This year,
Findlay Market is adding a winter farmers market to its lineup. The market, which started this past weekend, will be held in the Globe Building on the corner of Elm and Elder streets, across from the OTR Biergarten.
A winter farmers market has been in the works for three years now, says Karen Kahle, resource development director for the Corporation for Findlay Market.
“We know that the demand for local food is there,” she says. “But when there is just a seasonal farmers market, people get out of the habit of going, and they might not resume that habit in the spring.”
This year, Findlay Market was a bit space-challenged. Organizers thought about tenting the sides of the farm shed for the winter market, which has been done for events in the past, but the tents are cold and not cost-effective. The Globe Building, although not a permanent solution, wasn’t being used and was available for the time frame needed.
The winter market will be on the building’s first floor and will occupy about 3,500 square feet of space. There will be a wide array of vendors, from farmers to artists and crafters.
“We hope the winter farmers market will bring more shoppers to the market and turn seasonal shoppers into year-round shoppers,” Kahle says. “We want to become an outlet for farmers to make more money, and maintain or amp up their production. We also want to help strengthen the community and provide access to local food, which is good for the economy because dollars stay in the region.”
Findlay Market is exploring the possibility of dedicating a storefront to locally produced food as a way to have a year-round farmers market. There are also plans in the works to have a shared-use kitchen, and possibly sell the product coming out of the kitchen in the storefront.
As always, Findlay Market is open year-round, six days a week. Winter farmers market hours are Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 7-29, and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 4-March 29.
By Caitlin Koenig
Follow Caitlin on Twitter
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.