By Gina K.
Since my arrival in Ann Arbor in the fall of 2019, visiting farmers markets quickly became our family’s Saturday morning routine. Interacting with local stores, buying fresh vegetables and fruits, and tasting delicious pie were great pleasures for me and my family as we were adopting Ann Arbor as our hometown. After the long pandemic, I was finally able to visit the farmers market again after nearly two years, and this time pumpkins and fall decorations welcomed me.
The Ann Arbor Farmers Market is open every Saturday and Wednesday from 7am-3pm, May through December. From January to April, it is open from 8am-3pm on Saturdays. It is located at the heart of downtown Ann Arbor, near Kerrytown. There is free parking in the market lot, as well as several public parking lots and garages near the market.
The Ann Arbor Farmers market’s long history is also an interesting aspect. The market first opened in 1919. The original location was at 4th avenue but it moved to its current location, 315 Detroit Street, in 1941.
Since it first opened, the Ann Arbor farmers market has served the local Ann Arbor community for more than 100 years with small local sellers able to sell their fine quality products at a good price. The items are mostly fresh farm products such as fruit, vegetables, herbs, flowers, plants, eggs, cheese, meat and prepared foods such as cookies, donuts, pie and pastries. Products for sale are not limited to food; you can also find artisan items such as candles, jewelry, and textiles. Visit the vendors page for information on vendors and products.
Although cash is the most convenient method to make a payment, there are a few other options when you don’t have cash in your hands. You could either use an ATM located near the Kerrytown shop building, or $5 credit card tokens that can be purchased at the Market Office window. For the tokens, a minimum $20 purchase is required.
Do you want to be a seller? You could apply to be a Farmers Market Vendor whether you’re a farm, food and/or beverage producer, or an artisan. For more information, read the Applicant FAQs which contains important information about the application process, fees, license requirements, etc. This is a great opportunity for new people to interact with the community and promote their products in Ann Arbor!
Visit the Farmers market website for more information. Here is a little video tour to whet your appetite!
Photos and media are courtesy of the author