Monroe farmer Alton Frank sports a sampling of homegrown produce available at the Lincoln Park Farmers Market. Today marks the end of the 2011 season for the market.
By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
LINCOLN PARK — The 2011 Farmer’s Market winds down its season today, although an encore next month will offer seasonal shoppers one more opportunity to stock up on homegrown goods and gifts.
Beginning in May, every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. the intersection of Fort Park Blvd. and Philomene Street welcomes shoppers to browse produce from Michigan farms, flowers, plants, baked goods and crafts. Market Manager Leslie Lynch-Wilson said that the emphasis this year was to attract more specialty food and craft vendors to enhance the agricultural offerings. A vendor booklet was introduced this year to introduce the farmers to the community and allow special orders to be placed.
Organizers hope that the specialty vendors will join next month’s Holiday Market.
“It’s a good opportunity to pick up local produce and specialty items for Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Lynch-Wilson said, noting that crafters will be on hand for gift shoppers to begin holiday buying.
This year’s market was one of eight in the region offering the Fair Food Network’s “Double Up Food Bucks” program for Bridge Card holders. For every $2 that card holders spent on fresh food they received $2 in tokens for use at the market.
The market is sponsored by the Fort Visger Community Development Corp., the Lincoln Park Downtown Development Authority and the Fair Food Network. For information contact (313) 598-3137.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected].)