LANSING — Hundreds of shoppers and dozens of vendors filled the Michigan Capitol lawn Tuesday morning for the 16th annual Michigan Farmers Market Association showcase — a chance to show off the variety of produce and products available across Michigan.
More than 50 vendors lined the sidewalks on the east side of the Capitol, and seven food trucks were stationed on Capitol Avenue's curb for the event.
"Markets don't just happen. There's a lot of work that goes in behind the scenes from market organizers, vendors, and sponsors, partners, and it's really the people behind the market that make it successful," Michigan Farmers Market Association Executive Director Amanda Shreve said.
The association hosts three summer markets at the Capitol to highlight for legislators the vendors and food trucks from across Michigan offering produce, flowers, jams, breads, art pieces and meats.
The market returns to the Capitol on Aug. 27 and Sept. 24, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each time, on the Capitol lawn with different vendors and produce, depending on what is in season at that time .
Why host at the Capitol?
Every season, organizers promote Michigan's farmers, agricultural businesses and, of course, farmers markets, Shreve said, but this year organizers are advocating for new cottage food laws to help cottage food vendors thrive.
With the sidewalks packed by lunchtime Tuesday, organizers seized the opportunity to conduct surveys with passing shoppers to better understand what the public thinks about cottage food laws.
Reaction to the event was positive
"I look forward the most to the bread, " Ashley Christian said, as she sipped a cider slushy from Petey's Donuts . Christian has been attending the Farmers Market at The Capitol for five years and looks forward to supporting Lansing vendors.
At the Honey Bun Bakery stand, owner Liz Kruger said she started her business in 2019 in her kitchen. Since then, it has grown. Kruger thinks farmers markets operate best when vendors collaborate rather than compete with each other
Stacked on the table in front of Kruger were blueberry scones, sticky buns, carrot cakes, brownies, baklava and banana bread. She sells baked goods in a variety of ways, and farmers markets have been good for business.
"We've been voted No. 1 cinnamon roll in Lansing; so we are a hidden little gem because we don't have a storefront," Kruger said.
In the Lansing Art Gallery stand, the cards and stickers designed by artists in Michigan were attracting the most attention from shoppers. The gallery has been participating with the Farmers Market at The Capitol for three seasons.
"It's just a good way to get our name out in the community and see some new people," said the executive director of the gallery, Michelle Carlson.
Along with the fresh food, farmers markets help to bring friends and family together.
Appreciating the scale of the Farmers Market at The Capitol, Mindy Woolman, frequently shops at the Eastern Ingham Farmers Market , which is a bit smaller.
"Clean, inviting, welcoming, and samples are always good," Woolman said in describing a successful farmers market. She adds the time with her daughter to shop around makes it fun.
Lansing vendors and food trucks
Among the food truck vendors on hand from Lansing Tuesday included:
- Allen Neighborhood Center
- Lansing Art Gallery
- Fire and Rice Paella
- Picnic Food Truck
- Tantay
- The Smoke N Pig BBQ
- Honey Bun Bakery
- Naught Goat Farm
- Clover Joy Collective
Other area vendors included:
- Andy T's Farm Market, St. Johns
- Micro Meadows, Grand Ledge
- Pondside Farms, DeWitt
- Along the Fence Daylilies, Dansville
- Tri-County Iris Society, Okemos
- From Scratch Food Truck, Okemos
- Shove It Pizza Truck, Grand Ledge
Contact Sarah Moore at smoore@lsj.com .
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Farmers market on Capitol lawn in Lansing showcases Michigan foods, produce, products
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