The first week of August celebrates farmers across the country with National Farmers Market Week. As local produce becomes more abundant throughout the summer, it’s a great time to show appreciation for the agricultural producers and markets that feed our community. While there are several seasonal farmers markets throughout the Ohio Valley, The Public Market offers a year-round outlet for local farmers to sell their goods and build connections with the communities they nourish.
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The Public Market is a project of Grow Ohio Valley, a nonprofit whose mission is to build thriving communities through local food. The market has helped Grow OV achieve this mission by offering healthy and local food to more people with a brick-and-mortar store in the heart of downtown Wheeling. The market helps support over 70 local farmers and food producers from West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The consignment model that the market has implemented allows for its vendors to receive a return of 70-80 percent back on their sales, compared to a 15 percent return at traditional grocery stores. This means more money staying local and supporting the work of our food producers.
While The Public Market supports our local farmers, it’s also helping make fresh, local food more accessible. Shoppers who are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program – a federal nutrition program for low-income individuals and families – receive a 50 percent discount on their purchase of fresh produce from the market.
Since opening in October 2019, The Public Market has quickly become a hub for the community. From cooking demonstrations to live music performances at lunchtime, the market is a place where people can come together and enjoy the best of Wheeling with one another.
Check out this video that The Wheeling Heritage Media team created in partnership with Grow OV and The Public Market to showcase the market’s mission, featuring some of our local farmers! Stop in and experience The Public Market for yourself Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The market is located inside the Robert C. Byrd Intermodal Transportation Center at 1401 Main Street in Downtown Wheeling.
Learn more about The Public Market by visiting thepublicmarket.org.