Combine interest in the inaugural Easton Farmer's Market, an empty store front, and a community of local producers and what do you have? Celebrate Local, a pop-up holiday shop of all-Ohio goods.

Celebrate Local opens October 1 and will continue sales through the winter holidays at Easton where Harry & David's previously resided. The shop offers frozen, refrigerated and fresh local foods, handmade pantry items, and locally made crafts. Customers can select items from around the store to build a personalized custom gift basket.

A project of the Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI), Global Gallery, and the Easton Community Foundation, Celebrate Local seeks to showcase Ohio food producers and artisans to shoppers searching for local gifts. A generous vendor agreement will feed the economy by returning much of the sales to the small businesses and entrepreneurs of central Ohio.

I spotted Hound favorites Snowville Creamery milk, Stinky Bomb soaps, Ohio Bison Farm, and Made by AmyD aprons in the shop. More vendors are coming; several fresh produce vendors from the Easton Farmer's Market will house their wares at Celebrate Local and Jenny from Purely Simple Raw told me she will stock healthy snacks like kale chips and caramel apples. When the liquor license is issued (permit inspection happened this week), the store will also carry Brother's Drake mead and Ohio wines.

Stop in to shop for daily meal ingredients or gifts for the holiday season. Celebrate Local has the best of Ohio waiting for you.

Celebrate Local Store October 1, 2011 - January 2012 4030 The Strand, Easton Columbus OH 43219 614-596-1303

Yesterday Lil and I went to the grand opening of the Easton Farmer's Market. It is located in the parking lot behind Fado's on the south east side of Easton. An impressive 50+ vendors will line the spacious lot from 3-7 pm every Thursday. Here are five things we enjoyed today: 1) Space: For the farmer's sake, I do hope there will be crowds eventually, but as a consumer I love being able to easily browse the stands without lines. Parking is also free and quick to find at Easton.

2) Entertainment: Lil had great fun picking out colors for her flower with the patient and entertaining Randy from Ballooniacs. He graciously made Lil a butterfly backpack after the flower popped. While the balloon exchange was going down, I enjoyed the quality but not overly loud live music.

3) Variety of Vendors: There was a wide selection of food makers and farmers selling the standard dip mixes and baked goods to those offering natural produce, artisanal cheese, meat and beautiful flowers. If I lived closer to Easton I could easily buy everything I needed for my family's meals, save baking staples and Snowville milk.

4) Local Matters: Columbus' premier food-centered nonprofit is playing an educational role at the market. They had both a children's 'play with your food' activity and adult 'mystery basket' demonstration on Thursday. Each week will feature a new theme to their outreach.

5) Excitement: The Easton market is well organized and staffed with energetic people. More than one vendor mentioned new seasonal products (like Ohio cherries!) they will be bringing to future markets.

I predict that this market will grow beyond expectations. We will certainly return.

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