What's in season? Michigan offers a variety of summer delights for fruit, vegetable lovers

LANSING — Lansing-area residents look forward to summer for warm weather and vacation, but it's also time to enjoy nature's bounty as a series of tasty treats ripen on vines and trees for everyone to enjoy.

Michigan is one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the United States, and its bounty shows at local farmers markets and farms.

At the Meridian Township Farmers Market, for instance, celebrating its 50th season this summer, up to 60 vendors offer fresh produce, meats, coffee, soaps and baked goods for sale.

“A good farmers market has to have a lot of local vendors not necessarily from the Meridian Township area, but just from the state of Michigan,” said Marisha Curtis , a 23-year-old Haslett resident who periodically shops at farmers markets.

The Meridian Township market, one of many in the area, is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday with live music, and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Wednesday at 1995 Central Park Drive.

The market became a safe haven for friends and family to visit and enjoy each other's company during the pandemic and has since grown with more vendors, food trucks and sustainability activities like composting, Market Manager Tom Cary said.

“It's been an investment by the community," Cary said. "Only reason this is here is because everybody keeps showing up.”

Vendors on July 6 included such local businesses as Diemer's Farm, Mac's Market, Mycophile's Garden, English Flower Farm, and San Fili Meats offering such things as homemade jams, herbs, mushrooms, flowers and sausages.

"I will be back," said 71-year-old Julie Benzie, an East Lansing resident who was leaving the market with a heavy bag of pickles, jalapeno cheddar bread, blueberries, radishes, and green onions.

While area markets offer a variety in one place, if you would prefer to pick your own produce, you can do so at a number of locations.

Charlotte's Atlas Orchards, 3400 Maurer Road, is offering you-pick harvesting for blueberries, peaches, and apples until July 14, according to business' Facebook page . In Williamston, Schafer Raspberries , 4340 Beeman Road, is offering you-pick raspberries.

In St. Johns, at Phillips Orchards , 1174 W. Gratiot Countyline Road, guests can pick peaches in mid-July and August, according to the orchard's Facebook .

Here's a look at when you can expect to see Michigan's fruits and vegetables ready to pick, harvest and eat, according to the Michigan availability guide .

July: apricots, cherries, raspberries, eggplant and cabbage

August: cucumbers, beets, cauliflower, tomatoes, cantaloupe and watermelon

September: corn, peppers, apples, grapes, nectarines and plums

October: pumpkins, rutabagas and squash

November: Brussels sprouts, celery, onions, potatoes and turnips

Michigan ranks first in the nation for producing tart cherries, dry black beans, cranberry beans and small red beans, asparagus, cucumbers and squash. Michigan ranks No. 3 in the nation for blueberry production.

Contact Sarah Moore at smoore@lsj.com

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: What's in season? Michigan offers a variety of summer delights for fruit, vegetable lovers