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Mainstreet Association's Farmers Market opens Saturday

Staff Reports
Published: Tuesday, May 1, 2012 5:06 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY – The Mainstreet Association’s Farmers Market has been a popular Saturday destination for more than 20 years. Another year is ready to kick off Saturday.

Located at the corner of Washington and Eighth Street, the types of products and number of vendors fluctuates throughout the season, said Jerry Peters, one of the event organizers. Still a little early for produce, there will be plenty of other products, including landscaping plants, hanging baskets, herbs, baked goods and gourmet food products for those wanting locally produced or regional products.

Just two blocks south of Lighthouse Place, the market opens at 8 a.m. each Saturday through October and continues until noon or until the vendors sell out.

Market Manager Ruth Deutscher said that many favorite vendors are returning to the market this year and local not-for-profit groups will conduct weekly bake sales. Among the vendors returning are Burek Farms, Cyrano’s Bistro, Vicini Farms, Natural Wonders Kitchen and Garden, Garwood Orchards, Billy Boy’s Blueberry Farm, Sevick Gardens, McCarty’s Farm, Grandpa’s Farm, The Plant Ladies, Stamper Cheese and more.

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Some new vendors this year include a locally-produced honey distributor and Oh Mamma’s Deli out of Walkerton, Peters said.

Area residents will find knowledgeable vendors who are able to answer their questions about the products such as how they are grown and how to prepare them. Also, the market has become a “gathering place” to meet friends and enjoy other activities throughout the season.

A limited number of spaces are still available to vendors on either a season or weekly basis. Interested vendors can contact Deutscher at (219) 879-5807.

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BACK AT THE MARKET

Hunter Letker, 4, Michigan City, enjoyed a Whoopie Pie while he visited the Mainstreet Association's Farmer's Market opening day Saturday in the parking lot at Eighth and Washington streets. Photo by Deborah Sederberg
Mainstreet Farmer’s Market returns for the season
By Deborah Sederberg
Staff Writer
Published: Sunday, May 6, 2012 5:06 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — Although the sky was gloomy, shoppers and sellers alike were smiling and laughing as they visited and chatted about available products on opening day of The Mainstreet Assocition’s Farmers Market Saturday morning.

“I’m so glad to see you,” said Ed Burek of Burek Farms while greeting a longtime customer. “We have been coming here for about 20 years now,” Burek said, noting that many of his customers come back to the Farmer’s Market year after year as well.

His asparagus was selling at a brisk pace on Saturday and radishes were popular as well.

“He has the best sweet corn in Indiana,” said one customer. The corn, naturally, is not yet available, said Burek, whose farm is just south of La Porte. He did have some dark red greenhouse-grown tomatoes, however.

Over at the Temple Missionary Baptist Church youth group, the chocolate Whoopie Pies were moving well, according to member Casey Nowatzke. Members Coltyn Nowatzke and Natalie Parker said people seemed to like the cheese cake (plain and blueberry) and cookies as well.

Four-year-old Hunter Letker, a preschooler at Queen of All Saints preschool, was eating a ring around his chocolate Whoopie Pie and taking a break to spell his first name when someone asked him what it was. He was accompanied by his mom, Lisa Letker.

Ruth Deutscher, Farmers Market manager, said people seemed to be buying a wide variety of items.

Indeed, shoppers could find flower, vegetable and herb plants, jams, jellies and honey, tomatoes (greenhouse grown), coffee, and a large variety of baked goods from Lakeshore Coffee, Ben’s Bakery of Shipshewana, Truffle cake and Pastry Shoppe, the Relay for Life table, and Temple Missionary Baptist Church youth group.

Ruth Gieser, a Michigan City resident, took a look at the French bread at the Lakeshore Coffee booth. “It is good,” agreed Amber Ramion, who was tending the Lakeshore display.

Allan Whitlow, executive director of The Boys and Girls Club, bought himself some work to do at home. “I’m going to pick up a flat of impatiens,” he said. “My wife asked me why I can’t just relax and I told her working in the yard is relaxing.”

As the season progresses, Deutscher said, more and more products will be available at the market.