Warm weather is here to stay and that means there are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to be eaten! To help you find the best of the best, we’ve rounded up a list of some of the Tri-State’s Farmer’s Markets, including where and when you can find them and even some of the new events they’re bringing to the Greater Cincinnati area this year!
Northside Farmers Market
Open every Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. in rain or shine, the Northside Farmers Market is open year-round. According to the market’s Manager, Ana Bird, there are 8 new vendors at this year’s market, bringing the total number of vendors to 35. “13 vendors will be selling produce and plant starts, 5 vendors will be selling eggs and meat, 6 vendors will be selling baked goods, and the rest will be selling all kinds of prepared foods and other items including soap,” she adds.
Additionally, there are new items such as fresh, cold pressed juices, vegetarian and vegan soups, pastries, vegan pastries, pet food, tamales, potato chips, jams and jellies, and much more.
“This summer we’re also partnering with Apple Street Market Cooperative, a worker-owned grocery store scheduled to open in Northside next year, to offer a selection of non-local pantry items like beans, rice, nuts, and flour,” Bird explains.
She says that because Northside is a food desert and it’s difficult for residents to easily get to the grocery store, the partnership with Apple Street will allow the neighborhood to become a better source for groceries for the community.
Bird says that for this year’s market they’ve partnered with EcoConsciously to offer weekly donation-based yoga classes at the market in the park from 6-7 p.m., which is sponsored by Interact for Health, Join The Fun. “Each week will be a sampler of different types of yoga classes they offer,” explains Bird.
They’re also holding 4-week sessions of the Children’s Cooking Classes in June, July, and August. The classes, which run from 5-6:15 p.m. for ages 7-11, will teach kids basic kitchen skills and how to cook with local foods.
Craft Day is held on the third Wednesday of each month and invites local artists to set up in a corner of the market. There are also fun events like Taste-A-Thon on July 13.
“Every week we have music, free kids’ crafts, and every other week we conduct cooking demonstrations,” adds Bird. “Starting in June and running through August, thanks to a grant from the Good Food Fund, we’ll be offering a free shuttle service around the 45223 zip code to help shoppers get to the market more easily.”
The route for the shuttle service can be found on the Northside Farmers Market website.
You can find the Northside Farmers Market at different places throughout the year. From May 11 to October 12, they’re located in Hoffner Park on Hamilton Avenue, and between October and May, the market is located in North Church on Hamilton Avenue.
You can learn more about the Northside Farmer’s Market at www.northsidefm.org. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Bird adds that on the website you can learn more about how the market accepts credit/debit cards, SNAP, and provides a match for SNAP customers, up to $10 a week, called Produce Perks.
Madeira Farmers’ Market
If you want to venture through the Madeira area, you can check out the Madeira Farmers’ Market on Thursdays year-round. “According to the market’s manager Leah Berger, the market is located on Dawson Road and Miami Avenue from May through September and at the Madeira Silverwood Presbyterian Church at 8000 Miami Avenue from October through April.
Vendors at the Madeira Farmers’ Market sell items including farm fresh produce, meat, eggs, bread, honey, and specialty items. And with a changing list of produce, you’ll always find something new. The market also features at total of about 35 vendors from week-to-week. Berger says that the only non-local vendor is Alaska Direct Wild Caught Salmon, which comes to the market courtesy of former Cincinnati Cyclones player Dax Lauwers, who brings in smoked and regular Sockeye Salmon filets from tide to table.
There are several events being held at the Madeira Farmers’ Market this year including Girls Night Out, Kids Taste-A-Thon, The Great Tomato Taste, Honor Your Elders Day, Madeira 4th Graders Visit the Market, and the Fall Festival.
To learn more about the Madeira Farmers’ Market, visit www.madeirafarmersmarket.com. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Wyoming Avenue Farmers’ Market
With 17 vendors at this year’s Wyoming Avenue Farmers’ Market, Founder and General Manager Penny Shore is looking forward to the upcoming market season. Open Tuesdays from 3-7 p.m. from May through October, the Wyoming Avenue Farmers’ Market features 6 farmers who cover everything from produce to eggs, meat, and fruit.
Also at the market are two food trucks that offer ready-to-eat meals and the cottage producers bring in coffee, soaps, cheese, jams and jellies, bread, cookies, ice pops, and specially-made pet food.
According to Shore, the Wyoming Avenue Farmers’ Market will host monthly cooking demonstrations with local chefs as well as activities for kids. “Each month we also offer a local charity the opportunity to talk with our shoppers,” she adds.
The market is located in downtown Wyoming on Wyoming Avenue and Oak Street on the Village Green. Shore says if the weather turns bad the market moves down to 800 Oak Street and sets up in the gym of the city’s Municipal Building.
During the winter months, the market also offers a pre-order pick-up market so you can still get your local fix! You can learn more about the Wyoming Avenue Farmers’ Market, visit www.wyomingavefarmersmarket.com. They’re also on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Lettuce Eat Well Farmers Market
The mission behind Lettuce Eat Well Farmers’ Market is to provide great food to those who are dedicated to eating well and living well.
“Lettuce Eat Well Farmers Market is a collaborative specialty market where all produce is grown using no synthetic chemicals, beef is 100% grass-fed, pork is pastured and fed no GMO products, and chicken and eggs are pastured from chickens fed no GMO and no soy,” according to the Lettuce Eat Well Farmers Market website. Additionally, the vendors who participate in the farmer’s market collaborate with one another instead of competing. This means that there are fewer vendors but more food options for customers.
The year-round market is located at the Cheviot United Methodist Church at 3820 Westwood Northern Boulevard. Held indoors, the market runs from 3-7 p.m. every Friday.
There are a plethora of vendors who participate in the Lettuce Eat Well Farmers Market, including Angela’s Homemade Pies & Lots More, Canal Junction Cheeses, Charles Purdue, Mahlon Schlabach, Honey Tree Acres Farms & Gardens, Learning to Live Sustainably, Lola’s Botanicals, Skinny Piggy Kombucha, Small Acres Family Farm, and The Pickled Pig.
The market also has more room for vendors. To participate, send an email to lewfmlocal@gmail.com. You can learn more about the Lettuce Eat Well Farmers Market at http://www.lewfm.org/.
Findlay Market Farmer’s Market
There’s a lot of new things coming to the Findlay Market’s Farmer’s Market this year. According to Karen Kahle, Communications and Program Director at the market, there are 21 new weekend vendors, which includes several new farmers, a handful of food artisans, plant sellers, prepared food vendors, and a few new art and craft vendors.
“We’re super excited that 3 of the food entrepreneurs in our new Findlay Kitchen are making food in the kitchen that they are then selling on weekends at the market,” she says. “In addition, beginning later this month, we’ll have a special Findlay Kitchen booth where a rotating cast of kitchen members will be selling their deliciousness.”
The weekend farmers market is open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kahle adds that they’re also working on getting some farmers to set up their booths on Fridays.
In addition to the location at the Findlay Market, Kahle says that they’ve also got the Findlay Market Farmstands<http://findlaymarket.org/news/findlay-market-farmstands> on weekdays in 3 Cincinnati neighborhoods: Price Hill on Tuesdays from 3-6 p.m., Evanston on Thursdays from 3-6 p.m., and in Walnut Hills on Thursdays from 4-7 p.m.
There’s also a lot coming up for the Findlay Market Farmer’s Market. Their big summer event, the annual Smokin’ Hot BBQ, will take place on Sunday, August 7. “The event will features lots of live music, craft beers, and a boatload of BBQ, including a few guest BBQ vendors,” says Kahle.
Then, on June 25 from 9-11 a.m., the market is partnering with local trainers and gyms to host the third annual Findlay Fit event. “We will start with a health/detox discussion given by The Weekly Juicery,” says Kahle. “Jam Entertainment will emcee the event.” Groups of 10-12 participants will have 12-15 minute workouts at 6 workout stations.
The market will also have several weekend cooking demonstrations and seasonal food sampling at the Findlay Market on Race Street. The ORT Biergarten runs Tuesdays through Fridays from 4-8 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with live music every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
To learn more about the Findlay Market Farmer’s Market, visit www.findlaymarket.org. There you can see all the information about the farmers, merchants, and a calendar of upcoming events. You can also check out their Facebook page.
Hyde Park Farmers’ Market
There are several new vendors to look forward to at the Hyde Park Farmers’ Market, according to Mary Ida. This weekly market, open on Sundays, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the Hyde Park Square, will feature breakfast tacos and lunch tacos from Calle Restaurant in Mt. Adams, Baudry’s French pastries, and Tree Hugger Soap as part of its new lineup for 2016.
With at least 40 vendors who will participate in this year’s market, all of them are local, and include 5 Oaks Organics, Boone Creek Creamery, Carriage House Farm, Grassroots Farm and Foods, and streetpops, to name a few.
There also also many special events in the pipeline for the market, including a monthly knife sharpening and topical books from The Bookshelf Independent Bookstore. Hamilton County will also provide recycling information for market attendees.
To learn more about the Hyde Park Farmers’ Market, visit www.hydeparkfarmersmarket.com. You can also check them out on Facebook and Twitter.
Newtown Farm Market
The Newtown Farm Market is open year-round and is bringing a lot of new things for customers this year. According to Newtown Farm Market Operator Frank Catanzaro, the market is open for the summer season on Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
There are several local vendors who participate in the Newtown Farm Market including: Honey from MArion and Marge Ackman in Loveland, Seasonal Selection Salsa from Waynesville, Chuck Evan’s Montezuma Salas from Columbus, a large variety of Amish products from Walnut Creek, Carabello Coffee from Newport, Artisan Goat Milk Soap from Goshen, Amish Angel Food Cake from Boone’s Bakery in Tipp City, and many more.
Catazano says that the market is excited to welcome Holly the market Parrot back from her winter vacation and encourages customers to stop down and talk to her.
“It is that time of year that we are serving our famous Soft Serve Custard,” says Catazano. “We have brought in a wider selection of Amish products from Walnut Creek, and we offer local home grown produce from the Amish in Ohio as it becomes available. Our wonderful Peaches and Cream corn will be available again around July 4.”
If you find something you want to try, the Newtown Farm Market also offers a sampling of produce and different products for you to check out before you buy!
The Newtown Farm Market is located at 3950 Roundbottom Road in Newtown. To learn more, visit www.newtownmarket.com or like them on Facebook.
Boone County Farmers Market
Open from May through October 7 days a week, the Boone County Farmer’s Market features over 40 local vendors. Coy Wilson from the Boone County Farmers Market says there are plenty of new things to come to the market.
“New this year we will have locally made skin care products, soy candles, and 5 different meat vendors with beef, pork, chicken, and now including quail and quail eggs,” he says. According to Wilson, the local vendors at the Boone County Farmers Market grow or produce the items that they sell at the market.
The Boone County Farmers Market also hosts several special events throughout the year. On May 21 they’ll have the Ask a Master Gardener event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Then in June they’ve got the Music in the Market with John Redell and the Boone County Farm Tour. July will feature Taste of the Market and Music in the Market with Taste of the Market, Chef Maggie Green, and Music in the Market in August.
The Boone County Farmers Market is open from May through October from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and summer hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can find the Boone County Farmers Market at the corner of Route 18 and Camp Ernst Road in Burlington, Kentucky, adjacent to the Boone County Cooperative Extension Service.
Learn more about the Boone County Farmers Market at www.boonecountyfarmersmarket.org or by liking them on Facebook.
Loveland Farmers’ Market
Promoting the promotion of buying locally, healthy eating, education for adults and children, and weekly entertainment for kids in the Kids’ Patch, the Loveland Farmers’ Market is open year-round.
According to the market’s website, you can check out the Loveland Farmers’ Market from 3-7 p.m. on Tuesdays at 897 Loveland Madeira Road in Loveland.
Vendors at the 2016 Loveland Farmers’ Market include Can-du Farm, Ed Kluba Farm, Farm Beach Bethel, Goodlife Farm, Grailville Farm/Earthshares CSA, Irons Fruit Farm, and Jaybird Farm in addition to Honey Sweetie Acres, Ohio Farm Direct, Peaceful Acres, and Sacred Mountain and Alpaca Paradise.
Check out http://www.lovelandfm.com/ for more information on the Loveland Farmers’ Market.
Deerfield Farmers Market
Guy Ashmore, who runs the Deerfield Farmers Market with his wife Sandy, says that after 14 years the duo is continually surprised by what new crops and products farmers and cottage producers bring in. “Not just yearly, but weekly,” he says. “Eating seasonally is fun and delicious.”
Open every Saturday morning from 9 a.m. until noon, the Deerfield Farmers Market continues through the last Saturday in October. “We also hold a winter market once a month on the third Saturday of each month from November through April,” Ashmore adds.
There are between 20 and 25 vendors who attend the market each week. “They offer a wide selection of products,” he says. “Everything from local, fresh produce, cut flowers, baked goods, grass raised meats, delicious broths, maple syrup, hot sauces, honey, and much more.”
This year, market manager Andy Gorman is busy scheduling tons of activities for market customers. Ashmore says they’ll be hosting Customer Appreciate Day, Children’s Day, cooking demonstrations, and a tomato parade to name a few. They’ll also be inviting musicians to come and make the mornings special.
The Deerfield Farmers Market is located at Kingswood Park on Irwin Simpson Road in Mason. You can learn more about the market at www.deerfieldfarmersmarket.com and like them on Facebook.
Covington Farmers Market
Open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October, the Covington Farmers Market is featuring plenty of new things this year. According to Janet Tobler, there will be bagels, nitro brew coffee from Cincy Smooth, handmade pottery, kitchen items, organic pet treats, a line of shampoo products for pets, pre-made organic soup, books, fresh bread from the Bean Haus Bakery, and a few more farmers.
“We’ll be hosting Running of the Goats and will also be hosting chef demonstrations,” says Tobler. “We have a guest tent set up and thus far we’ve confirmed to have people from the Baker Hunt Foundation, The Carnegie, The League for Animal Welfare, voter registration, and Cincy Sharp, who will be at the market sharpening knives one weekend as well as many more guests.”
You can find the Covington Farmers Market on the corner of 3rd and Court streets in Covington, Kentucky. You can also find more on the website and on Facebook.