Akron Honey celebrates 10th annual Market Day
The Wesley family of Akron, owners of Akron Honey, will celebrate its 10th annual Akron Honey Market Day from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at 1045 Jefferson Ave.
The street in front of the family's apiary and microfarm will be blocked off to accommodate all things honey, plus 11 other small food brands and four food trucks.
The man behind Akron Honey, owner Wesley the Keeper (aka Brent Wesley), is excited to announce the debut of two specialty Akron Honey products for the event — Microfarm Lunchboxes.
Developed and curated by Lauren Wayt of Akron, both the Original Garden Box (O.G.B.) variety and the Fruits & Berries variety are quinoa-based. Both also feature items picked fresh from the Akron Honey microfarm, run by microfarmer Damon Jones, who lives around the corner.
The O.G.B. comes with sweet avocado cream sauce made with avocado, honey, water, garlic, salt and lemon. The box also features organic quinoa, cherry tomatoes, black beans, kale, a gourmet lettuce blend, organic rambo radish, olive oil, salt and lemon.
The Fruits & Berries box has an apple honey vinaigrette made with honey, sunflower oil, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper. It also features organic quinoa, blueberries, dried cranberries, kale, gourmet lettuce blend, organic rambo radish, olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon.
The new boxes are about creating a food experience.
"It's a super delicious and fun-to-eat box that's healthy," said Wesley, who stressed that everything in the box is biodegradable.
Akron Honey will bring back its Urban Honey for Market Day, which is made from the bees right behind the fence in the small apiary on Jefferson Avenue. Most of the company's honeys are made with partner beekeepers in the area.
Akron Honey also will offer its Raw Wildflower, Bourbon Barrel, Hibiscus and Habanero Hot honeys.
Folks who loved the sweet hibiscus tea that Akron Honey experimented with at last year's Market Day, which was brewed from hibiscus flowers soaked in honey, have been asking for more.
This year, Akron Honey will offer Hibiscus Cold Brew, made with water, dried hibiscus flowers and Raw Wildflower honey. It brews in cool water overnight while refrigerated. Hibiscus flowers, Wesley said, are packed with antioxidants and are known to have other health benefits.
He describes Market Day as an "awesome block party." This year, Akron Honey also will give tours of the honey production room across the street at 1030 Jefferson Ave., a building that Wesley bought in an expansion last August.
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Here are the vendors that will be at Market Day.
Food trucks
Johnny Lote's Latin Street Corn: This company offers elevated elotes, starting with corn on the cob and spreading on creamy mayo, rolling it in crumbled cotija cheese and topping it with Latin spices, seasonings and fresh-squeezed lime.
Uncle Bacon's BBQ: Owner Dave Wells' small, family-run operation offers barbecue fare using the finest, locally sourced ingredients that the company can find.
The Pierogi Lady: Owners Autumn Johnston and Marcus Walker, whose business was founded in 2011, churn out some 30,000 hand-crimped pierogis in 80 varieties each week. Their pierogis can be found at area fairs, events, restaurants and grocery stores.
Sandy Bottom Bowls: Ariel Meyers-Finnigan will offer fresh acai smoothie bowls with granola and fruit. She founded the company when she was looking for a healthy snack for her and her daughter.
Food brands
Delīon: Owner Matthew DeRubertis will offer dandelion coffee.
Not Yo Daddy's Mexican Hot Sauce: Owner Christina Gonzalez's Mexican hot sauce is made from a secret family recipe from Durango, Mexico. The artisan, small-batch sauce has flavors from the northern region of Mexico.
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Killik Hot Sauce: The Cleveland company owned by Michael Killik makes fermented hot sauce that's low sodium, vegan, gluten-free and preservative-free.
Fat T's Cookies: The Akron cookie company owned by Travis Howe offers handmade, big, fat, chewy quarter-pound cookies.
Nosh Butters: Sam Trohman makes small-batch, craft nut butters that are plant-based, gluten-free and palm oil-free.
Portal West Coffee: Paul Ortiz owns the Akron coffee shop, located in the Merriman Valley.
Hartville Potato Chips: Founder Paul LaGuardia makes chips the old-fashioned way, in small batches and kettle cooked with simple ingredients at this South Akron business.
Baked AF: Owner Amira Fahmy creates "thoughtfully crafted throwback snacks," from oatmeal cream pies to pop tarts, at her downtown Cleveland bakery.
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Savoure Kitchen: The craft food company makes small-batch salad dressings, marinades and barbecue sauces.
Julia Belle's Seasonings: Tanya Green sells hand-blended seasonings, rubs and mixes rooted in southern cooking as well as curated seasonings from India to Jamaica.
Here We Go! Coffee: The "small but mighty" Akron nano roaster drops beans monthly.
Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Honey plans sweet time with 10th annual Market Day block party
