Tag Archive | southeast area farmers market

Southeast Area Farmers’ Market Vendor Spotlight

Oct4

One of the challenged of getting the new  Southeast Area Farmer’s Market locations off the ground has been recruiting vendors to sell chemical free produce. Several vendors have stepped forward to make these markets a success this past summer.  Let’s shine the spotlight on two of them today.

Robert Tolbert Jr. perfects his display of fresh, family grown produce.

Robert Tolbert Sr. has come to both market locations all season long. Mr. Tolbert grows his produce in a plot in the Hillcrest Community Garden and at a garden on his own property. Last Saturday at Garfield Park, his wife, Jeannie, and son, Robert Jr. were on hand selling the bountiful turnips, collard greens, tomatoes, peppers, giant green beans, corn and peppers.

Jeannie stays out of the garden but helps out by washing, bundling and displaying the crop at market—and she does a beautiful job. “My husband, he loves to see things grow,” Mrs. Tolbert says.

“Fresh grown produce is hearty and yummy,” says Mrs. Kass.

The Kasses bring produce from their half-acre, chemical free garden in Kent City. Bob Kass grew up in the Garfield Park neighborhood so enjoys getting back to his roots, so to speak. “We got more than we can eat so we’ve been giving produce away to the food pantry. If we sell some, too, then we can replant next year,” Mr. Kass says.

Last week, the Kasses brought several varieties of Kale, tomatoes, sweet corn, apples and herbs to market. “Fresh grown produce is hearty and yummy,” says Mrs. Kass. “I can eat as much of it as I want and it doesn’t matter—I  lost 80 pounds by eating fruits and vegetables instead of other fattening foods!“

Just a reminder

You can use your Project Fresh, Senior Project Fresh, WIC or Kent County Health Department coupons for produce at either Southeast Area Farmers’ Market location. We also accept EBT/Bridge Cards and participate in the Double Up Food Bucks program. The market locations are:

  • Fridays 5 to 7 p.m.  At Gerald R. Ford Middle School.
  • Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Garfield Park.

Both Southeast Area Farmers’ Market locations are open through Nov. 6.

Southeast Area Farmers’ Market looking forward to busy fall

Sep21

Now that school is back in session, the Southeast Area Farmer’s Market Gerald R Ford Middle School location  will remain open–but for fewer hours.  Beginning Sept. 9, this location will be open from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., so as not to interfere with school traffic and activities.

August was a grand month for this location. During the four dates the market was open, we counted a total of 310 customer visits.  That means a lot of healthy food is making it into our neighborhoods’ kitchens. A big thank you to all those who came to the market! Thanks for telling  your friends and neighbors. Another big thank you to The Grand Rapids Times!  The column they have been running about the market has been instrumental in spreading the word.

The Southeast Area Farmer’s Market’s two locations distributed 137 Double Up Food Bucks tokens to our customers. These customers doubled the amount of produce they received for the amount they spent. It’s not too late to take advantage of this program. If you shop with an EBT card, you will receive a $2 token for every two dollars you spend—up to $20 in tokens each time you visit.

The markets also honored $225 worth of Kent County Health Department and Project Fresh coupons. If you have any of these coupons, bring them in before it’s too late!

The Southeast Area Farmer’s Market Garfield Park location is open Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Both farmers’ market locations will be open through November 6.