GRAND TRAVERSE HOMESCHOOL inclusive networking support
LOCAL FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
On this page, you will find listings for various Farmers' Markets around the region, Community Supported Agriculture Farms (also known as CSAs), some unique food-related field trip ideas for the area, and even some local seasonal recipes (scroll down!). I found most of this information because of a great local free publication called edible Grande Traverse - be sure to check it out!
Community Farmers' Markets
Early Season (April and May Schedules)
The 2008 Taste the Local Difference guide to local farm foods from the Michigan Land Use Institute becomes available after Memorial Day and will list schedules for June through October for the farmers' markets listed below as well as ones not yet open. Check there for updated information.
Antrim County
Antrim County Farmers' Market
8 am- noon Fridays starting May 23, behind the Senior Center in Bellaire on M-88. 231-588-6063
Benzie County
Elberta Farmers' Market
7:30 am - noon Thursdays, starting May 22. Elberta Marina Pavilion Park, M-22 and M-168. 231-352-7862
Frankfort Farmers' Market
8am- q pm Saturdays, starting May 10. Green Space on Main St., between 9th and 10th in front of boat launch. 231-352-9600
Charlevoix County
Boyne City Farmers' Market
8 am- noon Wednesdays and Saturdays, starting May 3. Old City Park on River St. 231-350-2881.
East Jordan Farmers' Market
9 am-1 pm Thursdays, starting May 15. Sportman's Park. 231-536-2526
Grand Traverse County
City Market Farmers' Market
8 am-2 pm Saturdays, starting April 5 and 8 am- 1 pm Wednesdays, starting May 14. Railway Station at 8th and Woodmere, Traverse City. 231-947-1277
Interlochen Farmers' Market
9 am-1 pm Sundays, starting May 11. Earth and Hearth, south of Interlochen Corners on M-137. 231-276-9105
Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers' Market
8 am-Noon Saturdays, starting May 10. Parking lot along Grandview Pkwy, between Cass and Union, TC. 231-922-2050.
Kalkaska County
Springfield Recreation Area Farmers' Market
3 pm to 7 pm Thursdays, starting May 22. Five miles SE of Fife Lake at Lund and Creighton Roads. 231-879-4249
Leelanau County
Suttons Bay Farmers' Market
9 am to 1 pm Saturdays, starting May 17
Corner of Lincoln and Broadway. 231-256-9888
Manistee County
Manistee Farmers' Market
8 am to noon Saturdays, starting May 31. Parking lot across from Dial-A-Ride on Memorial Drive. 231-723-9973.
CSA FARMS
Big Dipper Eco-Farm
Eric and Jackie Green
Kingsley (Grand Traverse County)
231-263-3639
Birch Point Farm
Michelle ferrarese and Marty Heller
Traverse City (Leelanau County)
231-933-7256
Black Star Farms
Nic Welty
Suttons Bay (Leelanau County)
231-620-4775
Eco Learning Center
Jayne Leatherman Walker
Traverse City (Leelanau County)
231-620-4775
Five Springs Farm
Jo Meller and Jim Sluyter
Bear Lake (Manistee County)
231-889-3216
Good Neighbor Farms of Leelanau County
Stan Silverman
Northport (Leelanau County)
231-271-5679
The May Farm
Paul, Sharron, and Avery May
Frankfort (Benzie County)
231-352-5210
Meadowlark Farm
Jenny Tutlis and Jon Watts
Lake Leelanau (Leelanau County)
231-256-6980
**Mitchell HIll Farm**
(fall/winter season)
Jim Ruster
Ellsworth (Antrim County)
231-588-6063
Providence Farm
Ryan Romeyn
East Jordan (Antrim County)
231-536-1193
Real Food Blackbird Garden
Mike Everts
Petoskey (Emmet County)
231-348-3044
Spring Hollow Dairy L.L.C.
Richard and Diana Jelenek
Buckley (Grand Traverse County)
231-269-4139
Sweeter Song Farm
Judy Reinhardt and Jim Schwantes
Cedar (Leelanau County)
231-228-7301
Ware Farm
Bernie and Sandee Ware
Bear Lake (Manistee County)
231-864-3242
Wells Family Farm
Michael and Phyllis Wells
Williamsburg (Grand Traverse County)
231-264-9522
A Few Good Links
The Master Gardener Association of Northwest Michigan (MGANM)
What's For Dinner? from Oryana
Northwest Wineries - Some of these northern coastal vineyards are so gorgeously landscaped. Black Star Farms also makes award winning cheese on-site where you can watch the cheesemakers at work.
Unique food-related
field trips
Oryana Food Co-op - The first co-op in the country to become a certified Organic Retailer. This co-op has been operating out of Traverse City since the early 70s.
Farm to Schools is a wonderful resource for field trip ideas. Fresh Food Partnership is involved in bringing this program to area youth.
Platte River State Fish Hatchery
15120 US-31 Beulah, MI 49617
231-325-4611
Free self-guided tours. Information Center, hatchery building, lower weir harvest facility and upper weir egg-take station. Fall is a great time to visit, thousands of salmon can be seen.
Kilwin's Candy Kitchens
355 North Division Street
Petoskey, MI 49770
Group tours (10+) available by reservation druing non-peak candy-making.
Friske Orchards
Friske's Farm Market
10743 N. U.S. 31 @ Atwood
Ellsworth, MI 49729
(231) 599-2604
Field trip description
Creation Farm. They offer a soap making school and field trips.
Murdick's Fudge Shoppe in Suttons Bay has a link on their website for you to view the fudge-making process.
Grocer's Daughter Chocolate in Empire and their field trip description.
Jordan Valley Bison
132 Old State Road
East Jordan, MI 49727
Antrim County
Field trip description
Rennie Orchads
7700 Timberline Rd.
Williamsburg, MI 49690
Antrim County
Field trip description
Zenner Farms in Kingsley
1896 Clous Road
Kingsley, MI 49649
231-263-5339
Will give tour of greenhouse, showing how they start tomatoe plants from seed, grow them to maturatiy, and harvest them.
