Leelanau Farmers Markets are in full force as the harvesting and tourist season arrives.
Glen Arbor welcomed its first farmers market of the season last week along with Leland, Northport, and Empire. Suttons Bay is five weeks deep into its season.
As of Tuesday, Glen Arbor’s farmers market tallied 41 vendors with 60 expected as the summer begins to heat up. Of the 41 vendors, roughly 25 were from Leelanau with the remaining from Grand Traverse or Benzie County.
Almost 100 people were waiting for the 9 a.m. start with over 700 people traveling through the local farmers market by noon.
Dana Boomer of Still Point Market says the weather has begun cooperating for these early farmers markets.
“The rest of the markets this past week, for the most part, are really good. Last week the weather wasn’t so hot. It rained Tuesday and Saturday and was super windy on Friday. But that is how it is. Today, it is absolutely gorgeous. Could not ask for better market weather,” Boomer said.
Still Point Market is an Empire family business that harvests maple syrup, fruits and vegetables, culinary mushrooms, plants, and all sorts of things.
“The majority of what we sell, we grow,” Boomer said.
Still Point Market participates in Glen Arbor on Tuesdays, Northport on Fridays, and Empire on Saturdays.
“The goal is to get the local products that we grow out to customers that can come and talk to the people that grew their food,” Boomer said.
Rachel Alexander of Beulahbased Sleeping Bear Granola, travels north to catch the summer traffic through Leelanau County farmers markets.
“Leelanau offers a unique visitor experience and it’s good to be able to tap into that,” she said. “You just get lots of tourists here who appreciate quality and are here to enjoy what the local area has provided. So we’re here to provide them with (Sleeping Bear Granola).”
Annie Lively of Lively Farms runs the farmers market stand for the family business.
“It’s a nice way to ease into the day. It was busy early in the morning,” she said. “It’s great because we’ve gotten to know people now over the years, so people come and they look for us. It’s a good way for us to get sales, but also it’s just fun to get to know people ... It’s relationship building as much as anything.”
Lively Farms will be doing a soft opening at their new farm stand next week at 9990 S. Bow Road in Maple City.
“There probably will be some sort of grand opening (soon). Keep your eyes peeled for that. You gotta come (to the Glen Arbor farmers market) next week to get the information,” Lively said. “We are still small as far as produce goes, but our lettuce is our best seller. Some people say that the stuff in the bag will last two weeks.”
Leland’s farmers market runs every Thursday June 6 through September 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church parking lot, 303 East Pearl St.
Northport’s turn is every Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 7 through September 20 across from the marina at 105 S. Bay Street.
Suttons Bay and Empire are both on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Suttons Bay will go through October and Empire will go through Labor Day.
