COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – National Farmers Market Week is August 2-8, 2015. In celebration, the Corner Farmers’ Market in downtown Coldwater will continue to grow the market with new vendors and activities every Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. through the month of August. This Saturday, WTVB will be doing a live broadcast along with live entertainment, Nashville Recording Artist Scotty Butters.
“In only five weeks the market has grown significantly in vendors and in attendees,” said Courtney Dirschell, committee person for Market, “With more and more produce coming on, we’re getting a large variety of produce and baked goods.” Currently, the market is averaging 750 people a week in attendance.
Farmers markets are more than just an outlet for fresh produce and friendly farmers. According to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) statistics, these grassroots venues have increased in number by over 60% since 2009 to nearly 8,500 today. These markets preserve farmland, stimulate local economies, increase access to fresh nutritious food, improve community health, and promote sustainability. For example, growers selling locally create thirteen full time farm operator jobs per $1 million in revenue earned while those that do not sell locally only create three. The Farmers Market Coalition recently released a series of fact sheets detailing the many other impacts of markets.
The Corner Farmers’ Market in downtown Coldwater began the first Saturday in July, the market has a wide variety of products, including organic produce, baked goods, and more. Vendors for this weekend include K’s Acres Orchard, Pure Earth, Amish produce and baked goods, Martha Newberry Baked Goods, Sycamore Nursery, JC’s Bee’s, Vibrant Health, Bronson Farms, Merkle Farms, Glei’s, Jamman, essential oils by Grechen Ennis, Frank’s Corn, Plants Sale to benefit Veterans, Teach Us Art with sidewalk chalking, and Jo Etoll with face painting.
“Farmers markets play a vital role in forming healthy, local food systems,” says Jen Cheek, Executive Director of the Farmers Market Coalition. “By providing the opportunity for farmers to connect directly with consumers, markets serve as education centers. Vendors are teaching customers about agriculture, sharing recipes, and exposing them to new foods. Markets are making people and communities stronger and healthier.“
Ken Delaney will be broadcasting from the Corner Farmers Market beginning at 8:20 a.m. Saturday.
