E.L. Farmer’s Market to open Sunday

Fresh Michigan-grown produce and other local goods will be available to students and residents at the new East Lansing Farmer’s Market, which starts Sunday.

“There was a farmer’s market years ago and we actually canceled it because of low participation,” East Lansing Communications Coordinator Ami Van Antwerp said. “Staff has been talking about it internally for years. Finally we … decided to launch it this year.”

The market will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday until Oct. 25 in Valley Court Park, 400 Hillsdale Court.

In its first year, the market has 15 vendors of both local farms and larger Michigan franchises that use Michigan-grown products.

“We do require that the produce has to be Michigan grown and that it must come from the vendor,” Van Antwerp said.

Along with traditional produce, the market offers prepared foods as well. Businesses like the East Lansing Food Co-op, or ELFCO, are offering regular grocery products at the market to compliment the fresh produce.

“What we want to do is provide complimentary items with what the growers are selling,” ELFCO General Manager David Finet said. “We want to be able to sell them some of the grocery items so that they can go home that night and provide a meal.”

Local growers who attend markets across Michigan said they were excited to have the market back. Rebecca Titus said her family’s farm, Titus Farms, participated in the market when she was a kid. The 2008 MSU graduate said she is excited to get the farm involved again.

“We go to a lot of markets already,” she said. “We’ve just been talking with the great staff that has been helping us, but we plan things to be ready and (are) growing a lot of things for the market.”

For many local farms, a market in East Lansing gives them the chance to establish their name and business in the community.

“We want to make sure that people know we’re growing a very high-quality product and that they can depend on us,” said Pooh Stevenson, owner of Owosso Organics.

“We want to get to know a lot of the customers in East Lansing.”

Stevenson, who runs the farm with her husband Richard Bowie and their daughters Cody and Taylor, said she is excited to give people the chance to buy fresh, organic produce as well as to reconnect with the community.

“Years ago I worked at the East Lansing Food Co-op, so I know a number of people in East Lansing,” Stevenson said.

“It’ll be really fun to reconnect with all of those people.”