Farmers Market To Be Featured in St. Ignace
By Ryan Schlehuber

To promote local farmers and their products, Mackinac County Michigan State Extension (MSUE) is offering a farmers market at the St. Ignace Public Marina each Saturday until fall.

Michelle Walk, director of the county MSUE office, is hoping the program will meet with as much success as it has in Sault Ste. Marie, which grew from two vendors in 2003 to 39 vendors last year.

The program will not take place in St. Ignace Antique Auto Show weekend or Labor Day weekend.

The first St. Ignace farmers market will feature three to five vendors from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 2.

Ms. Walk is hoping to have at least 10 vendors by fall.

"It's important to support our local farmers as a business," said Ms. Walk. "It gives the residents in the area an idea of who the local farmers are and it gives farmers a chance to sell their products locally."

Items such as eggs, honey, and maple syrup may be featured at the first few markets.

"The first few weeks will be a little hard because there's just not much produce yet," said Ms. Walk, "but hopefully by the late summer and early fall, we will be able to offer a variety of produce and products such as pumpkins, vegetables, meat, and fish. By July, we will expect a variety."

Vendors set their own prices, said Ms. Walk.

Farmers who participate in the market must meet certain requirements. Vendors must reside in Mackinac, Chippewa, or Luce counties and apply to participate. Products must be grown or manufactured in the Eastern Upper Peninsula by the vendor or a family member. For manufactured products, vendors must be able to verify that they have the appropriate permits or licenses to manufacture the product.

Local artisans and craftsmen may also participate. They must follow the same guidelines.

Ms. Walk said she hopes to hold a workshop for farmers and vendors to learn more about state and federal food guidelines; no date has been scheduled yet.

Vendors do not have to pay a participation fee at the market but will be asked to donate 1% of sales to continue to support the St. Ignace farmers market.

Vendors who would like to participate are asked to call Michelle Walk at 643-7307.