North Union Farmers Market

The North Union Farmer’s Market — Shaker Square as well as the auxiliary markets — are the cornerstone of our home’s healthful eating/​cooking habits! Each Saturday, my husband and I awake and excitedly head to the Square to load up on fresh fruits and vegetables — as well as breads, meats, and other sundries.
Even as the weather cools and the number of vendors dwindles somewhat, we are still able to source 60−75% of our weekly foods here. Each week, we fill two large LL Bean Tote Bags to the brim and eat well!
Eating fresh, local produce has made such a difference in our home! The food is so much more flavorful, nutritious, and exciting! This is a resource that we value immensely and do everything we can to support.
To those who might find the prices at the farmer’s market too high for their liking: I really believe in the value of fresh, local, and mostly organic produce and find that it goes far beyond any perceived added cost. If you really gave it a try, you might feel the same.

I just moved to Cleveland and I came out to the Farmer’s Market to get see what type of produce, etc they have. Wide variety of vendors with a wide variety of stuff. Veggies, mushrooms, fresh made pasta, meats, cheeses and the list could go on. Everything is fresh and locally grown, if that floats your boat. The only issue I have is how expensive things were, which is why I didn’t buy all that much. $ 6 for a quart of strawberries seems a little on the high side to me!
In terms of parking, there are lots behind some of the shaker stores to take advantage of and some street parking along shaker blvd if you don’t mind a little bit of a walk (with the nice weather of today, it was nice to enjoy it!). I plan to come back every so often

Tis the season once again. Love mushrooms from Killbuck Valley Mushrooms bought Blu Oyster mushrooms for dinner. Perla Pierogis from Parma is back. New Creation Farm is a great place for organically raised meats. And we will anticipate buying Croatian Peppers later in the Rainbow Farms. And watch out for Greathouse Pies they are Simply Delicous!

Few things say Saturday morning to me like a trip to the Farmer’s Market.
I happened to be in the Shaker Heights area when I passed Shaker Square and saw the telltale white tents signaling a Farmer’s Market. A sharp right turn ensued, with me haphazardly trying to cross the RTA tracks, watch for cars in a roundabout, and make it to the market in one piece.
In any case, this particular Farmer’s Market was a great one, despite the misty gloom of the weather. NEO has no lack of fresh produce and farm products, and samples of cheeses, honey, and meat were easy to find as I perused the various booths. I walked away with a brick of fresh organic cheddar, which I’ve been nibbling on for the past 24 hours and thoroughly enjoying.
I know there are many Farmer’s Markets in the greater Cleveland area, but if you’re in the Shaker Heights neighborhood on a Saturday morning, check out the North Union Market for a fix of freshness.

First I want to destroy a few misconceptions about the farm to table movement. Clevelanders always ate fresh in season food. I do not know about suburban or exurban locations but in the city we have small gardens. My grandparents did, my parents did, I do, and so do most of my friends and neighbors. Secondly, Clevelanders have always hopped in their cars and driven past the city limits to buy directly from farmers who set up roadside stands.
Thirdly, it was Parker Bosley who brought a farmers market to the warehouse district. He set up a network of farmers to supply his restaurants. The first in Collinwood then he relocated to Ohio City. North Union followed his lead.
I grew up in the Shaker Square area so it is a special place for me. I have been going to the market there for years. I am happy that so many more markets are now scattered across the area. I do not have to be pushed and shoved by other shoppers. Only on the New York subway are people more desperate than they are at this market. I also have no interest in arts and crafts, jelly, or the growing collection of designer produce.
My five stars are for the inspiration North Union has given to Cleveland. The Shaker Square location is the largest with the most selection, but I prefer Public Square on Fridays or Lakewood on Wednesdays or Gordon Square on Saturdays.
The farmers offer us a welcomed addition to our summer menus. Not sure how some say they shop only at the farmers market as it surely is restrictive. I guess if you do not eat fish or seafood or enjoy avocados, pineapples etc. you can.

Love this farmer’s market. Good vendors, excellent produce, plants, food, and gifts (and unexpected stuff, like kittehs from the South Euclid APL or chair massages). The mushroom guy is a delight to talk to, as is Ohio Honey. Well, and all the vendors, really. Good stuff. All of the bakers are to die for. Best part is the market goes virtually all year long, taking breaks at the winter holidays and Easter as it transitions from indoor space during the cold-​weather months to its spring/​summer/​fall location sandwiching the Rapid tracks.

It’s a little of drive to this market. This market is really filled with very good vendors who really hand craft their products. It’s a little early in the season for produce. There’s a lot of meat vendors selling local Ohio raised meat.
Overall it’s a great place for quality food shopping. It’s the place to get in touch with farm-​to-​table. You can’t get any fresher than harvesting your own produce.

My favorite thing to do on a Saturday morning: go to the market after getting a ½ mocha light ½ speedball from Dewey’s. Get whatever produce is most beautiful. Plan menus around that. Take pictures of the piles of gorgeous foods, especially the eggplants in every shade of purple.
Great place for Heirloom tomato seedlings. I buy my maple syrup and my honey here. The vendors are, for the most part, friendly and helpful.
Also a great place to pick up unique gifts from the artisans.

I equate going to the NUFM with going to an arts festival. I love to buy things from the people who made the stuff. And in this case, grew the stuff.
I have been frequenting the Shaker Square farmer’s market for about a year now and from what I’ve heard, this location is the largest and best.
There’s not a lot I can add for Matt and Pam have pretty much nailed it, but some notable vendors for me are the mushroom man, Mackenzie Creamery, Hartlzer’s Farm and the chicken guy.
It’s great to talk with the farmers and swap recipes and advice. Everyone is happy to help and super friendly.
I can’t wait until the weather warms and they are outside again.

I’m going to write a review about a couple of the other NUFM locations since everyone knows about the Shaker Square one already!
The Cleveland Clinic market is held every Wednesday and since I’ve started working there it has become the highlight of my weekly food fare ;o) There are a few vendors that are worth highlighing (even though they are all amazing)…Countryside Home Bakery, my god, the caramel pecan sticky buns, I have wet dreams of these they are so good. It’s always a treat to see the young ladies of this booth selling their cookies (soft molasses ones are to die for), pies (don’t miss out on the strawberry-​rhubarb), bread and preserves (apple butter and pumpkin butter are especially good). They always have the perfect finish to my lunch from the market.
Woolf farms, the best peaches, apples and corn that you could ask for, and the friendliest family I’ve ever met. The young son actually took me on a quick tour of the Chagrin Falls market when I first went to show me the best corn that was available since they had already sold out!
There are several booths that sell lunch deals for $ 10 or less, menus change on a weekly basis but everything I have had has definitely brightened my day and I’ve gone back to the OR smiling and content!
The Chagrin Falls market is held on Sundays and I probably enjoy this one even more than the Shaker Square market since it’s a little less crowded but the produce is just as good.
Sirna’s Farm makes the best natural peanut butter and almond butter… who would have ever thought that «no sugar added» would taste way better than that mass-​produced stuff you get in the grocery store! They also make these sweet horseradish pickles that are, quite literally, the bomb!
The Chicken guy… yeah, I don’t know the actual name of his booth or farm, but everyone knows him as the chicken guy. He has fresh whole chickens (I made a wonderful roast one weekend, so moist and tender) and he also has frozen chicken patties of different flavors (try the apple, you will not be disappointed).
Woolf farms… so good, they deserve a second mention because they’re here too!
The sausage guy, I can’t go without their maple breakfast sausage for Sunday breakfast anymore, so gooooooood…
Mackenzie Creamery… the friendliest couple at the market, stop and have a chat with them while you’re sampling their delectable goat cheese. They’re so sweet that when I went out of town for a weekend they commented the next time I saw them that they had missed me the week previous! Now, they have got such amazing flavors that I’ve basically only been eating goat cheese for the last month… herbs de provence, truffle, blue cheese, blueberry and lemon and something called «sweet fire» (you just gotta sample it, trust me on this one).
You can get pretty much everything here, all kinds of produce, meat, cheese, eggs, the only things that I need to go to Shaker Square for is milk. So basically, I haven’t shopped at a grocery store for about 6 weeks now and am much happier and healthier for it, support your local farmers and save money at the same time, you know it’s cheaper than all that processed and packaged stuff with preservatives that you’ll find at your local Giant Eagle ;o)

Located in the heart of Shaker Square, each year at the beginning of April the North Union Farmers Market moves outdoors. As the coming of Spring symbolizes rebirth, life, growth and purity, the outdoor Farmers Market shares in that symbolism.
Farm fresh fruits, veggies, herbs, fresh cut flowers & eggs, locally made honey, cheese, milk, breads, baked goods & grass fed meat. This farmers market is Mecca for localvores and those yearning for the seasonal freshness that the Farmers Market and it’s Spring arrival have to offer.
Shopping at the Farmers Market is a stark contrast to that of visiting one of the mammoth big-​box grocers. At the NUFM, vendors, typically farmers themselves, stand behind (both literally and figuratively), their counter of food offerings. Have a question as to how the product was produced? Why, just ask the man/​woman who made it themselves!
Openness and fresh air don’t just describe the tented outdoor stands at the NUFM, but it also describes a way of business the vendors at this market offer compared to that of what can be found in a typical grocery store.
Welcome back North Union! And let the new fresh food season be a bountiful one!