By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
The calendar has turned from April to May.
And that means, among other things, it’s time for the local farmers’ markets to open for the 2024 season.
The Plainwell Famers’ Market—located this year off of M-89 on the paper mill site at 200 Allegan St.—held its opening day on Thursday, May 2. It will be open each Thursday through Sept. 26 from 3 to 6:30 p.m.
The Otsego Farmers’ Market, meanwhile, opens on Saturday, May 18, and will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Saturday until the end of October.
Angela Newton serves as assistant manager of the Otsego market.
“This is a great time of year,” Newton said. “Our vendors and market managers are really excited for the market to begin. We always look forward to the start of the market season.”
The Otsego market returns to its location in the Otsego Church of God parking lot at 112 Kalamazoo St.
“(The Church of God parking lot) gives us a great location for our customers,” Newton said. “It’s very easy to locate and drive to, being off of M-89.”
Products available each week at the Otsego market include: fresh produce, fresh baked goods, fresh-cut flowers, freshly baked artisan breads, farm fresh eggs, popcorn, jams/jellies, honey, maple syrup, candy, soaps, woodworking items and crafts.
The market also features live music and a locally owned food truck each week.
“People might not know that there is locally fresh produce around Michigan in May,” Newton said. “Rhubarb and asparagus that is grown outside will be available by market opening date. We also have produce vendors who grow in greenhouses or hoophouses, where we can get produce to the market at an earlier date than produce that is grown outside.”
If someone would like to visit the Otsego Farmers’ Market but lacks transportation, Allegan County Transportation can provide rides.
As with the Otsego market, the Plainwell Farmers’ Market includes a variety of products ranging from fresh produce to baked goods to honey to syrup to crafts to artisan-type products. Food trucks are also on site each week.
The kickoff of the Plainwell market included the following vendors: The D.A.M. Ranch, Abuelo’s Farm, Linda’s Designs, Mike’s Classic Chips, My Art With Laura, Larry’s Retired Hide Leathercraft, Soul Studio, Pam’s Quilts N More, Zazu Mushrooms, Nic Nik’s Unique Night Lights, Cheryl Kemp, Bad Girl From Brimstone, Mouse’s Cookiez, Viking Bakery Breads, The Blue Rose, Sprout & Spores, Ben’s Soft Pretzels and Army Dog.
“Opening day went great,” City of Plainwell community development manager Denise Siegel said. “We had a wonderful turnout of vendors and shoppers, plus we successfully avoided the rain.”
According to the City of Plainwell website, the Plainwell Farmers’ Market has four primary goals:
- to be a profitable outlet for local farmers, artisans and bakers;
- to create a gathering spot and opportunity for social interactions for Plainwell-area residents;
- to provide an ample selection and variety of high-quality, fresh, locally-grown produce and crafts for customers;
- to bring people downtown and foster a sense of community.
For more information about the Plainwell Farmers’ Market, visit https://www.facebook.com/Plainwellmarket.
Visit https://www.facebook.com/Otsegofarmersmarket to learn more about the Otsego market.
