The Leelanau Farmers Market experience

By Linda Hepler Beaty
Sun contributor

After a particularly long and dreary, not to mention snowy, winter, Leelanau’s warmer weather—as well as the spring and summer bounty that comes with rising temperatures—is especially welcome. And there’s no better place to find seasonal food grown, canned, baked, dried and produced locally than a farmers market. Leelanau Farmers Market Association (LFMA), a nonprofit organization developed in 2000 by the Leelanau Agricultural Alliance in collaboration with Leelanau’s Michigan State University Extension, offers farmers markets five days a week in six locations within the county beginning in June: Empire, Glen Arbor, Lake Leelanau, Leland, Northport and Suttons Bay.

According to the Michigan Farmers Market Association, farmers markets in the state have grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade, from only 90 in 2001 to more than 300 today. The popularity of these weekly events for many people, like Jack and Sue Putnam of Glen Arbor, revolves around a farmers market being more than a means to buy food—but a unique experience. “We’re very excited about the start of the Glen Arbor farmers market; we’ve been going there since it began,” said Jack. “Everyone is so friendly and helpful, and they answer all the questions I have about the produce.”

Having an opportunity to talk directly to the farmer is one of the major advantages of a farmers market over a grocery store, said Glen Arbor market master Cindy Landers, who has held this position for three years now. “You know what you’re getting, who’s growing it, and how it was grown at a farmers market,” said Landers. “And you also have the educational experience. I hear vendors tell people all the time about how to use the produce.”

Glen Arbor’s farmers market draws as many as 1,000 people each week, said Landers, many of whom make a day of it. For starters, you can savor a breakfast of delectable baked goods, such as those found at Cheryl Janz’s Savory Selections stand. Janz, a trained culinary chef, loves to try out new recipes and flavors, and specializes in unusual combinations of ingredients. “There’s my lemon-lime basil shortbread, or the sweet-heat of my peppercorn shortbread,” said Janz. “I also make a savory scone with Gruyere cheese and one with goat cheese and pears.”

And you can pick up just about everything you need for a week of meals, too, from produce, meat, fish and cheese to jams, jelly and honey. Then there’s the “added value” goods, said Landers, like handcrafted soaps, candles, jewelry, and knit goods.

The social aspect of a farmers market is an added bonus, according to Jack Putnam. “We meet lots of our friends there that we don’t see in other venues,” he said. “We also enjoy meeting new people.”

Far from being the same old scene every year, there’s always something—or someone—new at the farmers market. This year, the LFMA is pleased to offer an expansion of the Bridge Card and Double Up Food Bucks programs to all six markets, programs which, in past years, were only in place in the Suttons Bay and Lake Leelanau locations. The Bridge Card program, said David McDonald, coordinator of Leelanau farmers markets, allows participants with a Michigan Bridge Card (also known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP) to swipe it in exchange for tokens with which to buy food. And the Double Up Food Bucks program, adds even more bang to your buck. “A customer’s first $20 in Bridge Card sales are doubled to $40 once per day, to purchase fruits and vegetables,” he explained.

There will be some new vendors this year, too. One new face you’ll see at the Glen Arbor market is Noel Weeks, co-owner along with parents Dave and Margaret Weeks, of La Casa Verde farm in Cedar. Noel, also a vendor in Suttons Bay and Lake Leelanau as well as in Traverse City, will be selling fruit, eggs, a wide variety of vegetables, and a new addition to his offerings—pork. “We raise pastured pigs,” said Weeks. “We’re offering pig shares and also cuts of USDA processed pigs.”

Weeks, who said he’s been growing food all of his life, has worked at several farms as both an intern and a volunteer in the past, learning the ins and outs of producing pesticide and herbicide free products.

A possible market addition this year is wine tasting and wine sales, following a law that went into effect in August of 2013. The new law permits the state Liquor Control Commission to issue licenses for small wineries to offer tastings (three two ounce pours) and wine sales at farmers markets. According to McDonald, the LFMA provided the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association with a letter inviting market applications, but as of yet, there are no complete applications. Still, the potential for having wine tasting at Leelanau farmers markets is exciting, said McDonald. “We encourage and celebrate all types of agriculture in our local community, and wineries are a natural fit as they contribute to the overall agri-tourism culture,” he explained. “This is another benefit we can offer to our visitors and shoppers.”

A final addition to the farmers markets in Leelanau this year are plans for educational programming, said McDonald. “I’m working with the county 4-H program director to offer various events at our markets this summer,” he added. “I’m in the process of putting together a food demonstration with a local chef at our Glen Arbor market. We have many projects in the works now, but the details have not been finalized.”

You’ll just have to wait and be surprised. Come to one or more of these Leelanau farmers markets, open all summer long:

Glen Arbor, Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., June 17-Sept. 9

Empire, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., June 21-Sept. 13

Lake Leelanau, Sundays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., June 15-Sept. 7

Leland, Thursdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., June 19 – Sept. 4

Northport, Fridays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., June 6 – Sept. 12

Suttons Bay, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., May 10 – Oct. 25