Happiness is a farmer's market every day of the week
The first radishes of spring from Handsown Farm at the year-round Ann Arbor Farmer's Market
Kim Bayer | AnnArbor.com Contributor
The produce this past winter at the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market has been fantastic — every single week a dozen or two farmers with gorgeous greens, squash until January, dwindling roots, and plenty of eggs and meat.
As someone who loves to cook, it's thrilling to have such beautiful and delicious ingredients to use during the darkest days of the year. And even when I have to bundle up like a yeti for the walk over, it makes me happy to have this weekly ritual of stocking the larder that feels meaningful — rather than the soul-crushing alternative of the grocery store.
Slowly spring has crept in, unfurling winter's grasp with each advancing blade of green. The Ann Arbor market is bustling now, and morning sun limns early flowers, glowing yellow, raspberry and violet. Like a bouquet, I recently bought my very first pink and white tiny and sweet d'Avignon radishes from Megan at Hand Sown Farm.
Soon it will be May, the finest month, and also the time when the markets that shuttered up last November are flung open again. There are at least a dozen farmers markets in the area now, each with its own personality, and on nearly every day of the week. Which one makes you happy?
Farmer's Markets
Ann Arbor Farmer's Market
Season: Year-round
Time: January - April: Saturday only from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
May - December: Wednesday and Saturday from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
June - October: Wednesday Evening Market from 4 p.m.- 8 p.m.
Location: 315 Detroit St., Ann Arbor
Website: http://annarborfarmersmarket.blogspot.com
SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks
Chelsea Farmer's Market
Season: May 4 through October
Time: Saturdays 8 a.m.-noon
Location: Park Street, Chelsea
Website: http://chelseafarmersmkt.org
Chelsea Bushel Basket Market
Season: May 8 - October
Time: Wed 2:30-6 p.m.
Location: 14700 E. Old US-12, Chelsea (Chelsea Community Hospital South Entrance)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bushel-Basket-Market-The-Farmers-Market-at-Chelsea-Community-Hospital/536225753067953?ref=stream
SNAP, Bridge
Cobblestone Farmer's Market
Time: Tuesdays 4-7 p.m.
Season: May 21 - Nov. 5, 2013
Location: 2781 Packard Rd., Ann Arbor (at Buhr Park)
Website: http://www.cobblestonefarmmarket.com
Dexter Farmer's Market
Time: Saturday: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. and Tuesday: 3-7 p.m.
Season: May 4- Oct. 26
Location: 3233 Alpine St., Dexter
Website: http://www.dextermi.gov/farmers-market
Dixboro Farmer's Market
Time: Friday 3:30-7:30 p.m.
Season: May 31 - ?
Location: 5521 Church Road, Ann Arbor
Website: http://www.dixborofarmersmarket.org
Farm at St. Joe Farmer's Market
Time: Monday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Season: February-December?
Location: 5301 McCauley Drive, Ypsilanti
Website: http://stjoefarm.wordpress.com
Saline Farmer's Market
Season: Year round
Time: Saturdays - May through October 8 a.m.-noon
Located Downtown on South Ann Arbor Street, half a block south of Michigan Avenue
Tuesdays - June through September, 3 p.m.-7 p.m.
Located at the Saline District Library, 555 N. Maple Road, half mile north of Michigan Avenue
Website: http://www.cityofsaline.org/farmersmarket
SFNP, SNAP, WIC
Westside Farmer's Market
Season: June 6 - Sept. 26, 2013
Time: Thursday 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Location: Zingerman's Roadhouse parking lot, at Jackson Avenue & North Maple Road, Ann Arbor
Website: http://www.westsidefarmersmarket.com
Payment options: Bridge Card, Double Up Food Bucks, SNAP, Project Fresh
Ypsilanti Farmers Markets
Season: May 4 - ?
Time: Tuesday: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Location: Tuesdays at Ferris and Hamilton, Ypsilanti. Saturdays at 100 Rice St., Ypsilanti
Website: https://www.facebook.com/YpsilantiFarmersMarkets/info
Payment options: Cash, EBT/SNAP/Bridge Card, Double Up Food Bucks, Credit/Debit, Prescription for Health, Project Fresh, Market Fresh, and Market Dollars.
Kim Bayer is a freelance writer and culinary researcher. Email her at kimbayer at gmail dot com.
Comments
live-learn-love
Wed, Apr 24, 2013 : 2:02 p.m.
What about the Pittsfield Farmer's Market? Will that still happen? Should that have been included in this article?
Kellie Woodhouse
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 6:59 p.m.
It begins! From now until October, I absolutely love going to farmer's markets. The flower sale at Kerrytown is so much fun, and I usually take an extra trip to Detroit to get some veggie plants at Eastern Market. The winter Kerrytown Market just doesn't compare to the market in warm weather.
Lizzy Alfs
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 6:17 p.m.
I started my first garden this spring and I'm learning when certain vegetables come into season. It's pretty amazing all the things that can grow in Michigan. Also: I credit the Ann Arbor Farmers Market for getting me into kale. It's a great place to discover or try out things you haven't.
JRW
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 5:25 p.m.
On thing that would help the AA Farmer's Market is to require that all produce have prices clearly displayed for each item. Nothing is more frustrating that walking by stands with no prices listed and have to ask for each price. Bad business practices. How much were the radishes?
JRW
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 5:23 p.m.
The link to Hand Sown Farm in this article is broken.
Cole Bertsos
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 5:30 p.m.
JRW- I tried to fix it, but for some reason I can't get it to work. You can try visiting the website here: http://handsownfarm.wordpress.com/ Sorry for the inconvenience! Cole
Bob Needham
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 4:14 p.m.
Kim, do you know if the Ann Arbor Farmers Market is planning to do Wednesday evenings again this year? I have often thought that might work better on Mondays -- it would spread out the three times the A2 market is open, and with not much else happening on Monday nights, might help it become more of an "event."