Highland Square Market is more than a farmers market where you buy your weekly produce – it is also where many vendors sell their homemade goods. Part of the Countryside Farmers’ Market organization (CFM), Highland Square Market is located on Conger Avenue and West Market Street.
They’re in business every Thursday from 4pm to 7pm, May 29th to October 2nd. Do you want to learn more before visiting? Read more about our three favorite vendors below.
Ms. Julie’s Kitchen and Gardens
Ms. Julie, a CFM vendor since 2008, creates a diverse variety of gluten free and vegan goods. She and her companions create soups, salads, waffles, granola, and baked goods made out of vegan, whole grain spelt. She also sells vegetables from her garden: peas, collards, kale, rhubarb, popcorn, edamame, dried beans, tomatoes, and herbs.
Ms. Julie participates at many of the local farmer's markets (photo credit: Ms. Julie's Facebook page)
What motivates Ms. Julie? “In 2000, I weighed 350 lbs. and had a heart attack. Instead of conventional treatment, I switched to a vegan diet with mostly locally grown, organic vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nuts and seeds. As a result, I lost 150 pounds and my heart is healthy, so I built my business around helping others be their healthiest.”
Ms. Julie participates at many of the local farmer's markets (photo credit: Ms. Julie's Facebook page)
Big Fat Greek and Italian Pastries
A vendor at CFM since 2005, their menu includes everything Mediterranean: baklava, Koularakia, gluten-free halvah, wildberry and apricot pasta flora, biscotti, frosted Italian cookies, and spinach pies. The mixture of sweet and savory will keep your taste buds guessing. The Mediterranean delicacies are made at home, “one recipe at a time and baked fresh daily” to ensure the best quality. Holding to high standards in sanitation, Diamond is strict about her ingredients being organic; she purchases only from local farmers. This thoughtfulness extends to her local community in other ways, too – all leftovers go straight to the Ronald McDonald House of Akron.
Summit Croissants
Summit Croissants has been a vendor at CFM since 2005. Sally and her team hand make over forty different kinds of croissants, including plain, herbed, fruit, chocolate, and glazed. Dough ingredients include unbleached flour, organic sugar, real butter, and organic milk; the fillings are made with local ingredients. Sally guarantees all-natural quality in these baked goods. You won’t find any trans-fats or hydrogenated oils in these pastries!
Sally's Crack Muffins - double chocolate muffins with glaze drizzle (photo credit: Summit Croissant's Facebook page)
Create Your Own Highland Square Market Lifestyle
Have these vendors and their goods inspired you to learn their crafts? Saturdays from 2pm to 4pm, join us at Talking in the Garden. Upcoming classes cover pickles, tomato sauce, salsa, vegetable soup, and apple sauce. Previous classes included jams, jellies, and green beans. Soon your kitchen will resemble the Highland Square Market!
Highland Square Farmer's Market on Thursdays (photo credit: Ms. Julie's Facebook page)
Countryside Farmers’ Market at Highland Square Market
Thursdays, 4pm-7pm May 29- October 2, 2014 Conger Avenue & West Market St Akron, OH, 44303 Talking in the GardenSaturdays, 2pm-4pm Summit Lake Apartments Community Room 9 Plato Ave Akron, OH 44301