College students these days are increasingly looking at improving their diets, or at least balancing the bad things they eat with some good things. There’s no better way to accomplish this than to frequent farmers markets. And there’s no better place to live than Columbus if you want a full range of farmers markets.
From your Columbus rental close to OSU, you have an abundant range of choices for your farmers market excursion. Or why not combine them into a Columbus farmers market tour when the weather is nice?
The city of Columbus is ideally situated for fresh local produce, surrounded as it is by thousands of acres of rich farm and range land supporting many hundreds of farms, big and small. At most of the local markets, you can score a wide variety of locally grown, raised and manufactured food products, from greens to grass-fed beef with everything in between.
Following is a comprehensive list of Columbus area farmers markets (the time and day information is current as of the 2021 season so make sure you confirm the hours online)…
Columbus Area Farmers Markets
These are listed roughly in order of distance from the High Street area neighborhoods near the OSU campus, from near to far.
• North Market Farmers Market. Among the oldest and biggest markets in the Columbus area, this market runs Saturdays from June through October, from 8 a.m. to noon. It’s located in the North Market’s Outdoor Pavillion, at 59 Spruce St. The North Market Farmers Market is probably the closest to rentals near High Street, a seven-minute drive via Neil Avenue. In addition to the usual outdoor market food items, this weekly market also features hand-made artwork and jewelry.
• The Pearl Street Market runs on Fridays and Tuesdays from late May to early October, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located in the Pearl Street alley between Gay and Broad streets, it’s just eight minutes from the off-campus neighborhoods. This downtown market is a great resource to employees who work downtown or folks who use rapid transit. It features both food goods and locally made artwork.
• Clintonville Farmers Market. Every Saturday from late April to late November, 9 a.m. to noon, at the Ohio History Connection, 800 E. 17th Ave., Columbus. That’s about an eight-minute drive from the off-campus neighborhoods near Ohio State’s campus. Despite this relatively new location, the opportunities to meet the farmers and producers who bring their products to the market remain.
• The Farmers Market at Franklin Park Conservatory. From early June to early September, this market operates Wednesdays in the late afternoon/early evening from 3:30-6:30 p.m. It takes place in the Conservatory’s main parking lot, 1777 E. Broad St. It’s just a 13-minute drive, via E. 11th Street, from the neighborhoods surrounding the Ohio State campus. According to one write-up, this market “offers a mix of local produce, baked goods, specialty foods, handmade items and health and beauty products.”
• Worthington Farmers Market. This Saturday market operates from May to October from 9 a.m. to noon, with the first hour exclusive to high-risk people. It’s located in Old Worthington, 773 High St. It can be accessed via Ohio Rt. 315 North (15 minutes) or North High Street. This market’s location in historic Old Worthington means you also can take advantage of specials at stores along the strip.
• The Bexley Farmers Market runs Thursdays, 4-7 p.m., from mid-May to September on Dawson Avenue between Bryden Avenue and Main Street in Bexley. It’s a 14-minute drive via I-71 South. It also features children’s activities, food trucks and live music.
• Upper Arlington Farmers Market. This Wednesday market runs from mid-May to late October, from 4-7 p.m., in the car park for the Tremont pool, 2850 Tremont Road in Upper Arlington. This is a 14-minute drive via Kinnear Road. This longtime market offers opportunities to donate to those in need, as well as live music and yoga.
Farmers Markets That Are Farther Afield
• The Dublin Farmers Market (at Bridge Park). This market runs Saturdays from early May to late September, from 9 a.m. to noon. It’s at 6568 Longshore St., near Banker Drive and the loop at Bridge Park. This is a 21-minute drive from the off-campus neighborhoods near OSU, via Ohio Rt. 315 North. The street closes down for this event, which features a broad assortment of vendors hawking everything from fresh produce to attractive artisan goods.
• Grove City Farmers Market. Another Saturday market, this one runs from 8 a.m. to noon, with the first hour recommended for folks who are higher risk of Covid-19 or influenza infection. It’s located in a parking lot located between the Grove City Public Library and Broadway Station Apartments. This market is also around 21 minutes from the aforementioned off-campus neighborhoods, via I-71 South. The Grover City market, on city streets, has been operating for more than three decades.
• Hilliard Farmers Market. Late May to late September, from 4-7 p.m. in the parking lot of the Hilliard United Methodist Church, 5445 Scioto Darby Road. This market is a 21-minute drive from the off-campus neighborhoods, using I-71 West.
• Canal Winchester Farmers Market. A Thursday market, this one runs from late May to late September, 9 a.m. to noon. It’s a 22-minute drive from the off-campus neighborhoods to this market’s location in the Canal Winchester Historical Complex, 100 N. High St., via U.S. Rt. 33 East (which actually heads southeast from Columbus).
• New Albany Farmers Market. This market runs from late June to mid-September, 4-7 p.m. Thursdays, in New Albany’s Market Square, 200 Market St. Via Ohio Rt. 670 East, it’s a 22-minute drive from the off-campus neighborhoods between Ohio State and High Street. In addition to the usual produce and food goods, this market offers pastries and other fresh-baked goods, coffee, honey and hand-crafted items.
• Uptown Westerville Farmers Market. This Saturday market runs from mid to late May to the second weekend in October, from 9 a.m. to noon. It’s located behind Westerville’s City Hall at. 21 S. State St., Westerville, about 22 minutes from the off-campus OSU neighborhoods, via I-71 North. This market, in addition to the usual panoply of food products, offers a free hour of yoga on the green before the market opens at 9 (donations appreciated).