Farmers’ market returns to downtown Marquette

Marquette area residents waiting to get back outside and enjoy some fresh, locally grown food will have their chance starting this weekend.

The Downtown Marquette Farmers Market opens for its 15th season on Saturday. This year, additional vendors will help to add variety at the market.

“We’ll have spots for 42 people every week, which gives a nice energy to the market and of course lots to choose from,” said Myra Zyburt, Manager of the Farmer’s Market. “Of that, seven of those vendors will be brand new to the market, and an additional seven of that are vendors that were here just a little bit last year, and there was room for them to be full time.”

Over the past two years, close to a thousand families who otherwise could not afford locally-grown food were given the financial assistance to do so through the Double Up Food Bucks program, which continues this year.

“We’ll accept the Bridge Card starting on Saturday, and then June 1st, we have a $9,000 grant with Double Up Food Bucks,” Zyburt added. “So people that use the Bridge Card starting June 1st, when they come to the market through the rest of the season, they’ll have up to $20 additional money that’s no cost to them. It doesn’t come off their card. This is funded through the Fair Food Network.”

The market will run every Saturday at the Marquette Commons from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. until October 25th. In addition to produce, a selection of meat, eggs, and artisan goods are available, and there’s often something different each week for shoppers to try.