Farmers Market Coming to Cleveland Clinic in Strongsville Today

The Cleveland Clinic will put its campaign for healthy eating where its mouth is by starting regional farmers markets, including one at its Strongsville facility.

The  16761 Southpark Center, will host a market from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting this Thursday, July 14.

The market will run every Thursday through Sept. 29.   

Look for farm-fresh blueberries, raspberries, corn, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, onions and beans the first week, said Chris Saal of Walnut Drive Gardens in Mogodore, the 240-acre farm that will supply the weekly market.

"Eventually, we'll have six kinds of peppers, watermelon, cabbage, eggplant and cantaloupe when they come in," he said.

Jim Newman, administrator of the Strongsville facility, said the Cleveland Clinic wants to provide locally produced food to the region.

Of the $10 billion spent each year on food in Northeast Ohio, only 1 percent is produced locally, he said.

"Most of our food travels 1,500 miles to get to our plate," Newman said.

Cleveland Clinic began the Community Farmers Market program in July 2008 as an effort to offer healthy, local food options to the surrounding neighborhood and employees.

About 2,000 shoppers visit the flagship market on Cleveland Clinic’s main campus each week. 

The city of Strongsville also sponsors an annual farm market  from 3-7 p.m. Thursdays starting Aug. 4. at 13213 Pearl Rd., behind the Communications Center (the former library). 

The Clinic is known for its Wellness Institute, which promotes a healthy lifestyle.

“The single largest risk factor for premature death in Cuyahoga County is a lack of fruits and vegetables in the diet,” said Michael F. Roizen, M.D., Chief Wellness Officer at Cleveland Clinic, citing data from the Community Health Status Indicators report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.