The Coit Road Farmers' Market

What The Coit Road Farmers' Market does

The Coit Road Farmers' Market is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, all-volunteer organization that has operated a year-round farmers' market on Cleveland's east side since 1932. The market operates Saturdays from 9am to 2pm year-round and Tuesdays from 5pm to 8pm in season out of a 160 ft building at 15000 Woodworth Rd, East Cleveland, hosting approximately 20 indoor vendors and 10 additional outdoor stalls in summer. Vendors sell directly to consumers; the market accepts WIC, Produce Perks (a $25-for-$25 match for Ohio Direction cardholders), Produce Prescription, senior coupons, and EBT, and reaches over 10,000 people annually across 30+ Greater Cleveland neighborhoods.

The organization also operates a 254 sqft licensed commercial kitchen on a sliding-scale rental model as a small-business incubator, supports a 1-acre EC Grows Community Garden (est. 2007), a Food Forest on three city lots, and a 20x50 high tunnel. A 22-week Beginning Farmer Apprenticeship runs April through October with Central State University Extension; supplemental programs include weekly cooking demonstrations, urban permaculture classes funded by the Cuyahoga Arts Council, knife-skills workshops, and seasonal events such as the Sausage Making and Meat Month series.

Revenue is generated through vendor booth fees, commercial kitchen rentals, donations and corporate sponsorships (tiered up to $5,000 annually), community garden plot fees, and food-benefit program transactions, and is supplemented by grants from entities such as the NE Ohio Regional Sewer District and the Cuyahoga Arts Council. The market has no paid staff — leadership consists of a board President (Joe Jerdonek), Vice President and Market Manager (Kevin Scheuring), Treasurer (Caylen Payne), and Farm Manager (Adam Winninger) — and has been formally organized as the East Cleveland Farmers Market Preservation Society since 2001.

Name

The Coit Road Farmers' Market

Legal name

East Cleveland Farmers Market Preservation Society (ECFM)

Website

https://coitmarket.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Coit Road Farmers' Market is Cleveland's oldest year-round farmers' market (est. 1932), operated by the East Cleveland Farmers Market Preservation Society as an all-volunteer 501(c)(3). It serves Greater Cleveland residents and food-assistance recipients via ~20 indoor vendors, a licensed commercial kitchen, and urban-farming education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Farmers Market

NAICS

Fruit and Vegetable Retailers (44523), Vegetable and Melon Farming (11121), Other Food Crops Grown Under Cover (111419)

SIC

Retail-Food Stores (5400)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Produce Markets & Greengrocers (CRAHAHAA), Farm-to-Consumer Cooperative Markets (Local Producer Co-ops) (CRAHALAG)

Keywords

• Farmers market operations
• Commercial kitchen rental
• Local food access
• Urban farming education
• Community food programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Vendor booth fees: Small food-based businesses pay fees to operate vendor stands at the market, generating recurring revenue from approximately 20 vendors year-round plus 10 additional outdoor vendors in summer.
2. Commercial kitchen rental: 254 sqft licensed commercial kitchen available for rent to food-based businesses, caterers, church groups, and individuals. Pricing is on a sliding scale with flexible availability.
3. Donations and sponsorships: The 501(c)(3) non-profit accepts tax-deductible donations and sponsorships at various levels ($250-$5,000 annually) in exchange for promotional recognition.
4. Community garden plot fees: EC Grows Community Garden offers individual plots for a small membership fee to community members.
5. Food benefit program participation: The market accepts WIC coupons, Produce Prescription, senior coupons, and EBT Ohio Direction card. Produce Perks program offers Ohio Direction Card holders an additional $25 to spend for fruits and vegetables for $25 withdrawn.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Coit Road Farmers' Market operates a year-round physical farmers' market in East Cleveland featuring approximately 20 indoor vendors (plus 10 outdoor in summer) selling locally grown produce, baked goods, local cheeses, and free-range meats directly to consumers. It also rents a 254 sqft licensed commercial kitchen to food-based businesses, caterers, and church groups on a sliding scale, and runs an urban-farming education and small-business-incubator program (Beginning Farmer Apprenticeship, Urban Permaculture Classes, EC Grows Community Garden).

Product overview

The Coit Road Farmers' Market is Cleveland's oldest farmers' market (established 1932), operated by the East Cleveland Farmers Market Preservation Society as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The core offering is a year-round Saturday market and seasonal Tuesday market featuring 20+ vendors selling locally grown produce, baked goods, local cheeses, and free-range meats. The organization provides ancillary programs including a licensed commercial kitchen for rent (enabling food-based business incubation), urban farming infrastructure (EC Grows 1-acre community garden, Food Forest on 3 city lots, 20x50 high tunnel), and farmer training (Beginning Farmer Apprenticeship with CSU Extension). Educational programming includes weekly cooking demos, knife skills classes, and urban permaculture sessions. The market serves as a community hub offering WIC coupons, Produce Prescription, senior coupons, and EBT Ohio Direction card access with Produce Perks matching benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Year-Round Saturday Farmers' Market Year-round Saturday market (9am-2pm) at 15000 Woodworth Rd, East Cleveland, featuring approximately 20 indoor vendor stands (plus 10 outdoor in summer) selling locally grown produce, baked goods, local cheeses, and free-range meats directly to consumers. The market building is heated during winter and is one of the few winter markets in the region.
• In-Season Tuesday Evening Farmers' Market Seasonal Tuesday evening market (5pm-8pm) operated during the growing season at the same Woodworth Rd location, expanding consumer access to fresh local produce beyond the Saturday market.
• Licensed Commercial Kitchen Rental 254 sqft licensed commercial kitchen available for rent on a sliding scale with flexible availability to food-based businesses, caterers, church groups, and individuals. Equipped with commercial-grade equipment including a 5 Qt. KitchenAid mixer, Robot Coupe food processor, Hobart Buffalo Chopper, Globe meat slicer, Vitamix, large propane smoker, double barrel grill, induction cooktops, ice machine, sausage stuffer, stainless steel work tables, upright refrigerator and freezer, full sheet convection oven, and multiple sinks. Renters may also sell at the market.
• Vendor Booth Rental at the Farmers Market Booth rental for small food-based businesses (approximately 20 vendors year-round plus 10 additional outdoor vendors in summer) to sell their products directly to consumers at the Coit Road Farmers' Market.
• Food Benefit Program Distribution (WIC, EBT/SNAP, Senior Coupons, Produce Prescription) Market vendors accept WIC coupons, Produce Prescription, senior coupons, and EBT Ohio Direction Card. The Produce Perks matching program provides Ohio Direction Card holders an additional $25 to spend on fruits and vegetables for every $25 withdrawn.
• EC Grows Community Garden Plot Membership 1-acre community garden across Coit Ave from the market, offering individual plots to community members for a small membership fee. Members participate in market events and share resources with urban farmers on the site. Operated since 2007 in partnership with EC Grows (led by Gladys Walcott).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20 vendors serving thousands of customers year-round
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• East Cleveland Bridges of HopecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBridges of Hope is an East Cleveland collaborative led by Greg Bell that works to improve the environment to prevent drug abuse by teenagers. Collaborates with the market on community outreach and youth programming.
• Center for Civic Engagement & Learning (CCEL) at Case Western Reserve UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCEL supplies volunteers through annual days of service. Late August service day is for incoming freshmen. Spring and Fall service days include campus fraternities.
• Central State University Extension ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports the Market with technical and civic assistance to help achieve goals of improving food access. Technical areas include agriculture, forestry and consumer science. Also assists with programming, access to resources and community engagement.
• City of East ClevelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelps the market interface with community organizations, residents and activities. Have helped with earth moving on the site.
• Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Market collaborates with CCBH on healthy eating initiatives, helping to fund improvements including the licensed kitchen and community events.
• Court Community ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates to offer community members an alternative to fines or jail time by providing service to the Market. Service includes maintenance, landscaping and community outreach.
• EC Grows Community GardencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Gladys Walcott, offers community garden participation or individual plots on the Coit Market site. Members participate in market events and share resources with urban farmers on the site.
• Food StrongcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirected by Sara Continenza, Food Strong is a key partner with resources on site to support youth gardening, entrepreneurship and Care-A-Van community events at the Market. Has a learning garden in the urban farm area, recruits volunteers for site improvements, and performs community outreach.
• Ohio State University Agricultural ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports the Market with resources to facilitate the Produce Perks matching benefit program for Ohio Direction Card holders and Produce Prescriptions.
• Stephanie Tubbs Jones Medical Center (STJMC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Market collaborates through participation in health related events at STJMC and cooking classes in their demonstration kitchen.
• Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District (CSWCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks with the market for the urban food forest and as an advisor in the urban farm. Supports development of food forest with native nut trees and berry bushes.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Cleveland Crops (Greater Cleveland Food Bank): Urban agriculture initiative of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank that combines production with workforce training. Comparable as a nonprofit urban-farming and food-access program operating in the same regional food-security ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Tremont Farmers Market: Cleveland neighborhood farmers market featuring local growers and prepared-food vendors. Directly comparable in scale, mission, and Cleveland urban-market context.
• North Union Farmers Market: Cleveland-area farmers market operating multiple outdoor sites year-round with a strong local-producer focus and educational programming. Directly comparable as a regional farmers market serving Greater Cleveland with similar mission and vendor model.
• Shaker Square Farmers Market: Greater Cleveland farmers market with a focus on local and seasonal producers. Comparable as a regional farmers market serving similar Greater Cleveland customer base with overlapping vendor pools.
• Countryside Farmers' Markets: Northeast Ohio farmers market organization operating multiple market locations with strong producer-only standards and community programming. Comparable as a mission-driven regional farmers market network serving similar customer demographics.
• Local Roots Market & Café: Ohio-based producer-only year-round market and cooperative featuring local farms and prepared foods. Comparable mission and operating model centered on local food access and small-producer support.

Broad incumbents

• West Side Market: Historic Cleveland indoor market with 100+ vendors selling fresh produce, meats, and prepared foods. A larger, established player in the same regional specialty-food-retail category, with broader scale and longer operating hours.

Regional players

• Mustard Seed Market: Natural and local-food grocery store in Northeast Ohio with a strong producer-relationship focus. Comparable in mission emphasis on local, sustainable, and natural foods, though operates as a brick-and-mortar retailer rather than a market venue.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CoitFarmMarket
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9dU8YrJvNTLRQuMjy7Lt_w
• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/CoitRdFarmersMarket
• Instagraminstagram.com/coitroadfarmersmarket
• TikToktiktok.com/@coitfarmmarket
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-coit-road-farmers-market

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 The Coit Road Farmers' Market