By Lisa Carolin
Now that spring weather has finally arrived, the farmers markets can’t be far behind. The first Saturday Chelsea Farmers Market is May 5 in the municipal parking lot by the library along Park Street, and the hours will be 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Because the Palmer Lot is still under construction, Market Manager Emily Griswold says both the Saturday and the Wednesday markets will stay put and not move to the Palmer Lot until 2019.
The Wednesday market will remain where it was last year as well – in the Chelsea State Bank parking lot at the intersection of M-52 and Old US-2. Because that lot is being resurfaced, the Wednesday farmers market will not start until May 16. The hours will be 2-6 p.m.
Griswold is in her second season as market manager, and Megan Ambler, who is about to graduate from Wayne State University as a Public Health major, will be the market’s new assistant manager.
Both markets will accept seven types of food assistance currencies including SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Prescription for Health, and Senior Market Bucks.
The Saturday market will offer activities for children, musical entertainment, and food demonstrations.
At an orientation for vendors April 26, Griswold said that the number of vendors has grown for both markets and will include a variety of goods for sale ranging from organic produce and herbs, breads and other baked goods, to meats, eggs, jam and pottery.
Last year, there were an average of 678 customers on Saturdays and an average of 354 customers on Wednesdays.
Expected to be at the market on opening day are:
- Kapnick Orchards
- Lake Divide Farm
- Tiani Body Care
- Lake House Bakery
- Brieland Shoultz
- Goetz
- La Baguette
- Country Hills Pottery
- Affeathermations
- Fluffy Bottom
- Sand Hill Apiaries
- Bordine Farms
- Myer Jam
- Merkel Gardens
- Heim Gardens
- Elysium Bath and Body
- fresh.
- Dougs Mugs
- Two Tracks Acres
- Anna Bristle
- Goodtimes Kettle Corn
- Vogue Booge
- Alan Scafuri
- Sand Hill Apriaries
- H and H Sugarbush
- Joseph Bowhuis
More information about the expected vendors can be found at http://chelseafarmersmkt.org.
