Community Feeding Community: Dale and Christine Irby Help Power Gem City Market’s Mission
At Gem City Market, the food on the shelves is more than just inventory—it’s a reflection of neighbors supporting neighbors. The market was built by the community, for the community, and it thrives because of the local vendors who pour their passion into feeding the people around them.
One of those vendors is Irby’s Old School Farm, run by husband-and-wife team Dale and Christine Irby who supply the market with farm-fresh eggs. Their presence at Gem City Market isn’t just about a business partnership—it’s about being part of a collective effort to take back control of the local food system.
From Everyday Residents to Community Farmers
Dale & Christine didn’t grow up on farms. Raised in urban Cincinnati, they never imagined agriculture would become part of their lives.
“We just wanted to know where our food was coming from,” Christine explains. “We got tired of second-guessing it.”
What started with a few chickens for personal use grew into Irby’s Old School Farm, a small but mighty operation now providing eggs to the people of Dayton through Gem City Market.
Their transition from consumers to producers is exactly what Gem City Market is all about—community members coming together to provide food for one another, especially in neighborhoods where healthy options are limited.
Vendors Who Reflect the Mission
Dale and Christine are more than suppliers—they’re neighbors with a vision.
“It’s more than just selling eggs. It’s about making food accessible,” Christine says. “To be able to share the way we eat with others—it means everything.”
They see their role at the market as part of something larger: building food security through shared ownership and local action.
“Gem City Market is special because it reflects us. It belongs to us. And it feeds us,” she says.
Their story is a reminder that Gem City Market isn’t powered by corporations or outside investors—it’s powered by people, many of whom live in the same neighborhoods they serve.
Why Local Vendors Matter
Vendors like Dale & Christine are the heart of Gem City Market. They grow with intention, contribute with pride, and bring a level of care and connection that big-box stores simply can’t replicate.
And as the Irbys look ahead, they’re not just focused on growing food—they’re focused on growing opportunity.
“Our vision is to make agriculture accessible to everyone,” Christine says. “It doesn’t matter your background or ability—everyone should be included.”
They hope to expand their farm and offer workshops to teach others how to grow their own food—no matter where they live or what resources they have.
A Market Built by Us
Gem City Market stands as a response to decades of disinvestment on Dayton’s west side. But it also stands as a celebration of what’s possible when community members step up—not just to demand change, but to create it.
“The need is still there,” Christine says. “The optics might change, but we can’t forget who we’re doing this for.”
Vendors like the Irbys are helping to fulfill the promise of Gem City Market: that food access should be a right, not a privilege, and that when people come together, they can build something powerful.
Every carton of eggs from Irby’s Old School Farm is more than just food—it’s a contribution to a vision that is being realized, one shelf at a time.