Ted Spitzer is a nationally recognized expert on food markets and alternative local food systems. His core competencies include feasibility analysis, market research, urban planning, and program evaluation.
For over 25 years Ted has helped communities throughout the country to develop, revitalize, and improve their public markets and the neighborhoods around them. He has assisted numerous wholesale and retail markets and food hubs, including Detroit’s Eastern Market, the Hartford Regional Market, the Western North Carolina Farmers’ Market in Asheville, the Rochester Public Market, and the South Carolina State Farmers’ Market in Columbia.
After leading the consultant team that developed a master plan for rebuilding historic Lexington Market in Baltimore, Ted is now providing predevelopment assistance to the Market’s nonprofit board and executive staff. Ted led the planning effort that led to the creation of the popular Milwaukee Public Market. Mr. Spitzer has recently directed consulting efforts in Asheville, Eau Claire, Kenosha, Salt Lake City, Tulsa, Atlantic City, Fort Wayne, Boise, Fort Collins, Louisville, Lynchburg, New Haven, Toledo, and Philadelphia. He led the team that assessed the feasibility of a new wholesale farmers’ market in New York City, work that included groundbreaking research in demand for locally grown foods among buyers in New York City and potential supply from regional farmers.
Ted led the planning and predevelopment efforts for the new Grand Rapids Downtown Market, including the initial feasibility study and concept plan. This mixed-use market facility includes an outdoor farmers’ market shed, a 21 vendor indoor market hall, two restaurants, 35,000 sf of commercial lease space, and a 5,100 sf shared commercial kitchen/ incubator. Key innovations include rooftop greenhouses, a large demonstration kitchen and special event space, and the country’s first Kid’s Kitchen cooking lab with adjustable height cooking surfaces to accommodate six year-olds to adults. Ted played a central role in fundraising for the $28 million project and in developing community partnerships to enhance the Market, focusing on the education and medical sectors. Construction began in January 2012 and the Downtown Market opened in August 2013. The Downtown Market is a 2015 recipient of the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence and won the American Planning Association’s Excellence in Economic Development Planning Award.
Most recently, Ted led the master planning effort for historic Lexington Market in downtown Baltimore. Following the plan’s adoption in January 2015, Ted is helping to guide implementation by supporting the Market’s board and executive staff through design, fundraising, partnership development, and organizational efforts.
Ted holds a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs and Urban & Regional Planning from Princeton University and a BA in Urban Studies from Columbia University. He is a board member of the National Association of Produce Market Managers and Treasurer of Cultivating Community.