North Union Farmers Market

Name

North Union Farmers Market

Legal name

North Union Farmers Market

Website

https://northunionfarmersmarket.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Farmers Markets

akta.pro primary industry

Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food) (CRAHAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Farmstead & Local Artisan Food Markets (Retail Shops) (CRAHAGAO)

Keywords

• Farmers market operations
• Local food systems
• Food access programs
• Producer-only certification
• Community farmers markets

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Vendor Fees: Fees paid by farmers and artisans to participate in markets. Described as affordable to support small businesses.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting food access, education, and sustainability missions.
3. Sponsorships: At-market sponsorships reaching 175,000+ visitors annually; event sponsorships; sponsored content partnerships with 25,000+ social followers and 10,000+ email subscribers.
4. Grants: Support from foundations including Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, Crofton Cares, Ohio Arts Council, Saint Lukes Foundation, OSU Extension, and USDA.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

North Union Farmers Market operates a network of 10 certified, producer-only farmers markets across Northeast Ohio where local farmers and artisans sell directly to consumers. Every vendor is verified through on-site farm inspections to ensure products sold are grown, raised, or made by the seller. The markets are augmented by food access programs (SNAP/EBT, Produce Perks, WIC, Senior Coupons), community education programs, and signature events like the Cleveland Garlic Festival.

Product overview

North Union Farmers Market operates as a unified platform offering a network of 10 certified, producer-only farmers markets across Northeast Ohio, augmented by food access programs and community education initiatives. The core offering is the farmers markets themselves, where certified local producers sell directly to consumers. Supporting this are food access programs including SNAP/EBT, Produce Perks, WIC, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition coupons that expand access to fresh food. Community programs like Mighty Locavores (children's education), Chef at the Market (cooking demonstrations), and A Time to Grow (farmer training) complement the markets, while signature events including Cleveland Garlic Festival and Holiday Markets drive engagement and fundraising. The organization functions as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, not a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Farmers Markets Network A network of 10 certified, producer-only farmers markets operating across Northeast Ohio at Crocker Park, Shaker Square, Chagrin Falls, Legacy Village, Cleveland Clinic, Lakewood, University Hospitals, Van Aken District, and indoor winter markets, connecting local farmers directly with consumers. Vendors are verified through on-site farm inspections.
• Cleveland Garlic Festival Annual signature fundraising event held at Shaker Square celebrating local foods, local chefs, and music; the organization's biggest annual fundraiser.
• Holiday Markets

Quantifiable outcome

• SNAP/Produce Perks spending grew from $24,578 (2018) to $135,710 (2025)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, community, foundation, federal, academic and corporate.

• Cleveland CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor healthcare partner hosting weekly market at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus (Wednesdays, 10:30am-1:30pm, June-October). Market was launched in 2008 under Toby Cosgrove M.D. and Dr. Michael Roizen's direction.
• Crocker ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremium lifestyle center in Westlake hosting flagship Saturday market (9am-1pm, year-round) and indoor winter market since opening in October 2004.
• City of LakewoodcommunityStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partnership to pilot farmers market in 2024, with full season planned for 2025. Market operates Wednesdays 10am-1pm, June-October.
• Legacy VillagecommunityStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetail development in Lyndhurst hosting Sunday market (9am-Noon, June-October) since approximately 2018.
• Shaker SquarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric shopping center hosting the original flagship Saturday market (8am-Noon, year-round) since July 1995. Also hosts Cleveland Garlic Festival.
• University HospitalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner hosting weekly market (Thursdays, 10:30am-1:30pm, June-October) on campus.
• The Van Aken DistrictcommunityStrategic or Co-development PartnerShaker Heights development hosting Van Aken Sunset Market (Thursdays, 4pm-7pm, June-September) and indoor winter market. Partnered to replace lost market van after arson in April 2025.
• Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC)foundationGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation support for cultural programming and market operations.
• Ohio Arts Council (OAC)foundationGTM or Marketing PartnerState arts council providing grant support.
• USDAfederalGTM or Marketing PartnerFederal agriculture department providing support for farmers markets and food access programs.
• Saint Lukes FoundationfoundationGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal foundation providing grant support for market operations and food access.
• OSU ExtensionacademicStrategic or Co-development PartnerOhio State University extension service providing agricultural expertise and farmer training support.
• Margaret W. Wong & AssociatescorporateGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor and supporter. Also helped replace market van after arson in April 2025.
• Crofton CaresfoundationGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation supporter that helped replace market van after arson in April 2025.
• Cleveland KitchencorporateGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business partner that helped replace market van after arson in April 2025.
• Flower ClowncorporateGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business partner that helped replace market van after arson in April 2025.
• Jewish Federation of ClevelandfoundationGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity organization that helped replace market van after arson in April 2025.
• Renewal by AndersencorporateGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor listed on supporters page.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• GrowNYC (Greenmarket): GrowNYC operates the Greenmarket program, a network of producer-only farmers markets across New York City, the largest such system in the U.S. Same nonprofit, multi-market, producer-only model with food access programs — the closest structural analog to North Union.
• FRESHFARM: FRESHFARM operates producer-only farmers markets across the Washington, D.C. region, plus SNAP/Produce Plus matching and farmer training programs. Directly comparable nonprofit market operator with identical mission pillars to North Union.
• Sierra Harvest: Sierra Harvest is a Nevada County, CA nonprofit running farmers markets, farm-to-school education, and farmer training programs — closely mirroring North Union's combination of markets, Mighty Locavores-style education, and A Time to Grow-style farmer training.
• Countryside Conservancy: Countryside Conservancy advances local food and farming in Northeast Ohio (Cuyahoga Valley region), operating markets and farmer programs in the same geography as North Union. Most direct local/regional peer.
• Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance: NFMA runs a network of seven producer-only farmers markets in Seattle, with SNAP matching, EBT, and Fresh Bucks programs. Comparable nonprofit operating multi-market system with food access focus.
• Agricultural Institute of Marin: AIM operates multiple certified farmers markets in Marin County and San Francisco, including the iconic Ferry Building market on Sundays. Similar nonprofit market operator model with multi-location footprint and producer certification.
• CUESA (Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture): CUESA operates the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and other Bay Area markets with strict producer-only rules and food access programming. Comparable in mission, certification rigor, and event-driven fundraising (e.g., Ferry Plaza周年 events).
• Columbia Farmers Market: Columbia Farmers Market is a producer-only nonprofit market in Columbia, Missouri operating year-round with multiple weekly sessions and food access programs. Comparable in producer-only certification and multi-day operating model.

Emerging players

• Local Food Hub: Local Food Hub is a Virginia-based nonprofit aggregating and distributing local farm food to institutions and consumers, with adjacent food access programming. Partial overlap with North Union on the producer-support and food access mission.

Regional players

• Nashville Farmers' Market: Nashville Farmers' Market operates a year-round, multi-vendor public market with producer requirements and food access programming. Comparable in operating model but serves a different geography (Tennessee) and runs a permanent facility rather than rotating sites.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NUFarmersMarket

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North Union Farmers Market