Parker Bosley - Parker`s New American Bistro

Nominated by Maggie Busser Editor, Publisher Balanced Living Magazine, LLC

Most known throughout northeast Ohio for his Ohio City restaurant, Parker’s New American Bistro, Parker Bosley has been integral in initiating and strengthening connections between local farmers and restaurants for 22 years. Over this time, he has succeeded at reaching his original goal of souring as many products from local farms as possible. Parker’s Bistro is one of only ten restaurants in the nation that sources 100 percent of its products from the local community. His menu and his servers educate diners on the importance of utilizing our local resources, and chefs throughout the region site him as an inspiration and an educator in this arena. (As a writer of articles about restaurants in our Conscious Cuisine department, I have learned this first hand though personal interviews with these chefs.)

Parker was integral in the founding of North Union Farmer’s Market, and he now is on the board and works for the nonprofit full time both managing the Crocker Market and recruiting farmers. Having grown up on a farm, Parker is able to relate to and effectively communicate with farmers, and he has been invited into the agricultural community to provide support and education. In this role, he consults them on what to grow, what livestock to raise, how to market it to the consumers (restaurants and the public) and how to earn a greater percentage of the dollar earned on their products. He also reaches out to new farmers to bring them into the network in order to develop new and better sources for local foods in our region. In addition, Parker regularly speaks at public engagements to community groups.

Overall, Parker has had a greater impact on the local foods culture than any one else in the Midwest. Recognizing him as a Champion of Sustainability would be the perfect way to award his continuing efforts as he closes his restaurant at the end of this year.