During the summer months, a local farmer's market is the one-stop shopping destination for many people.
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Often held outside, or under tents, sheds or booths, Farmer's Markets usually showcase locally grown goods such as vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers; and other products like meat, soap, honey, artwork, jewelry, and more.
They are great venues for shopping with friends, visiting local vendors in one spot, and overall enjoying a fun community atmosphere.
A lot of the markets and farms have actual storefronts and shops, besides being vendors at farmer's markets.
"It feels like a family down there," says Annie Jelinek, who along with her husband Lou, runs Lounies Soap Co. in Port Huron. They have been vendors at the Vantage Point Farmer's Market in Port Huron for almost five years now.
Lounies sells products like bath bombs, flavored lip balms, poured soaps, and more. Besides their storefront and Vantage Point, they make road trips to events like Ferndale's DIY Fair, and the Vintage Market in Monroe.
"People ask me all the time, 'why don't you sell at Eastern Market in Detroit?'" says Jelinek. "And I tell them that I love this market in Port Huron, and it's a great way to support my community. Downtown has come around--that's been HUGE."
Vantage Point Farmer's Market, at 51 Water St., is in its 11th year. It started out with five or six local farmers and has blossomed to host between 40-45 vendors.
"There are also about 40 vendors on the waitlist," says Vantage Point marketing manager Liz Matthews. "I always tell people you have to grow your market, because you don't want to have 10 bakeries. You have to have a good variety of things."
She also says that at the end of the day, if vendors have to discard product, and don't make money, there would be a large vendor turnover, and that's not good.
"There a lot of people who are loyal to particular farmers," says Matthews.
Markets thrive on word-of-mouth, friends and families, and social media. More and more, markets are keeping websites updated and using sites like Facebook and Etsy to sell their products.
"This is our only income," says Jelinek. "And I can't do everything myself, but I can't afford to have someone stand at the store. So most times, I am in the store, and my husband runs the market table."
To shop at Lounies, visit their shop at 215 Huron Ave. in Port Huron, go online at https://www.lounies.com/, or catch them at the market.
The Vantage Point market is open Saturdays, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Beginning June 3, the market will be open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays through Oct. 28.
For more information, visit their website or their Facebook page.
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Another vendor at the Vantage Point Farmer's Market is Tammy Malinaro, who sells products from her own market, Pure Michigan Country Market. Located at 1133 10th Avenue in Port Huron, the Country Market is in its fourth year. It supplies organically grown products such as produce, meat, dairy, and poultry.
Malinaro is also a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). One day she had to watch "Food, INC.," a 2008 documentary which looks at America's corporate controlled food industry.
"I went home from watching that and I threw everything in my freezer away," she says. "I was so disgusted." She turned to consuming only local products, and that was almost seven years ago.
"My products are organically grown, with no chemicals, and no growth hormones," says Malinaro. "In the winter, if I can't get anything from Michigan, then I make sure it's from the U.S., no Canada, or Mexico."
She says it's important to have locally grown options available to her customers.
"Not only is it good to know where it comes from, and that it's grown local, you're buying from a local farmer, which is supporting farmers' and their families."
Visit https://www.facebook.com/PureMichiganCountryMarket/ for more information.
Blue Ribbon Farms and Greenhouses in Marine City sells at both their actual farm and at a farmer's market in Oakland County.
"We sell bedding plants, hanging baskets, all types of flowers, and veggie plants," says Blue Ribbon's Jessica Gregg. "Right now we have vegetable plants, but in the summer, we will have fresh-picked vegetables."
Gregg says big box stores will not offer fresh local product.
"We use a higher quality soil, and we put a lot of time and effort into growing because we know what we are doing."
Blue Ribbon Farms is at 5367 Marine City Highway in Marine City. For more information visit them online at https://www.facebook.com/Blue-Ribbon-Farms-Greenhouses-515832145208658/.
The New Baltimore Farmers Market, at the Recreation Center at 50976 Washington St., is a non-profit market celebrating its 10th season.
"Farmer's Markets are great because of their abilities to support local, and to interact with the growers, farmers and vendors on the spot, along with the chance to meet with other members of the community," says Debra Williams, marketing manager for New Baltimore Farmer's Market.
The New Baltimore market, just south of St. Clair County, is sponsored by companies like TJ Maxx, Twisted Rooster, Washington Street Wine House, Biggby Coffee, Meijer, and more.
"The sponsors contribute financially," says Williams. "They help grow our programs and activities, like kids' activities, live events, and outreach programs."
Some of those activities scheduled for this season are:
June 4 Opening Day/Dahlia Challenge Kick Off
June 18 Street Fair Market
July 23* 10th Year Birthday Celebration *Sponsored by Community First Health
Aug. 20 Corn Roast/Summer Fun Day *Sponsored by First State
Bank/Chesterfield
Sept. 3 Art on the Bay Day (with Art Fair in the park)
Sept. 10 Grandparent & Senior Day *Sponsored by the Village of East Harbor
Sept. 24 Kids & Family Day *Sponsored by the Anchor Bay Community Foundation
Oct. 8 Harvest Festival *Sponsored by the Washington Street Wine House
Oct. 22 Vendor Blowout/Final Market Day
The market season kicks off June 4 and is open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays.
Find more information at http://www.newbaltimorefarmersmarket.com/.
Other area markets include the Richmond Farmer's Market at 68336 Beech St, The Pure Michigan Country Market http://www.puremichigancountrymarket.com/, and Lisa's Market in Richmond.
Lisa's Market, operated by Wolek Farms, at 72011 Memphis Ridge (M-19), is open seven days a week and even on holidays, during their season, which typically opens in June.
"I've been going to Lisa's Market in Richmond for years during their open season," says Richmond native Stacy Roberts. "The ladies there are super friendly; the prices are extremely good for a small town home grown market. The produce is beyond worth stopping for. My dad even stops there for tomatoes and he is NOT a shopper."
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/Lisas-Market-operated-by-Wolak-Farms-489835317752439/.