As one of the oldest locations in Indianapolis, the City Market holds a long and rich history dating back to the original planning of the city in 1821. When the doors of the City Market opened in 1886, the market started its tradition as a public space for Indianapolis residents to purchase fresh produce, meat, fish, poultry, dairy, and baked goods.
Now, more than a century later the City Market does much more, but it still continues the tradition as a one stop shop for fresh goods and produce in the form of The Original Farmers’ Market. This coming spring marks the 22nd season of The Original Farmers’ Market taking place every Wednesday from 9:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m, May through October. The City Market is excited to welcome back its wide variety of Indiana vendors. Many of the vendors in the OFM are Indiana farmers, providing fresh produce every week for the visitors of the market. Visitors to the OFM can find everything from locally ground coffee, flowers, produce, dairy, baked goods, and much more.
This year the OFM is welcoming several new vendors including Café Baby. Café Baby is a small business located in Indianapolis that focuses on providing baby food made from fresh ingredients and no preservatives. Café Baby also provides a wide variety of baby and maternity products.
The Original Farmers’ Market brings many benefits to downtown Indianapolis including access to quality products, “Programs that we offer such as SNAP, Fresh Bucks, WIC, and the Buy 2 Give 1 gleaning program allow us to provide quality products to those who need it the most while supporting some of Indiana’s best small businesses.” Said Stevi Stoesz, executive director of the Indianapolis City Market. The OFM allows all Indianapolis residents the opportunity to shop for healthy and fresh produce at a reasonable and fair price, while also supporting Indiana farmers and various other small businesses.
Through the SNAP and Fresh Bucks programs, you can double your spending up to $20 while purchasing fruits, vegetables, honey, herbs and spices, maple syrup, and seedling for edible plants. The Buy 2 Give 1 gleaning program allows individuals to purchase additional products for those who are in need of fresh and healthy goods. All the donations made to the Buy 2 Give 1 program at the City Market tent are delivered to one of three downtown homeless shelters on a rotating basis. This program has enabled City Market staff to provide thousands of pounds of produce to those in need.
The City Market is a public space with the goal to benefit the community of Indianapolis in any way it can. Hosting the Original Farmers’ Market is just one way that City Market strives to reach this goal. “The Original Farmers’ Market is more than a weekly event that is attended by hundreds of residents and visitors. It’s a piece of our local culture, harkening back to Indianapolis City Market’s roots as a community gathering place and a one-stop shop for fresh produce, meat, dairy and baked goods,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett.
Live music and entertainment is provided during the Original Farmers’ Market on the Sun King Stage, located on the City Markets Whistler (West) Plaza every OFM day from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The City Market is proud to host The Original Farmers’ Market and excited to continue to support Indiana agriculture and small business.
Wheelchair Accessibility Info
Enter the City Market from the East Side of the building. The East Entrance has door opening assistance and is distinguished by double doors. An elevator to the Mezzanine is located on the first floor at the north side of the building after passing through the breezeway as you approach the Platform.
ABOUT INDIANAPOLIS CITY MARKET
Indianapolis City Market (ICM) feeds the community and its guests by offering distinct foods, products, and services, in an environment that preserves and perpetuated central Indiana’s agricultural, architectural, and cultural history. ICM was on the original Plat of the City design by Alexander Ralston in 1821. ICM’s main Market House celebrated its 130th birthday in November 2016. Indianapolis City Market Corporation, a nonprofit organization, is governed by a 13-member board of directors appointed by the Mayor of Indianapolis and the City-County Council. The Original Farmers’ Market was established in 1997 to provide a platform for local producers and farmers to sell their Indiana grown and made products directly to consumers. For more information please visit www.indycm.com. You can find the Indianapolis City Market at https://www.facebook.com/IndyCM/, and you can follow the City Market on Twitter and Instagram at @IndyCM.
