The mission of the Coit Road Farmers Market founders is to provide access to affordable, locally grown farm fresh products to residents of Greater Cleveland. The East Cleveland Farmers Market Preservation Society seeks to continue to expand the Market’s services, preserve and develop the Market property and further the historic mission of the founders.
Founded in 1932, the market is located at the intersection of Coit and Woodworth Roads near East 152nd and provides access to affordable locally sourced food to the residents of Greater Cleveland. You’ll find fresh vegetables and fruits, spices, eggs, cheese, local baked goods, honey, jams and locally crafted items. Prices at the market are reasonable especially when compared to suburban farmers’ markets.
Roots of the Market date from World War I when a group of farmers in the Greater Cleveland area met and began to sell their produce from the back of their trucks in Cleveland’s Collinwood neighborhood. In 1932, the group formed a cooperative and purchased the existing property to establish a permanent market. In 2001, The East Cleveland Farmers Market Preservation Society (ECFM) was formed as a 501 c (3) non-profit organization to preserve the Market and continue its operations. Operation of the market is supported by rents from farmers, donations and fund raising events.
The four acre site includes a community garden for members to grow produce for family use. An urban farm area allows growers to sell their produce at the Market. One of the urban farmers, Gloria Jahlil, noted, “When you grow fresh food, you are not robbed of nutritional value” Other farmers travel from Lake, Ashtabula and Geauga counties to bring fresh local produce to East Cleveland. Some farmers are from a third generation of contributors to the Coit Road Market founded in 1932.
The Market is open Saturdays all year and Wednesdays from 10:00AM to 1:00PM April through November. It is the only fully enclosed farmers market operating at a single site year in Northeast Ohio. Some of the farmers have participated for three generations. Only locally grown or crafted products are allowed to be sold at the market. You can meet the grower or preparer and know the source of your food and how it is processed.
In addition to affordable food and garden space, the market supports the community with meeting space, food demonstrations and classes on healthy food preparation. The Market collaborates with community organizations and participates in government support programs such as WIC, Senior coupons and EBT Ohio Direction card access for those in the community needing assistance. Foundations support incentive programs that offer matching funds for Ohio Direction Card holders.
