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Michigan
ADA VILLAGE FARMERS’ MARKET
7144 Headly St. May-Oct. Fridays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 616-676-9191 The basics: A petite market with five to 12 vendors on the grounds of the Averill Historical Museum, a stone’s throw from the town’s covered bridge. Beyond fruits & veggies: The baked fruit pies are a best seller. Insider tip: Shop between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. – before the food runs out.
BUCHANAN FARMERS’ MARKET
122 Days Ave. May-Oct. Saturdays, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. 269-695-3291 The basics: Ten vendors hang out under an open-air, permanent shelter. Beyond fruits & veggies: Look for the locally produced cheese and artisan breads. Insider tip: In-season fruit goes fast.
GRAND HAVEN FARMERS’ MARKET
Harbor Drive and 1st St., June-Oct. Wednesdays and Saturdays 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 616-842-4910 The basics: Thirty-six vendors on the Grand Haven Harbor at Chinook Pier. Beyond fruits & veggies: Stop to smell the freshly cut flowers. Insider tip: Sweet corn is huge in-season.
GRAND RAPIDS – FULTON STREET FARMERS’ MARKET
1147 E. Fulton St., May-Dec. Tue., Wed., Fri. and Sat., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 616-454-4118 The basics: Grand Rapids’ biggest open-air market, with 50 vendors, sprawls through the historic Brikyaat area of Midtown. Beyond fruits & veggies: Little Rooster Bread Co.’s breads – including multi-grain, three pepper, and wild rice and onion – are all organic. Insider tip: Avoid traffic and get there via Fulton Street bus #14.
HOLLAND MUNICIPAL FARMERS’ MARKET
150 W. 8th St., May-Dec., Wed. and Saturdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 616-355-1138 The basics: A canopied market with 112 sellers, just down the road from downtown Holland. Beyond fruits & veggies: Sellers hawk numerous artisan and organic cheeses, including Steve-N-Sons fiery Gouda by Jesse Meerman (see pg. 43 for more on Meerman). Insider tip: On Saturdays at 10 a.m., catch the cooking and flower-arranging demonstrations.
KALAMAZOO FARMERS’ MARKET
1204 Bank St., June-Oct. (Tue., Thu. and Sat. 7 a.m.-2 p.m.); May and Nov. (Sat. 7 a.m.-2 p.m.); Aug.-Sept. 11 (Tue., 3:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., in addition to regular hours). 269-337-8899 The basics: Fifty-six vendors assembled on a site that has been used for 60 years, with brick walks and views of John Park. Beyond fruits & veggies: Got a hankering for meat and potatoes? Organic vendors offer up spuds, plus buffalo and elk meat. Insider tip: Otto’s Poultry Farm (Middleville, Mich.) sells savory hormone-free chicken and is a supplier to the hip Food Dance Café (see pg. 94 for more on Food Dance Cafe).
MUSKEGON – SWEETWATER LOCAL FOODS MARKET
Near Harvey St. and Pontaluna Road., June-Oct. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Nov.-May, alternating Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 231-893-3937 The basics: This certified organic market, with up to 16 booths, runs year-round. Beyond fruits & veggies: Check out the organic bath products. Insider tip: Nathan Creswick makes and sells 20 kinds of scrumptious lamb, beef and pork sausages.
MUSKEGON FARMERS’ MARKET
700 Yuba St. May-Dec. Tue., Thu. and Sat., 7 a.m.-3 p.m. (Saturday only from Thanksgiving to Christmas). 231-722-3251 The basics: One of Michigan’s oldest markets, dating back to 1884, draws 120 vendors. Beyond fruits & veggies: Zingy beef jerky and bedding plants such as Zebra Grass are offered. Insider tip: Kathleen Riegler, known as the “Cheese Lady,” sells fine cheeses from around the world.
SAUGATUCK GREEN MARKET
400 Culver St. June-Oct. 12. Fridays, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 269-857-2399 The basics: Twenty-four vendors under the historic beams of the Lloyd J. Harriss Pie Co., outside the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. Beyond fruits & veggies: Family-owned Providence Farms’ lamb, pork, chicken and turkey are all-organic. Insider tip: Black Tie Gourmet Mushrooms prepares, sautés and freezes yummy ’shrooms, so all that’s left to do is heat them up.
TRAVERSE CITY – SARA HARDY DOWNTOWN FARMERS’ MARKET
Grandview Pkwy. between Union and Cass streets. May-Oct., Saturdays 8 a.m.-noon; June-Sept., Wednesdays, 8 a.m.-noon. (Does not operate during Cherry Festival). 231-922-2050 The basics: Seventy vendors downtown along the Boardman River, with eye-popping views of Grand Traverse Bay. Beyond fruits & veggies: Organic meats and herbs, local breads and herbal soaps. Insider tip: While downtown, sip on a mug of coffee at funky Horizon Books.
ZEELAND MAIN PLACE MARKET
Heritage Square, corner of Elm St. and Main Ave. June-Sept. Fridays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 616-772-2494 The basics: An intimate downtown market with 10-12 vendors. Beyond fruits & veggies: Backyard Emporium crafts gorgeous Adirondack furniture. Insider tip: Perkin’s Restaurant brings in delectable, fresh-baked muffins and pies.
Indiana
CROWN POINT FARMERS’ MARKET
South Main St., June-Sep. 29. Saturdays, 7 a.m. noon. 219-662-3290 The basics: Twenty-seven vendors gathered near the Courthouse Square. Beyond fruits & veggies: Find certified, farm-raised chicken eggs and pickles by Mary Jane Panozzo, from Dyer, and Labriola artisan bread from Tiffany’s Tea Room in Crown Point. Insider tip: Hit the nearby three-level Old Town Square Antique Mall.
HIGHLAND STREET MARKET
Kennedy and Highway Avenues. June-Oct. 13. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 219-838-0114 The basics: Fifteen vendors set up on both sides of a popular bike path. Beyond fruits & veggies: Great Harvest Bread, from Palos Heights, Ill., makes a fab Popeye bread chock-full of nuts and fruits. Don’t miss Mike and Sue Harts’ home-made doggie treats. Insider tip: If there’s another market with an on-site masseuse, we don’t know of it. Lisa Prevost can knead out the nastiest knots.
LAPORTE FARMERS’ MARKET
State St., north of LaPorte County Courthouse. May-Oct. Saturdays, 7 a.m.- noon. 219-362-8260 The basics: About a dozen vendors gather next to the county’s majestic, 1894 courthouse. Beyond fruits & veggies: Keep it healthy with hormone-free bacon from Watts Family Farm (Lakeville) and Tuholski Meats (LaPorte). Insider tip: Crème de la Crop of Valparaiso sells organic produce and herbs on Aug. 11 and 25, and Sept. 8 and 22.
MICHIGAN CITY FARMERS’ MARKET
8th St. and Washington St. May-Oct., Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon. 219-879-5807 or 800-622-1309 The basics: Fifteen to 18 venders gather in Michigan City’s historic downtown. Beyond fruits & veggies: Local churches operate a bake sale. Chicago chef Didier Durand brings in fresh-baked breads and cheeses, too. Insider tip: Billy Bob’s Farm sells a mean blueberry pie.
SCHERERVILLE’S INTERNATIONAL MARKET
Austen Avenue, between Route 30 and Joliet St. June-Oct. 25. Alternate Thursdays, 3 p.m.-8 p.m. 219-322-2211, ext. 326 The basics: Twenty-eight vendors in leafy Redar Park. Beyond fruits & veggies: Garwood Orchards of LaPorte, serves up tasty turnovers, crepes and pies, baked with fruit from their own pickins. Insider tip: Farm Direct Meat LLC will take your meat orders, then go to small farms for anything from bison to lamb.
SOUTH BEND FARMERS’ MARKET
1105 Northside Blvd. Year-round, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. May-Sept., also Fridays, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. and Saturdays, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. 574- 282-1259 The Basics: Bustling bazaar jam-packed with 90 vendors in an H-shaped, year-round structure. Beyond fruits & veggies: Organic produce is harvested by Mary Kulwicki. Breadsmith, of South Bend, cranks out tasty coffee cakes adorned with apples. Insider Tip: Browse early before everything’s picked over. On Aug. 18 and Sep. 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., top area musicians jam near the main entrance.
VALPARAISO FARMERS’ MARKET
16 E. Lincolnway, Porter Co. Courthouse, May-Oct. Tue., Thu. and Sat., 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 219-464-8332 The basics: Downtown market with six to 12 local vendors on the courthouse lawn. Beyond fruits & veggies: Dennis King’s garden ornaments, from cats to one-of-a-kind designs, are welded from salvaged metal. Insider tip: Includes several organic vendors, including one selling free-range duck and chicken eggs.
Illinois
CHICAGO’S GREEN CITY MARKET
South end of Lincoln Park, near 1750 N. Clark St. May-Oct. Wednesdays and Saturdays, 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 847-424-2486 The basics: Some 40 farmers from Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. Beyond fruits & veggies: Artisan cheeses and an array of fresh meats. Insider tip: Paul Friday Farms sells the Bubblegum Plum, which tastes like – you guessed it – bubble gum.
OAK PARK FARMERS’ MARKET – CHICAGO
Elmwood Ave. and Lake St. June-Oct. Saturdays, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. 708-358-5780 The basics: Twenty-plus vendors from four states gather near Pilgrim Church. Beyond fruits & veggies: Live bluegrass music will keep you hummin’ while you shop. Insider tip: Try S 3 Catering’s Stone Soup on Oct. 27. The local caterer collects the vegetables from the market’s farmers and brews up this mouth-watering soup.
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