Dear North Market Shoppers,

It’s on! While the weather heats up in June and it “feels” like summer, all the traditional gifts of the season don’t really appear until July.

Sweet corn is here, tomatoes, too. Fresh picked fruits and berries, melons not far behind. Zucchini, eggplant and peppers. It’s Farmers Market time!

While our Farmers Market is held every Saturday morning, the real work begins the day before as our community of growers take to their fields to carefully pick only what’s ready for sale the next morning. No industrial coolers, no cross country or international shipping, just fresh, honest and delicious fruits and vegetables from our neighboring counties.

And something else you should know. Everything our growers sell, they grow. That’s not always the case at other markets. Each and every grower has made the commitment to you that what they sell is what they grow. It makes a difference.

July also brings us the North Market Food and Ohio Wine Festival, July 9-11. By far, our biggest and best event of the year, the Ohio Wine Festival gives our shoppers the opportunity to taste a broad selection of locally produced wines. If you’re into buying local, Ohio wine is a great choice.

Inside the Market House things are humming nicely, as well. Omega Artisan Bakery’s sinful cinnamon rolls were just awarded the “Best Breakfast Item” in Ohio by Food Network Magazine (July/August issue). Columbus Monthly’s readers recognized Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams as the Market’s best vendor and the magazine even recognized Taste of Belgium for the best message on Twitter. Our Market to Market bike ride held in October (then repeated this past May 1st with another one coming up October 2nd) was also recognized by Columbus Monthly as the “best bike ride for foodies.”

Lot’s happening at the Market, but would you expect anything less from our nearly 70 growers, bakers, butchers, grocers, and food artisans?

Come on down this July and get a taste of the action.

Dear North Market Shopper,

In the past couple weeks while wandering the Market I’ve noticed Michael and Colleen from The Greener Grocer in discussions with some of our local growers.

These meetings are part of an important dialogue between growers and sellers. More and more, we find that growers and sellers are collaborating to provide the freshest, best tasting, most unique fruits and vegetables possible. As we focus on eating locally it’s important that we have strong connections to our growing community. The Greener Grocer and their commitment to locally grown produce provides you with the opportunity to eat the best food possible every day.

Many of us do not realize that farming is a year round endeavor. It doesn’t begin when the first warm days of spring arrive, nor does it end with the first frost. Growers spend the winter preparing for the season by tending to their fields, tuning up equipment and procuring seed stock for the next crop. Many growers are beginning to actively plant starters in hoop houses that help extend both ends of the growing season.

We heartily salute our growers who spend the entire year to make sure that every Saturday during the growing season, you’ll have the widest choice of the freshest, best tasting produce in town.

We’re also planning for the upcoming Farmers Market season, as well. In the next few weeks we’ll be meeting with our community of growers to talk about plans for the season which will include our standard fare of festivals that celebrate everything Ohio grown. Planning, propagating and growing is a year round activity at the Market, too.

On another note, Saturday, February 20th we’ll once again host the Fiery Foods Festival. It’s the best way ever to beat the winter blues.

Also, check out our website for the latest news on the North Market School of Cooking. With leadership from Columbus Dispatch Food Editor, Robin Davis, we have an impressive line-up of classes and demonstrations from some of the finest chefs in town.

Keep warm and keep our growers in your thoughts. Theirs is a noble profession and they are among the hardest working people you’ll ever meet.

Dave