Over the past few years, Cleveland's farmers market network has grown like Jack's proverbial beanstalk, multiplying the number of places shoppers can buy fresh, local produce while supporting food entrepreneurs. Yet up until recently, these markets have been operating largely independently of one another.

That's starting to change. Two new organizations, Growhio and the Cleveland Farmers' Market Guild (CFMG), have teamed up to provide joint marketing and entrepreneurial support to farmers' markets in Cleveland, East Cleveland and Lakewood.

Growhio and CFMG are launching two new programs to educate consumers about the benefits of local farmers' markets and also to provide technical and financial assistance to start-up vendors. These programs are being funded by a grant from the Ohio Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Grant Program in order to promote Ohio Specialty Crops (fruits and vegetables) at these markets.  

Growhio and CFMG will educate consumers about the benefits of shopping at their local farmers markets and teach them how to prepare tasty, healthy meals using fresh, affordable food. Start-up vendor assistance will include furnished incubator space, workshops on market basics such as licensing and insurance, and shared vendor space at CFMG markets.

"We needed a way to help urban farmers to dip their toes into the water without having to jump in," says Gwen Forte, Executive Director of Growhio. "By sharing space, farmers don't have to purchase a tent, table or chairs right away." Forte hopes to recruit 21 new vendors to participate in the program.

Forte also hopes that outreach efforts will convince more Clevelanders to shop at their local farmers markets.  "A lot of low-income residents don't shop at the markets, but you can get a lot of wholesome food at a good price there," she says. Growhio and the CFMG plan to distribute 15,000 postcards, place advertisements on RTA buses, and partner with social service agencies to spread the word.

The mission of Growhio, which was created following the Sustainable Cleveland 2019 summit in 2009, is to "strengthen and support all aspects of Northeast Ohio's local food economy through branding, marketing and collaboration." Growhio and CFMG will launch these new initiatives with a celebratory event for program partners and media at the Greenhouse Tavern on May 4th.

Source: Gwen Forte
Writer: Lee Chilcote