North Union Farmers Market

North Union Farmers Market is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates certified, producer-only farmers markets. We run several farmers market each week during the height of Ohio’s season. Since opening in 1995, North Union has offered Clevelanders and Northeast Ohioans something to which they previously did not have access – healthy, fresh, local produce sold directly by farmers. North Union runs certified producers-only markets. What does that mean? Each vendor undergoes an onsite farm inspection. Each farm submits a crop list and site plan in the application process after their farm certification. Certification requires lease or ownership records, seed receipts, number of acres under production, site location, and approximate harvest. Everything is confirmed by our trained staff.

Established in 1995.
Early American farmers markets were fashioned after traditional European markets; farmers hauled their produce by horse-drawn carriages to the center of town allowing them to sell large quantities of their products to the town’s people.1 In some form or another, this market day practice is thriving throughout Europe today, particularly in smaller towns. Quietly, in the late 60’s and early 70’s the ‘local foods’ movement began taking hold. A society of consumers long disconnected from the origins of food on their plates, were now considering the implications of the agri-food business. Awareness and support for family farmers, their farmland, personal health and the environment were pushing local foods to the forefront. Food co-ops, dedicated to consumer education, community participation and nutrition were sprouting up in communities across the nation. One of those food-coop enthusiasts was biologist and trained chef, Donita Anderson. In 1985, Donita moved from Traverse City MI,