Saturday, March 27, 2010

West Side Market, Southern Hemisphere Produce

If any of you have been lucky enough (or patient enough) to brave the storm that is the West Side Market parking lot on a Saturday morning, you may have noticed, once you finally get inside, that most of the produce section is full of Chiquita bananas and produce that is not very local...or even regional.I remember my first adult visit there and how I wondered why such a great historical resource wasn't doing more to utilize the potential economic opportunities it stands to offer.

First of all it's an imposing and pretty historical building at the intersection of W.25th and Lorain (2 major Cleveland arteries). Secondly, what else is there to do in Cleveland on a Saturday morning except make enemies from the comfort and safety of your car while simultaneously anticipating the chocolate mousse cake from that one french dessert vendor?

Now there are local produce vendors, but I am just wondering why that place isn't dominated by our farmers, among many other rural agricultural cities near the City.I'm sure there is a great opportunity for it.

Is anybody familiar with West Side Market politics? I feel like I need to do some research on who and how someone gets a consignment or whatever to be a vendor there...more to come.

1 comment:

  1. I know the West Side Market is subsidized by the city of Cleveland so that may play a part in who gets to sell what there. My guess is the city is using our tax dollars to help "decide" who sells what.

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