Findlay Market

Farmers markets. What do you really know about them?

This morning I got up at 6 a.m. to trundle off in the dark to our local market.  Many of my market friends were up much earlier than I.  It all started the night before when I created an inventory sheet and loaded the car with my bins full of soaps, candles, lotions, balms, displays, tablecloths, tables, signs, chairs, handtruck, thermos of hot ginger tea, and money box.

We arrive in the dark, many of the farmers wearing their headlamps that they use in the field after dark.  We find our approximate spot and begin the arduous task of unloading our cars, trucks, vans, trailors ; all in the hope of having enough customers so that all this time and energy feels worthwhile by the end of the morning.

I’ll be traveling to Cincinnati for a hometown Thanksgiving with my family.  I have arranged to participate in the historic Findlay market in downtown Cincinnati!  I’m really excited to have this opportunity.  As a child I attended this market often with one or the other of my parents.  It’s funny how the shopping experience was different depending on who was going.  If my Dad went we stopped at the booth with all the pickles, olives and pickled onions.  He would carefully peruse the multitude of brown crocks that contained every kind of olive known to man.  Who knew there were so many.  He particularly liked the greek olives which I had no interest in at the time.

When my Mom went we always bought cheese bread.  Many of the produce vendors knew her from the many times we shopped there and were very friendly to the beautiful woman with the french accent.  They routinely gave her deals and picked out the best of their offerings.  The cheese area was another of our favorite hang outs.  So much cheese, so little time.

So, in a few weeks I’ll be on the other side of the table at Findlay Market as a vendor.  I am looking forward so much to the experience of selling in my own home town at what was once my farmers market.  If you’re in Cincinnati please come by and visit – we’ll be outside of the main building.  Can’t wait!

This morning the market was dead from 8 to 10.  The casual eye would have observed many vendors doing laps around the market in an attempt to stay warm in the 40 degree temperature.  The commitment that vendors make to be at the market every week is tremendous.