During the month of July, UC Sustainability is putting a spotlight on Cincinnati’s local businesses that provide our communities with sustainability-conscious goods and services. This week, we are featuring Cincinnati’s local grocery stores and farmers markets. Often, grocery stores have the potential to contribute to some of society’s worst environmental and health issues, such as plastic pollution from grocery bags and product packaging, fertilizers from inorganic crops that contribute to dead-zone causing runoff and greenhouse gases, non-locally sourced foods with lengthy transportation routes and unnatural preservatives to mimic freshness, and many more. Sustainable grocery stores that provide organic, locally sourced food in minimal plastic packaging can alleviate environmental impacts. Plus, supporting local businesses and farmers is a good way to put our dollars back into the good of the community. Grab your reusable grocery bags and prepare for some farm-fresh grabs!
1. Findlay Market
1801 Race St. Cincinnati,OH 45202
Tuesday-Friday: 9am-6pm
Saturday: 8am-6pm
Sunday: 10am-4pm
Findlay Market is Ohio’s oldest municipal market house, opening in 1855 to serve the community of Over the Rhine. Today, the market boasts locally sourced food from small businesses and farmers. With almost a hundred merchants that grow, create, and sell specialty products and food, there is plenty of room for the diverse needs of customers.
Photo and market information courtesy of findlaymarket.org
2. Montgomery Farmers Market
9606 Montgomery Road Montgomery, OH 45242
Saturdays: 9am-12:30pm May through October
Montgomery Farmers Market operates on Saturdays of the summer months, from May to October, in the parking lot of Montgomery Elementary. The market hosts local vendors and food trucks that serve an array of organic, locally sourced foods. With the threat of COVID-19, the market remains open as a walk-through with safety guidelines for customers. Stop by one Saturday morning to see what your local farmers are growing!
Photo and market information courtesy of montgomeryfarmersmarket.org and guideusgreen.com
3. Fresh Thyme
11349 Montgomery Rd. Cincinnati,OH 45249
or
82 Carothers Rd. Newport, KY 41071
Monday-Friday: 7am-9pm
Saturday-Sunday: 6am-9pm
Fresh Thyme is a group of grocery stores that started out of Illinois and has spread across the midwest. The franchise seeks to provide a farmers market atmosphere in the convenience of a year-round grocery store. There are two locations near Cincinnati that provide fresh, organic, and locally sourced produce. In addition to sustainable foods, the store offers eco-friendly cleaning supplies.
Photo and store information courtesy of freshthyme.com and guideusgreen.com.
4. Kremer’s Market
755 Buttermilk Pike Crescent Springs, KY 41017
Monday-Saturday: 9am-7pm
Sunday: 9am-6pm
Kremer’s Market is a family-owned business that has been providing locally sourced produce since 1977. The Kremer family has been farming in the Crescent Springs area since 1913, selling produce at other local markets like Findlay Market until they decided to open their own store. Aside from fresh, local produce, the store also has a deli and sells baked goods and desserts.
Photo and market information courtesy of kremersmarket.com and guideusgreen.com.
5. Clifton Market
319 Ludlow Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45220
Sunday-Thursday: 8am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 8am-11pm
Right down the street from UC, Clifton Market is a family-owned and operated market store that provides locally sourced food. Supporting this store means supporting the local economy and providing local jobs. Aside from fresh produce, Clifton Market also has a deli and bakery.
Photo and store information courtesy of cliftonmarket.com
6. Hyde Park Farmers Market
2700 Erie Road Cincinnati, OH 45208
Sunday: 9:30am-1pm
Every Sunday from May to October, Hyde Park hosts a farmers market on the square. This market features local vendors who use regenerative, sustainable practices to grow their produce. Aside from fresh, local food, the market also often puts on live music shows to bring the community together. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the market has established safety guidelines so community members can still experience the draw of local food.
Photo and market information courtesy of hydeparksquare.org
7. Our Harvest Co-op
517 W. 7th St. Newport, KY 41071
Type: weekly produce box (sign-up required)
Our Harvest, founded by the Cincinnati Union Coop Initiative, is a co-op that prides itself in sourcing local produce, all coming from farms within 150 miles of Cincinnati. All of their produce is also 100% organic. Customers can sign up to receive a weekly box filled with different produce items each week. There are a number of pick-up locations in the Cincinnati area, including Clifton, Price Hill, and Newport KY to name a few.
Photo and co-op information courtesy of ourharvest.coop
8. Turner Farm CSA
7400 Given Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45243
Type: market and weekly produce box (sign-up required)
Market Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm
Turner Farm is located in Indian Hill and is devoted to growing all organic produce. Customers can sign up to be part of the Vegetable CSA (community supported agriculture). Similar to Our Harvest Co-op, customers can sign up on the website and pick up a weekly box full of fresh vegetables and produce such as lettuce, kale, cilantro, fennel, summer squash, and more. The CSA runs from May to October. In addition to the CSA, a small market is also open on the farm and sells produce and fresh meat.
Photo and farm information courtesy of turnerfarm.org
9. Clifton Natural Foods
336 Ludlow Ave Cincinnati, OH 45220
Monday-Saturday: 9am-8pm
Sunday: 11am-6pm
Clifton Natural Foods is located down the street from UC on Ludlow Avenue. The store is family owned and has been in business since 1985. It offers locally sourced organic produce as well as a plethora of vegan and vegetarian baked goods and dairy/meat substitutes (such as owner Bob’s vegetarian chili). Aside from food, the store also offers natural supplements, home cleaning supplies, pet foods, herbs and spices, and more.
Photo and store information courtesy of cliftonnaturalfoods.com
10. Covington Farmers Market
May 2nd-October 31st: Outdoors on 3rd St. between Scott St. and Greenup St.,
Covington, KY 41011
November 7th-December 19th: Braxton Brewing Company, 27 W. 7th St., Covington,
KY 41011
Saturday: 9am-1pm
Covington Farmers Market is an outdoor market during the summer months, and resides inside Braxton Brewery during winter months. The market hosts vendors with fresh foods and locally sourced goods such as produce, meat, honey, natural body products, baked goods, coffee, wine, and more. The market has also taken part in the Zero Waste Way Initiative, funded by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. In order to divert needless waste, the market provides both composting and recycling receptacles throughout the premises.
Photo and market information courtesy of rcov.org/covfarmersmarket
Comments