Local Foods. Local Entrepreneurs. Local Farmers. Local Style!
At Market District, we celebrate our local communities by bringing you hundreds of items from one-of-a-kind local merchants, farmers, artisans and more. This month we are focusing on the wealth of local goods we carry identified by our “Buy Local” icon, which signifies high-quality foods and products that are grown, made and raised within 150 miles of our five locations. Look for it and shop knowing you are supporting your local economy and minimizing your carbon footprint.
Locally Grown PRODUCE − Farm-to-Fork Fresh!
It’s summertime and that’s when our commitment to bringing you the best local produce truly shines with the best from more than 135 local farms! In fact, no farm is too small for us to partner with — the smallest often specialize in a signature item we just can’t do without (heirloom tomatoes, for instance) — so we’re happy to extend our storefronts to all of our agricultural friends. The only stipulation? They have to grow the best! “It’s all about quality," agrees Steven Quallich, Produce Team Leader at our Robinson, PA store. “From tiny farms to big farms, each has an item they are known for. I hear customers say the Triple B Farms corn is fantastic — and we have it. That’s a great feeling.
"We also forge relationships with our farmers and help each other out. If we call last minute to say we need eggplant, they send an emergency truckload. If they say they have a surplus of excellent green beans, we sell them. Right now we’re talking to a farmer in McDonald, PA to get fresh herbs. I’m pretty excited about it. Buying local isn’t just a trend, it’s community building."
“Our goal is to bring in as many farms as we can,” affirms Nilda Cortes, Produce Team Leader at our Columbus, OH store. “We want to give them exposure and bring our customers the freshest tomatoes, beans, corn and peppers, squash, potatoes, peaches — you name it.
"Our customers love buying local and giving back to their neighbors. And the farmers love it, too. They comment on how much they like the way we display their foods; they suggest new ideas or products. Last year we got limited-time yellow zucchini and it was fabulous!"
"Let’s not forget our in-store graphic artists,” adds Steven. “They do drawings of the produce that really set the stage. It’s like a cross between a farmer’s market and a gallery opening all summer long — right here in our stores!"