This Thursday, September 12, the second Farmers Market at the Capitol of the summer will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the East Lawn of the Capitol Building in Lansing.
More than 65 vendors from Holland to Bad Axe to Sault Ste. Marie, with gather to highlight Michigan’s agrifood industry, selling a huge diversity of products, including seasonal fruit and vegetables, cut flowers and potted plants, spices and herbs, honey, maple syrup, baked goods, meat and fish, cheese, nuts, soap and much more. These products are only a sampling of the more than 300 agricultural commodities that Michigan produces. Shoppers can see a list of vendors and products at www.mifma.org or on the mobile site using smartphones at www.kww.net/mktcap.
The food and agriculture industry in Michigan contributes $91.4 billion annually to the state’s economy, an increase of more than 50 percent from 2004 to 2010. With that, the growth of farmers markets in the state, and across the country, has been huge as more consumers look for local food. According to the USDA, 8,144 farmers markets are now listed in the National Farmers Market Directory, up from about 5,000 in 2008. Michigan ranks fourth nationally in the number of farmers markets with more than 330 across the state.
Thursday’s Farmers Markets at the Capitol will accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Bridge Cards, along with Double Up Food Bucks, WIC Project FRESH and Market FRESH, thanks to a partnership with the Bath Farmers Market. All of these programs help put more fresh foods, especially fruit and vegetables, onto the plates of low-income families. Currently, 130 Michigan farmers markets accept SNAP Bridge Cards, increasing local food access statewide.
This is the eighth year that a farmers market has been held on the Capitol lawn. This market was hosted by the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA), in partnership with Michigan Food and Farming Systems and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Sponsors for the event were Auto-Owners Insurance; the Blue Care Network of Michigan; CATA Clean Commute Options; Independent Bank; the Lansing State Journal; the Michigan Fitness Foundation; the Food Bank Council of Michigan; GreenStone Farm Credit Services; Michigan State University (MSU) Center for Regional Food Systems; W.K. Kellogg Chair in Agricultural, Food and Community Ethics, Dr. Paul Thompson; Advanced Insurance Markets; Fair Food Network; Michigan Food Policy Council, and MSU Federal Credit Union.
To find a full list of farmers markets in Michigan, including those that accept food assistance benefits, click “Find a Farmers Market”.