Market alternate to supermarkets

The year is 1999. Buick City closes its doors in Flint. St. Joseph Hospital is planning its move to Grand Blanc.

Nearly 18,000 workers are displaced, workers who stopped at the Farmers' Market at 420 East Boulevard Dr. on their way to or from work. Flint is reeling from this economic blow and the city's Farmers' Market suffers the aftermath of the city's budget woes.

The year is 2002. Uptown Reinvestment Corporation, a local nonprofit organization, offers to lease the Farmers' Market from the city and take over operations. Seven years later, the market is thriving again.

Today, on a summer Saturday, thousands of people buy their produce at the teeming market and meet the farmers who grow their food.

Manager Dick Ramsdell accepted the challenge to invigorate the market that began in 1940.

"This never was a neighborhood market because it's not located in a neighborhood," Ramsdell said. "But since 2002, we've become a much more regional destination.  The market doesn't rely primarily on Buick City workers any more. We're reaching out to all the Genesee County residents.

"In addition to those who come to the market to buy directly from a local grower, the market serves seniors on fixed incomes and those with lower incomes through programs like Project Fresh, that provides federal assistance coupons for low-income people and EBT," he adds.

(The EBT is an electronic payment system under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - formerly the Food Stamp Program.)

"EBT cards are welcome in the market," Ramsdell continued. "We've got about 22 vendors who have their own electronic machines to process EBT purchases - making it easy for people to purchase local produce."

Why is it good for Michigan's economy to purchase locally grown produce? According to Michigan's Department of Agriculture, if each family in Michigan spent $10 every week on locally grown products an additional $37 million would continue circulating weekly in the state.

Ramsdell said that the market's goal is to encourage its customers to spend their money on healthy, locally grown products and to support the local farmers who sell mostly their own crops. However, because the growing season in Michigan is relatively short, the market supports some vendors who are primarily resellers as well as the growers who also resell products that they don't grow.

"If our customers want watermelon in June and the Michigan melons are not ready, some vendors have watermelons from Georgia or Texas to satisfy their customers," Ramsdell said.  "Our customers need to become better informed and talk to the vendors, so that they can begin to learn what is being grown locally and what is coming onto the market from another part of Michigan or another state," Ramsdell continued.

New growing techniques may help local growers extend their seasons.

"One of our vendors - King's Karate - uses hoop houses to grow their products, extending their season to 10 to 12 months," Ramsdell explained.

Hoop houses are a hot topic in Flint. Community forums were held in June and July to gather input on a proposed ordinance change that would allow growing produce for sale in the city using hoop houses.

Ramsdell said he sees this as a positive move because local produce would become available year round and the Farmers' Market would be the ideal place to sell the crops.

Dave Turk of Turk Farms in Fenton is the market's liaison with farmers. He recruits vendors to get a varied mix of products.

"The market is a great place for farmers to make contacts with other farmers," Turk said. "We encourage creative marketing like preparing bundles or package deals and working with other vendors to give customers what they want. Sometimes the idea of 'stack it high and watch it fly' doesn't always work. Our vendors are creating new market strategies," he said.

What's hot at the market now?

"I think everything has its time - tomatoes, corn, cukes," Turk replied. "But some products have a greater sense of anticipation - like strawberries. Organics have not caught on yet and the selection is small. But they do sell.

"One of the things the Flint market does well is educating the consumer on how to prepare our products." Turk said.

Karianne Martus, marketing specialist, organizes special events to draw customers. One of the market's most successful programs is Taste of the Market that provides healthy cooking demos by professional local chefs using Michigan produce. Dort Federal Credit Union sponsors the program.

According to Dave Turk, next year the market focus will include canning and preserving produce - a good way to enjoy the bounty of Michigan year-round.

Future plans for physically expanding the market structure are on the drawing board.

The market is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.