It was at the Carriage Market House where Calvin D. Mayne, an entrepreneur in the wholesale fruit and vegetable business, and Vera Pacey began their courtship before they were married in 1941. The market was abuzz with excitement, as two-wheelers stacked high with produce whizzed by. On August 12, 1948, after the birth of their son Norman, their dreams came true to open a humble market. Rooted with a sense of duty to their local community and a desire to always do the right thing, Dorothy Lane Market was born. Over the years, DLM has become known as a gourmet destination, but that dedication to local continues to stand strong by featuring local foods like fruits, vegetables, meats, and more from local farmers and vendors within a morning’s drive to our stores. So come Love Local with us!

1. Brentlinger's Sweet Corn

Ray Brentlinger's sweet corn is synonymous with summer and he's a legend here in Dayton! In 1978, DLM began its long-standing relationship with Brentlinger's Farm Market, located in New Carlisle.

3. Guided by Mushrooms

We love the rich umami flavor that a good exotic mushroom brings to any dish. We source an exquisite collection from Dayton's own Guided by Mushrooms, such as oyster, lion's mane, and chestnut mushrooms.

5. Grim Organic Farm

Located in Arcanum, Michael and his son grow organic vegetables, such as certified organic corn coming to us this month.

8. 80 Acres Farms

The new age of farming is happening now, just a short trek south in Cincinnati at 80 Acres Farms. Not only do they grow year-round thanks to indoor farming techniques, but they use zero pesticides, food miles are kept to a minimum, and they use 100% renewable energy. Thanks to vertical farming techniques, they are able to grow the equivalence of a much larger traditional farm. We are grateful to partner with the passionate and brilliant minds at 80 Acres for our DLM Salad Blends, which feature curated selections of lettuces, such as frisée and red romaine, and microgreens.

11. Cedar Ridge Trails Lavender

There's something special about this locally grown cut lavender. The connection between Cedar Ridge Trails and DLM goes all the way back to DLM founder Calvin D. Mayne, who was raised in the house on the farm. Ship the Cedar Ridge Lavender Gift Set featuring some of our favorite products from Cedar Ridge Trails.

12. Local Grass-Fed Beef

Our DLM Local Grass-Fed Beef Program is possible thanks to Love Local farming families raising grass-fed cattle in the Miami Valley. All of these families work with us to ensure that they abide by our program's best practices, meaning they are fed a 100% grass-fed diet and are lifetime free of antibiotic and added hormones.

As the cows graze on the lush spring grass, the flavor profile of the beef changes dramatically causing the Omega-3s and CLAs to surge. Not to mention, it fuels the local economy for an added benefit. We started this program in 2010 as a way to provide the health benefits of grass-fed beef locally by linking arms with area farming families. At Hanna Family Farms in Cedarville, the farm sits on a wooded setting that opens up to 101 acres of pasture. Meanwhile, at Clark Family Farm, there are 90 acres of pasture land where the Scottish Highland, Wagyu, and Aberdeen Angus Cattle roam.

13. Morning Sun Organic Farms Eggs

After visiting Morning Sun Organic Farm, located near West Alexandria, Ohio, we noticed one more hidden layer to what makes a good egg—the Filbrun family! We've carried their certified organic, cage-free eggs for 20+ years, working with multiple generations of the Filbrun family. Dale Filbrun says that a good egg starts with a happy, healthy chicken, which is a result of its environment. The chickens feed both on the bounty of the pasture and on organic (and therefore non-GMO) grain that the family grows, containing no animal by-products.

17. Ohio Gifts

There's a fervent appreciation for iconic Ohio goods, like those you can ship through our mail order service, including The Ohio Nostalgia Box and the Ohio Artisan Box.

20. Harvey Eicher Family

Just a morning's drive away in Adams County, Indiana, Harvey Eicher Jr. and his Amish friends bring us fresh vegetables regularly, including the plumpest, juiciest tomatoes around. They grow in hoop houses to extend the growing season, which means more local tomatoes!

22. Local Coffee

For many years, we've had a wonderful relationship with Dayton's beloved Boston Stoker Coffee, featuring high-quality beans sourced directly from farmers and roasted in small batches. Enjoy whether you're picking up a bag or stopping by our DLM Coffee Bar! Find more local coffee by heading down our coffee aisle, where you'll find more local gems: Erie Island Company, Crimson Cup Coffee, Silver Bridge Coffee Company, Reza's Roast, Twisted River Roaster, Rooted Grounds Coffee Co., Zingerman's Coffee Company, and Yield Coffee Roaster.

25. More Local Flowers

We've worked hard to extend our local connections to include more flower farmers over the years. In addition to those mentioned, we also carry a variety of local splendor from more area growers, like Hungry Toad Farm and The Flower Field!

28. DLM Private Label

You've surely noticed our DLM products while you shop, which wear our name because we simply love both how they taste and how they are made. Many of these DLM private label items are produced locally for us, like our jarred fruits, pickles, sauces, 1948 Classic Dark Roast Coffee, and more. For some, the connection goes quite deep, such as our DLM Uncured Grass-Fed Beef Hot Dogs, utilizing beef from our local DLM Grass-Fed Beef Program. Then, there's our DLM Bone Broths, nutrient-rich and good for the soul, the beef flavor is made from the bones of the DLM Grass-Fed Beef cattle; the same with the DLM Turkey Bone Broth—using turkey bones from Bowman&Landes.

31. DLM Gelato and Sorbetto

We know you love Columbus-based Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams and Cincinnati's Graeter's (and so do we!). But enjoy carefree, quintessential Italian moments with our DLM Gelato and Sorbetto in hand, made for us locally using traditional Italian recipes and methods.

35. More Local Splendor

Truth is, when you do a list like this, you can't include everything, or else we'd be publishing a novel. All our local vendors make DLM special.