EAST LANSING, Mich. — Opening day of the 2019 East Lansing Farmers Market (ELFM) is just around the corner, taking place on Sunday, June 2 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Valley Court Park, 280 Valley Court.
There will be a special ringing of the “market bell” with East Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows at 10 a.m. on opening day, followed by a giveaway of free, reusable ELFM shopping bags to the first 150 customers. There will also be free ELFM cookies made by vendor Jenny’s Sweets & Treats, a face painter (Karen Miller) and other market giveaways. Opening day live music will include Pooh Stevenson from 10 a.m.-noon and Marilyn Tennant from noon-2 p.m.
The 2019 season will run June 2-Oct. 27 on Sundays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Valley Court Park.
About the Market
The ELFM draws a crowd of more than 1,000 visitors to Valley Court Park each week to shop for farm-grown Michigan produce and products. As a growers-only market, ELFM vendors are required to grow their own produce and/or make their own products. The ELFM is located in an inviting, open-air park atmosphere, just steps away from the MSU campus and downtown East Lansing.
This year’s vendor lineup includes a great mix of new and returning vendors. The 2019 vendors include: The 517 Coffee Company, Applegarth Honey, Bavarian Inn Cluck Truck, Civil Ferments, Clyde’s Pit, Corrion Farms, The Country Mill, DavePops, Droscha Sugarbush, El Burrito Mexicano, Fire and Rice, The Fresh Lake Whitefish Company, From Scratch Food Truck, Guiding Light Garlic Farm, Hickory Knoll Farms Creamery, Jenny’s Sweets & Treats, MI Drinks, Mycophile’s Garden, Owosso Organics, Pregitzer Farm Market, Rust Belt Roastery, Sanctuary Pizza, Sapo De Solis, Steffey Farm/Para Para Creamery, Stone Circle Bakehouse, Tomac Pumpkin Patch, Trillium Wood Farm, Wernette Beef, Wildflower Eco Farm, Wooden Shoe Herb Farm and Zumo Eco Farm.
Live musical performances take place at the market each week from 10 a.m.-noon and noon-2 p.m.
Power of Produce
This season, the ELFM will be introducing the Farmers Market Coalition’s Power of Produce (POP) Club. For six weekends, POP will teach children about eating healthy, where their food comes from and more. They will also receive coupons to spend at the market on fresh produce (fruits and vegetables only). Parents will be able to sign their children up for POP at the ELFM!
SNAP/Bridge Card & Double Up Food Bucks Benefits
The ELFM accepts SNAP/Bridge Cards at the market and allows EBT-eligible customers to stretch their dollars with the Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) program. As a result of a grant from the Fair Food Network, the DUFB program "matches" SNAP/Bridge Card dollars spent at farmers markets. Customers will receive a dollar for dollar match (up to $20) that can be spent on fresh fruits and vegetables grown in Michigan. For example, if a customer spends $20 on their SNAP/Bridge Card, they would receive an extra $20 to spend (limited to $20 per market Sunday).
Community members can learn more about the ELFM at www.cityofeastlansing.com/farmersmarket.