Dear North Market Shopper, 

There is nothing…nothing better than locally-grown, fresh-picked fruits and vegetables. For quality, flavor, nutrition and the pure joy of knowing that you’re doing something good for you and your family, fresh is best.

For nearly 30 years North Market has been home to our community’s central Farmers Market. For three decades families from all over Columbus have come downtown to get the best. Why? For most, it’s simply worth the effort.

On Saturday, August 14th North Market will host its’ 19th Annual Farmers Festival. It’s our time to celebrate our unique community of growers and time for you to come to the Market at the absolute pinnacle of the season. Fruits and vegetables will never be fresher and they’ll never be more abundant.

The tradition that is our central downtown Farmers Market is one that is driven by the desire to be part of something that is good. North Market is part of a long-standing tradition, a social gathering place and a piece of the fabric of our city. Every Saturday we see the same faces, families and friends that come here to enjoy the vibrant energy of our very own public market.

The benefits are many, but probably the best is the fact that no matter what you’re looking for, you’ll find the freshest, finest, highest-quality food at North Market.

If you haven’t been down in awhile, stop by our Farmers Festival for a true, authentic taste of Ohio.

I hope to see you here,

Dave Wible

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, 

As I move about the community many individuals I encounter are not familiar with and, in fact, surprised to learn about the structure of North Market.

Not many people know that the North Market is operated by a not-for-profit organization, the North Market Development Authority (NMDA).  Our staff of four full-timers and three part-timers report to a 19-member board of directors who oversee the operation of the Market.

While the City of Columbus owns the building, it is the NMDA which attends to the oversight of the Market in our community.  

Unlike typical commercial real estate management ventures or shopping center operations, the Market is operated to create low cost economic opportunities for small family-run businesses and farms.  It is also operated to maintain an old-world style of business that is instrumental in creating the atmosphere that is so unique to our Market.

The NMDA receives its operating dollars from three sources: merchant rent, parking revenue and fundraising.  As a not-for-profit organization, we look to fundraising to help us maintain our position of pride in the community. 

On the evening of Saturday, May 22^nd, North Market will play host to our biggest fundraising event of the year, the Apron Gala.  The Apron Gala is a casual and fun evening of great food, drink and entertainment.  Each year our merchants go all-out to serve up the very best they can offer.  It’s a true gastronomic evening.  

Your $75 ticket is good for a full evening of appetizers, main courses, desserts and drinks personally served by our community of merchants.  Your ticket contribution also goes a long way in helping provide us with the funds so necessary to keep our Market great. 

So, if you’re looking for something fun, delicious and rewarding to do on May 22^nd you should pick up a ticket for the 14^th Annual North Market Apron Gala.  You’ll be doing something great for the Market and something even better for your appetite. 

Hope to see you at the Market and the Apron Gala.

Dave Wible

Executive Director

Dear North Market Shopper,

There’s a new publication in town and it’s well worth your time to grab a copy.  Edible Columbus hit the newsstands on April 1^st and by all accounts, if you’re committed to local foods this is the magazine for you.

Edible Columbus is part of a network of Edible Publications that are in more than 50 markets in the U.S. and Canada.  With its’ focus on local foods, local markets, local restaurants and the local food scene in general, this is the perfect foodie magazine.

The flagship issue of Edible Columbus has a wonderful feature on David and Cheryl Smith of Bluescreek Farm Meats.  It’s an illuminating article on one of North Market’s finest merchants.  There are also stories about Wayward Seed Farm, a regular at our Saturday Farmers Market and board member, John Dornback, chef/owner of basi italia.  The Greener Grocer’s, Michael Jones even contributes a story on local food systems. 

The natural affinity for North Market related editorial content is a true testament to our community position as a premier local food destination.  For more than 130 years we’ve been Columbus’ local food market.

You can pick up a complementary copy of Edible Columbus at our newsstand on the second floor.  It will come out quarterly, so look for the next issue August 1^st. 

Best wishes to publisher, editor and classically trained chef, as well, Tricia Wheeler.  Tricia will be here on the evening of May 22^nd in the Dispatch Kitchen whipping up some tasty treats for our Annual Apron Gala.

Dave Wible

Dear North Market Shopper,

“It’s a Columbus landmark, a tourist destination and a bastion for local mom and pops.”

“It really is the best place to buy food in Columbus. Not to mention, it’s the most fun place to shop.”

“It’s become one of the most renowned public markets in the county.”

Who’s the best local foods market in Columbus? According to the readers of Columbus Alive, it’s us! The North Market.

Nearly 8,000 voters voiced their opinion in the 2010 Best of Columbus issue and when all was said and done, North Market was a fan favorite.

But it’s not the Market that wins the award, it’s the community of local, family-owned and operated businesses that make us great.

Think about it. If you want the best cheese, meat, seafood, poultry, baked goods, flowers, produce, ice cream, chocolate, we’re the place to stop. If you’re looking for an amazing array of ethnic specialties, we’ve got that, too. And once the growing season gets going, we host one of our City’s best farmers markets.

With local food and local businesses playing such an important role in our community, we’re proud that we occupy a leadership position. But don’t take our word for it. The readers of Columbus Alive have spoken and we’re honored to be the best in town.

Thanks,

Dave

PS. Check out the article in Columbus Alive here>

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

Dear North Market Shopper, 

I’m not sure that I’ve ever experienced a time where food has been in sharper focus than it is today.

This summer two very different, but very powerful films have captured our attention. In the mainstream, Julie and Julia is proving to be one of the year’s biggest hits. Julie and Julia has rocketed Julia Child’s classic cookbooks to the top of all the best sellers lists.

Food, Inc., a film from the creators of The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food, focuses on the politics of food. It’s a compelling look at the “what, why and how” we eat.

Both films are well worth your time. Educational, entertaining and inspiring. But more importantly, film reflects our culture and our mood. And it seems right now, food is on our minds.

Everywhere there are stories about eating better, fresher, more healthful food. Public school systems are looking at how we can feed our children with more nutritionally valuable lunches. Groups like Slow Food are gaining more interest and popularity. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is flourishing. All because we want better food on our tables.

At North Market we’re all about fresh, local, healthful food. We’ve been that way for more than 130 years. Here you’ll find the Smith family that humanely and naturally raises their own beef, pork, lamb and goat on their farm near Marysville. The Greener Grocer has become our local farmstand in the City with fresh locally grown produce all week long. Local cheeses, local poultry, local ice cream, artisan baked goods, high quality fresh ingredients and locally owned businesses are what we’re all about.

So this summer if you’ve found that you are having an ever-increasing awareness about the quality of what’s on your table, stop by the Market where you’ll not only find great food, you’ll get a heaping cupful of inspiration, as well.

Dave Wible

Dear North Market Shopper,

It’s that time of year again. Our Farmers Market is humming and this season our offerings will be better than ever. 

This year, eating locally, supporting local businesses and local economies has never been more meaningful.  

For more than 130 years North Market has been a hub of local food and local businesses all supporting a local economy.   And today things aren’t much different. 

Every Saturday from now until late October local growers will bring their finest offerings picked fresh from the field.  There’s nothing fresher, better tasting, more nutritious or more local anywhere.

In the Market House our community of 33 locally owned and operated businesses thrive with the highest quality ingredients and prepared selections.  Shop the Market and you’ll find plenty of local food provided by local businesses supporting our local economy.

 It must be a good formula; we’ve been at it since 1876.

 Hope to see you at the Market.

 Dave Wible

PS.  Don’t miss our newest merchant and his fabulous waffles and crepes.  Jean-François Flechet and his new business, Taste of Belgium is located at the south end of the Market between Omega Artisan Baking and Pam’s Popcorn.