North Union Farmers Market

We went to the garlic festival. The food was good. Lots of garlic to be had.

Great fresh produce, flowers, meats, eggs, honey, baked goods, Turkish foods etc. Fresh, bountiful and local. Lovely was to start a Saturday! Eat local :)!

This used to be my every summer weekend hangout. Love to the mushroom guy!! Don't try to sell your own yard mint on the corner of their street lest they shoo you away cruelly.

Great vendors for fruits, vegetables, and baked goods from Edwin's.

Nice vendors, some were a bit pricey

Great farmer's market. Fresh produce and interesting local products. Good prices and good quality. Also has a good vibe and people are friendly! Totally recommend checking it out on a Saturday morning!!

Nice freh produce and baked goods!

Friendly vendors and overall good quality.

After years of living in the East Side, I finally visited this farmer's market for the first time! It was much bigger than I thought it would be but it was still moderately sized enough to walk through easily and see everything. There was a bit of everything sold there on 5/6/2023 - in-season fruits and vegetables (lots of rhubarb!), crafts like soap and jewelry, baked goods, and meat. I didn't see lots of must have items for a single woman living alone with a small freezer but I picked up some mushrooms, herbs, and a yummy (but overpriced) chocolate chip cookie. It's a fun thing to see on a Saturday morning. I see no reason to give it anything but 5 stars! I will be back at least one more time this season to see what's new!

I anticipate every Saturday morning just for the farmer's market at Shaker Square! I love seeing new and returning vendors, and the walk/drive to the market it worthwhile when there is such diversity in items offered as well as the number of vendors who make it out here. I always get donuts, seasonal produce, meats from Edwin's and occasionally baked good items or drinks. This is a great location as well if you wanted to spend time in the square or east side afterwards.

I was on the hunt for local honey. So an early morning visit to the farmer's market was on my agenda. Not only did I find my local honey, but lots of other local treats as well. If you aren't familiar with the area, this market is set up on the street in a neighborhood plaza. Many of the surrounding businesses are open their normal hours. So parking can be challenging, especially later in the morning. If you're close to a rapid station, both the green and blue line will bring you directly here. One thing I like about this market is the variety of what you see. Today, in addition to the honey, I found some spices, natural nut butter, quinoa snack bites, flowers and a massage. It's small enough to walk through in a short time, but interesting enough that you'll want to take your time. The crowd is very family friendly. So make way for lots of strollers. Also, there are no pets allowed. So, make sure you aren't planning to bring your furry friend along. It's a great market. The vendors switch fairly frequently. So, keep coming back to see what's new!

Two long rows of approximately 15-20 vendors from Ohio selling everything from greens, apples, and mushrooms to homemade pickled veggies, soaps, pastas, and cutting boards. Some vendors for reasons beyond me do not accept cards, but most of these folks accept the wooden tokens you can exchange in $5 increments at one end of one aisle by paying for however many you want plus a buck fee. I always get delicious oyster mushrooms here for $9/lb.

SHAKER SQUARE Food: whether you need to pick up groceries, or are just looking around or trying something new, definitely make this your Saturday morning must. Fresh produce is plentiful, you hardly know where to look! Not only is there produce, but tons of cheeses, vegan products, baked goods, meats, and so much more. The vendors know so much about their products, and are happy to make recommendations. Most people offer free samples as well. It's a good idea to go just to know what to cook with! You can find most of the vendors there every week. When the Cleveland Flea is in happening, some vendors take their business there. Other vendors: you never know what you'll find... i happened to find my cute kitty, Winston, by chance! The South Euclid Humane Society comes every week (except when its inside ... see below). There are also plant vendors, soaps, and more! Atmosphere: note that there are several locations the north union farmers market pops up in, and my review is for shaker square. At the heart of shaker square, this little bumping farmers market feels right at home. It's the cute little farmers market you'd see on TV. This is a year round market, however in the cooler months, it is moved inside to a spot right off the square. Everyone is friendly and welcoming. The only downside is parking can be a bit of a hassle... immediately around shaker square there's limited parking. I live close enough to walk, so I don't have this issue, but parking on the streets between larchmere and shaker Blvd is a good move. You can't go wrong spending your morning here!

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.

tl;dr - lots of color. delicious burrito stand. the earlier the better for fresh produce! This farmers market is located in Shaker Square and surrounded by local businesses, where there is ample parking. Stands sold local honey, jam, handmade soap, fresh produce, flower bouquets, meat, etc. Spice had a stand serving up warm, grilled chorizo/veggie breakfast burritos with the softest flour tortilla I've ever eaten. Vendors greeted us with warm smiles! Very refreshing on a sunny, Saturday morning. Get there early before all the fresh produce sells out.

It is fall, and pumpkins are everywhere, but just about all of them are the jack-o-lantern type, with a few small "pie" pumpkins thrown into the mix. I don't want any of these, so I put Waldo dog into the car (he's going to have to stay in the car, cuz no dogs allowed, but it's a cool day, and it's better than leaving his sad face at home) and went to Shaker Square's farmers market. A few years ago, a client walked into my office with a pumpkin for me - - who brings their State Farm agent a pumpkin as a gift? One who knew that I like to bake, and she wanted to introduce me to Long Island Cheese pumpkins. Unfamiliar with the LICP, I emailed a facebook friend who had been a contestant on Master Chef, and he messaged back that with this squash, I was going to make the best pumpkin pie ever. He was right; family members were asking me for my recipe and for another slice of pie. From that time forward, I was going to use only LICPs for my pies. I discovered, however, that in this neck of the woods, they are not easy to find. I tried to grow them from the seeds of that gifted pumpkin, but found that the resident deer are also very fond of them (and I am unable to put up a fence high enough to keep out Bambi & Co.). The market is located smack dab in the middle of the square, and there are places to park all around; on a busy morning, you may need to park a ways out and walk, but it's a pleasant stroll. I began at one end of the market, and resisted the temptation to buy purple cauliflower (love it roasted!), honey, garlic, etc., but I was on a mission, and found my pumpkin at the other end of the market. I had a good conversation with the grower (always nice to know who's grown your food), who let me know that she will have these LICPs into November; yes, I will return!

This listing is a bit misleading because it's unclear as whether it's a listing for the North Union Shaker Square Farmer's Market specifically, or for all the North Union Markets collectively. Therefore I'll address each one separately in this review. Firstly, for those who aren't aware, North Union is a nonprofit organization with the mission to promote local producers through a network of markets in Northeast Ohio. If you are interested in finding a market in your area, I HIGHLY recommend visiting northunionfarmersmarket.org to check it out as there are at least 10 markets that take place at various times and places throughout the season. Their website is very easy to navigate and I really appreciate that all the details you'd want to know are easily available here, updated regularly as needed. Their social media pages are also a great source of information. One HUGE thing that North Market also offers is the ability to use SNAP benefits at all the markets. Cuyahoga County actually incentivizes using these benefits by doubling the value of the credits on produce purchased at the market. Dollar for dollar, if using SNAP benefits, you can get double the amount of benefits at your disposal by shopping at these markets. In addition, by shopping under the "brand" of North Union, you can be assured that you are purchasing local. This is because North Union inspects all their vendors and goes through a rigorous diligence process to ensure that each vendor is in compliance. This removes the guesswork of wondering if the vendors are in fact local. I think that's about it on North Union, on to the Shaker Square market specifically. Out of all the markets I've visited, I have to say that this one and Medina are the top two in terms of variety for me. I love to get to early on Saturday mornings in the spring and summer and rush down here to see what's in season and what may spark my cooking inspiration. Shaker Square offers an excellent venue with plenty of parking around the square, wonderful flow of tabling, and lots of local restaurants and businesses should you want to explore a little more after your shopping. I can't even begin to tell you everything you can find at this market- fresh flowers, baked goods, home products and all manner of fresh produce. Eggplants in 5 different colors, peppers in every spice level you could dream of, duck and goose eggs (what a treat!). I feel so inspired visiting this market and what a wonderful feeling to be able to load all this selection in my bag FREE of pesky packaging! It's a great experience, and I highly recommend working a farmer's market into your grocery shopping routine if your budget and schedule allows. I'm thankful that northeast Ohio offers such a bounty of local, fresh produce and that North Union has created a way to capture and offer it to consumers in a convenient and accessible way.

The winter indoor market is a like a ray of sunshine through the overcast sky which we all know so well. The food you can buy here is very high-quality and reasonably priced for what you get. The vegetables are firmer and fresher than in even the high-end supermarkets like Heinen's and Whole Foods. The flavors in the prepared foods also really shine through. I recently bought some very hearty potatoes, tender kale, fresh mushrooms, sweet carrots, and apples picked not far away. The farm eggs are rich and thick, not watery or runny. The sauerkraut and whole wheat sourdough bread also offer a friendly kick. A lot of the vendors are quite enthusiastic about talking to customers about the food too: how its grown, what care they take to make it good, and how to cook it. You could really learn a lot about different types of milk from around the world if you wanted. Or how to make a fresh bone broth. Or you can just grab and go. There are plenty of ready-to-eat treats on hand, just waiting to turn a grocery errand into a fun and relaxing morning. Tour the hand-crafts and artwork while you're at it. I do. In a seasonally punishing climate like ours, having a year-round farmer's market in Shaker Square is a real blessing. When you source your food locally from small, independent farms you are also buying responsibility and accountability. Right now buying local is more critical than ever. It's no secret that the current turmoil in the federal government directly destroys the capabilities of the agencies which were designed to protect the American populace - most notably the FDA. So inspectors and regulators everywhere are completely grounded from their work, meanwhile the wheels of mass commercial food production grind on. And we're surprised when bacterial outbreaks occur nationally as the result? Avoid all the trouble and meet me on Saturdays, shopping for squashes.

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.

I went for the first time this Sunday loved it! Bought veggies of all kinds. Most of the vendors were really nice and happy to answer questions, but a couple seemed really disinterested. I just didn't buy from them :)

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)

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.

Just recently, the Chagrin Falls location of the North Union Farmers Market opened for the season. Hooray! (Open from June 5th through October 23rd, 2011). Operating hours are Sunday's from 10am until 1pm, or until the vendors sell out of their produce. While the Shaker Hts branch is closer in proximity to me and I still hold that one near and dear to my heart, there are plenty of reasons to visit the Chagrin Falls location as well. For one, the Chagrin Falls NUFM is open on Sundays, where the Shaker one runs on Saturdays. Sometimes Sunday grocery shopping fits better into my schedule, so having another option is always good. Also, while the Chagrin Falls location doesn't have as many vendors as the Shaker Hts. location, this market seems more intimate and less crowded. This is a good thing as it allows more one-on-one conversation with the farmers/vendors. Also, there are no art/craft stands at this market, unlike the Shaker market, which to me is a good thing. I don't go to a farmers market to buy jewelry, fancy soap or tie-die hippie sundresses. Just give me the food! Chagrin Falls is a streamlined version of the Shaker NUFM. They only offer food product here. The Chagrin and Shaker market share some similar vendors. Both markets have: Teahill Farms (free range chicken), Woolf Farms (strawberries, apples, peaches), Mackenzie Creamery (goat cheese), Gray House Pies (pies and quiches), Lucy's Sweet Surrender (bread) and a few others. Notably missing at the Chagrin location, although in attendance in Shaker are: Hartzler Dairy (milk), Ohio Honey and the wild/exotic mushroom guy from Killbuck Valley Mushrooms. Chagrin Falls has a few vendors that don't visit the Shaker location though in: Sirna's (beef, veg, eggs) and BirdSong Farm (veg, greens and herbs). Overall, both locations have enough to do all of your weekly shopping at. And now for some commentary on farmers markets, their importance and my general love for what North Union has brought us with their several locations.... The farm to table movement is bigger than ever it seems. Awareness to live a healthful and sustainable lifestyle all the while supporting local neighbors/farmers/vendors is at an all-time high. The North Union Farmers Market is the place to do so. All of the vendors here offer free-range, organic, pasture raised, grass fed and the majority , hyper-local. Ethically, morally, and health wise, there isn't a better market around that offers the abundance of seasonally fresh produce and trustworthy meat. And yes, I'm speaking while thinking specifically about the faux farmers market that most people rave about that is the West Side Market, which by the way, imports the majority of their produce and meat and oftentimes don't have an inkling as to how/where it was raised, grown or what chemicals were sprayed on it to preserve it's flight from Peru to Cleveland. Conversely, food at the REAL farmers market that is the North Union are all seasonal. No, tomatoes aren't sold here in early June. But it's worth the wait to buy only when in season. Have you ever tasted a tomato that's not in season? It's flavorless, rendering it useless to buy out of season. It's so much fun to come each and every week to see/discover what's newly in season. It seems as if every week, another piece of produce is added. And of course, by buying locally, you'll get a fresher and more flavorful product than the crap imported halfway across the world as found at your big box grocer or Cleveland's famous West Side Market. For local, seasonal, responsible food, there is but one market in North East Ohio to patronize. The North Union Farmers Market.

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.

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

I went to the indoor NUFM a few weeks back and was pleased with the indoor set up. There were several different types of vendors but not as many as I'd like to see at a farmers market. Every table I passed someone said 'hi' to me which felt very welcoming and not forced.

My favorite thing to do on a Saturday morning: go to the market after getting a 1/2 mocha light 1/2 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.

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.

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.

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!

Absolutely love the Shaker Square market! The produce, the vendors, the artisans, atmosphere, and customers. Look forward to it every week!

Listen: North Union has become unstuck from Shaker Square. Of its satellite locales, your reviewer has only sampled one, the Playhouse Square encampment, but it is a sheer delight. Swing by Thursdays between 10:30-1:30 thru September 15 for a compact, but varied selection of foodstuffs. Grey House Pies offers some deftly baked treats--the brown butter chocolate chip cookies ($2) are particularly scrumptious. Elsewhere, Blaze Gourmet provides all manner of mouthwatering salsas, accommodating to both those of the craving-steam-out-your-ears persuasion, as well as palates upon which habaneros never set foot (or, one supposes, stalk). Rest assured, they have a fire extinguisher on hand should anyone sampling their super heated blends spontaneously burst into flames. There are coffee vendors too, and gluten free cookie vendors, even good old fashioned fruit/veggie vendors for any farmers' market traditionalists among us. Many, if not all, of these fine vendors take credit cards, so don't worry if you have left your pocketbook at the office. Take a look before the season ends. You'll definitely leave with something tasty, unique, and local...what could be better on an idyllic summer day in Cleveland?

Love it. Excellent place to take the family on a Saturday morning. Wide variety of high-quality, local vendors to pick from.

I recently took my first trip the North Union Farmers Market.I will definitely be back, and I may make it a weekly excursion to restock the produce I commonly prepare meals with. I was pleasantly surprised by the very reasonable prices.There were also some non-food items that would make nice gifts/home accessories (candles, wooden pieces). I was able to find free parking without having to wait for a spot to open up, but I don't expect to always be that lucky. I wouldn't have minded being wowed a bit more, but I will be back again, and I would recommend it.