Fresh Fundamentals Series, Supported by Cleveland Clinic, Returns to West Side Market on Fridays from Sept. 18 – Nov. 20

The second run of Fresh Fundamentals at West Side Market will begin on Friday, September 18. The series, which debuted in February 2026, includes a weekly chef demo of an original, produce-forward recipe sourced from Market merchants.

The series, supported by Cleveland Clinic, also includes a weekly distribution of meal kits, Market vouchers and recipe cards to 100 SNAP/EBT eligible households. A small number of assembled kits will be available for purchase each week to customers who do not qualify for the free kit.

“We are thrilled to partner with Cleveland Clinic to bring Fresh Fundamentals back to Market shoppers this fall,” says Rosemary Mudry, Executive Director of Cleveland Public Market Corporation (CPMC). “Nutrition education and food access are two essential pillars of our mission, and Fresh Fundamentals is an exciting collaboration with our chef partners to display the Market’s community impact. This program is designed to show that cooking healthy, delicious meals with Market ingredients is accessible and fun.”

“At Cleveland Clinic, we believe that food is medicine, and access to healthy, nutritious foods is essential to improving health and well-being,” said Timothy R. Barnett, M.D., Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Cleveland Clinic Lutheran Hospital. “Through our partnership with West Side Market and the Fresh Fundamentals program, we are helping connect families with practical nutrition education, fresh ingredients and the confidence to prepare healthy meals at home. We are proud to support a program that makes healthy eating more accessible, affordable and enjoyable for our community.”

Each week will include an online video demonstration featuring a different chef collaborator, followed by that chef appearing at West Side Market’s KeyBank Produce Arcade on Friday offering live demos and samples from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each demonstration will showcase produce sourced from Market merchants and will show how cooking creatively can be simple and affordable.

Fresh Fundamentals is part of Cleveland Clinic’s broader commitment to advancing food as medicine initiatives that address root causes of health challenges through nutrition. Together, these efforts reflect Cleveland Clinic’s $50 million commitment over five years to help reduce hunger and expand access to nutritious food across Ohio, Florida and Nevada. Through sustained support for food banks, community-based organizations and innovative programs that connect people with healthy foods, Cleveland Clinic is helping strengthen local systems, remove barriers to nutrition and empower individuals and families to make choices that support long-term health and well-being.

One hundred pre-assembled meal kits of each recipe will be available for SNAP/EBT eligible households to take home. The kits also include a recipe card with cooking tips and a $20 “Fresh Bucks” voucher to purchase additional items in the Market. Limit one kit per household per week. Pre-registration is encouraged and is available at WestSideMarket.org. Kits that are not reserved will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis and unclaimed kits will be given to another eligible household.

The first five weeks include the following chefs:

• September 18: Chef Latasha Shapendleton, Caterer and Kate’s Fish Team Member
• September 25: Chef Eric Wells, Owner of Sky LaRae’s Culinary Services
• October 2: Chef John Seely, Chefs for Seniors
• October 9: Chef Jeremy McBryde, Owner of ComfortCLE
• October 16: Chef Conscious, Owner of Thee Conscious Chef

Visit the Market’s website to see the updated chef list throughout the series.