market Development Authority. To register or for more information, please call the North Market at (614) 463-9664. Participation is limited to 12 entries per contest.

Scheduled Harvest Festival activities include:
• Farmers’ Market and North Market merchants open at 8 a.m.
• Market to Market breakfast in the Dispatch Kitchen, 8 – 10 a.m.
• Cooking demonstrations with local chefs at farmer stalls, 9 – 11 a.m.
• Live music by Slate Ridge, 9 – 11 a.m.
• Face painting, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Free pumpkin cookies for the kids, courtesy of Mozart’s Bakery, 10 a.m. while supply lasts.
• Free apples for the kids, 10 a.m. while supply lasts.
• Mark Wood Cowboy Fun Show, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Autumn crafts with the Columbus Artmobile, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Columbus Dog Connection, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Live music by Gipson and Fitz Trio, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Pumpkin Bread contest, 12 p.m.
• Pumpkin Pie contest, 1 p.m.
• Live music by One More Time String Band, 1 – 3 p.m.
• Apple pie contest, 2 p.m.
• Live music by Folkwood Players, 3-5 p.m.

The North Market Harvest Festival begins at 8 a.m. and is a free event. For more information or to sign-up for any of the contests, please call the North Market at (614) 463-9664 or email mmartineau@northmarket.com.

The North Market Harvest Festival is helping to kick off Local Matters Local Foods Week on Saturday, October 3. In addition to our usual extravaganza of harvest produce, baking contests, live music and kids’ activities, this year as part of their Local Foods Week celebration, Local Matters worked to pair local chefs with some of our farmers to do cooking demonstrations right out of their stalls.This festival is a fun one for the kiddies with a plethora of activities and entertainment. Mark Wood will be twisting balloon animals and executing fancy rope tricks. Rita Miller will be on hand for fanciful full face painting. There will be give-aways of cookies and apples and the Columbus Jaycees will return for their annual stint of offering harvest-inspired crafts. Not to mention, if you are looking for a new four-legged friend, the Columbus Dog Connection will be on hand with adoptable dogs.

Enterprising customers have several opportunities to take home a prize in our Harvest Festival baking contests. In the pumpkin bread contest, entrants are invited to submit their version in loaf or muffin form. Our two other contests feature the time-honored tradition of pie baking and participants can submit their favorite pumpkin or apple pies for judging. The first place winner of the bread competition will win $50 in North Market gift certificates and each pie competition winner will receive $100 in North Market gift certificates. All home-baked entries will be available for purchase with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit North Market Development Authority. To register or for more information, please call the North Market at (614) 463-9664. Participation is limited to 12 entries per contest.

“Having the Harvest Festival as the kickoff for Local Matters Local Foods Week is a perfect combination that highlights both our activities and our mission to support local businesses.” said David Wible, Executive Director of the North Market. “You will see and taste that mission in action with our local chefs preparing recipes right in our farmers’ stalls.”

Scheduled Harvest Festival activities include:
• Farmers’ Market and North Market merchants open at 8 a.m.
• Market to Market breakfast in the Dispatch Kitchen, 8 - 10 a.m.
• Cooking demonstrations with local chefs at farmer stalls, 9 - 11 a.m.
• Live music by Folk Wood Players, 9 - 11 a.m.
• Mark Wood Cowboy Fun Show, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Joy Unspeakable, the Living Statue, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Face painting, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Free pumpkin cookies for the kids, courtesy of Mozart’s Bakery, 10 a.m. while supply lasts.
• Free apples for the kids, 10 a.m. while supply lasts.
• Autumn crafts with the Columbus Jaycees, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Columbus Dog Connection, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Live music by Slate Ridge, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Pumpkin Bread contest, 12 p.m.
• Pumpkin Pie contest, 1 p.m.
• Apple pie contest, 2 p.m.
• Face painting, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Live music by Willie Phoenix, 1 - 4 p.m.

The North Market Harvest Festival begins at 8 a.m. and is a free event. For more information or to sign-up for any of the contests, please call the North Market at (614) 463-9664 or email info@northmarket.com