A Lot to Offer in The Figlio's Lot: The Grandview Farmers' Market

Situated just across the street from the previous year's lot, the Grandview Farmers' Market is bustling with produce, food carts, and new events for the new year. 

Becky Hetteberg, left, and Dorthy Pritchard of the
 Grandview Ave Market

Becky Hetteberg, one of the markets directors, says that this year the market is putting on an event called Farm to Table. This event, which will be held in August. In conjunction with many of the local restaurants on Grandview Ave, the market will offer customers the chance to walk the avenue and try dishes featuring the market's produce. The event will run at the same time as the market, 10-1pm, and will hopefully inspire the market's customers to try new dishes, as well as bring business for their vendors. 

Audra and Michaela Juarez of Cottage Gardens 

Speaking of vendors, nearly every vendor at the Grandview market holds their own. Being a smaller market, their are little to no repeats in produce. While old friends like Allen from Columbus Pasta were there (he was featured here on this blog), new ones were discovered as well. Audra Juarez of Cottage Gardens in Degraff, OH, and her daughter, Michaela, had a very unique crop to share with the Grandview customers. "Popping Corn", pictured below, as Ms. Juarez called it, is exactly what it sounds like - the type of corn used to make pop corn. While that seems simple, Ms. Juarez says that it actually takes quite a while for the corn to be ready (much unlike the 2 minutes or so it take to prepare the traditional movie snack).


Popping corn has to be planted the season prior to harvesting in order for it to be right for, well, popping. "This corn is actually from 2010," Ms. Juarez informed.  She also said that it has be dry out for a few months as well before it's ready for popping. After that whole process is finished, the corn can simply be put in a paper bag, stuck in the microwave for a minute and a half, and then enjoyed right off the cob! Furthermore, if stove top popcorn is more your style, simply shuck the corn off the cob and it's all ready for popping. The Juarez family and their unique treat can be found at not only the Grandview market, but in Clintonville and Worthington as well. If you are in the area, their $1 cobs are worth purchasing for your next movie night.


There was more then popping corn to learn about at the Grandview farmers' market. The market managers, Beth Hetteberg and Dorthy Pritchard, were very informative when it came to some of the backstage details of how a farmers' market runs. Ms. Hetteberg mentioned that her and Ms. Pritchard were unpaid, though the vendors often gift them with produce for their hard work. Though it's volunteer, it is obvious that they love what they do, as well as love the market itself. They are continuing to try and grow the market by petitioning the city of Columbus to allow them to sell on the sidewalk. They also hope to bring in a meat and egg vendor as well, to further diversify their market. It will take time, no doubt, but it will be exciting to see the market grow and change - as it will be with all markets.