GRFM Market and Member News

Raspberries are in season and really yummy, I ate a pint during Wednesday’s market. Lots of other veggies are at market too. Zucchini are ready! Green and yellow beans are showing up. Tomatoes and sweet corn are starting along with beets and cabbage. Oh… There is just so… much good fresh stuff this time of year.

Some pictures from last Wednesdays market have been added to the photo gallery. I’d like to thank market visitors, Selket and Sigrid for taking some pictures for me. Good job girls!

Yummy Red Raspberries

Yum! The Strawberries are ready! There were 3 vendors with strawberries at Wednesday’s market. The season is beginning, so there should be nice fresh yummy berries for a while.

Peas and herbs were also available. The peas did sell out, so you’ll want to get them fairly early in the day.

I can attest to how good the bread sticks and cookies are… Couldn’t resist getting some from the folks that had the baked goods.

With the season progressing… more variety and more vendors are at market.

The road construction has been completed on the highway by the market. It looks nice with the planters of flowers along the sidewalk and the new sidewalk lights. It’s also easier for folks from the north and west to get to the market.

With the cool weather this spring, everything is running late, 2 to 3 weeks on most veggies. They are starting with a somewhat limited supply so far. So… You will need to come early in order to get some things.

Great River Gardens brought asparagus, radishes, lettuce, spinach, rhubarb, and lots of perennial plants last Saturday. The asparagus was sold out by 10am.

A couple of vendors had honey, baked goods, plus jams and jellies. I snacked on Garlic herb bread sticks and buttermilk scones.

Rhubarb was in good supply with some left at closing time.

I’m beginning to get some of the pictures from this season posted:

Market Pictures 2008

Hopefully we will get some nice warm weather and the gardens will grow with more and more at market all the time.

The Highway 2 road construction is still ongoing, so access to the market is still from the south side. Curbs and gutters are in on the stretch going by the market site, so it’s looking like it won’t be too long before that section is done.

The market season is off to a start with flowers, bedding plants, canned goods, and baked goods. More things will be coming as the season progresses. The cold weather has slowed things up for many folks.

We can hope that warm weather will be here to stay so the gardens get going.

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The new location downtown seems to be working out, and folks are finding the market in spite of road construction. The construction looks like it’s moving right along, so hopefully it will be finished on schedule and access to the market will improve. Tho access is not bad now… You just have to get to the market from the southeast.

The market is getting ready for the move downtown and the start of a new season.

Hopes are… Opening on the first Saturday in May (the 3rd) with plants, jams & jellies, plus crafts will get the market off to a good start.

The market’s bylaws have been updated and the latest copy posted. Or if you are interested in becoming a member you can download a copy of the bylaws, a membership form, and vendor guidelines.

Dues have been set at $55 for folks who join the market by August 1st, and daily fee per vendor space at $5.

Anyone interested in more information can attend the next meeting to be held on April 7th, 10 am at the Grand Rapids Extension Office. Or you can email manager @ grfarmersmarket . org.

The market will be moving downtown this year.  That means some changes.  Opening date will be earlier (first part of May) as some folks will be selling plants. The market will be operating both Wednesday’s and Saturdays for the whole season.

The first meeting of the year was held last Tuesday with discussion about the upcoming move and how that will effect the market.  It’s hoped the new location will be good for all concerned.  (Right across Hwy 2 from the mall.)

New signs and banners are needed plus advertising to  get the word out about the new location, so expenses will be higher.  It was decided to increase the cost of membership dues to $55 for those joining by August 1st with dues going up to $110 for anyone joining after that.

Bylaws were discussed and are under review with proposed changes to be voted on at the next meeting, to be held on Monday, March 3rd, 10 AM, at the Grand Rapids extension office.

We were all pleasantly surprised at the number of vendors and customers last Saturday. It was a fun and busy day with many regular customers just checking in for the first time this year. It’s nice to catch up on market friends lives. We’ve watched many children grow and go at our market. One of our vendors sons is headed to India to teach them Powerpoint and other Microsoft applications! Another is getting married. We have a 1 year old grand daughter already. Seems we were just letting the our girls take turns at helping out at the stand! All are out of the nest now,no one gardens,I guess that will come later!
This week we’ll have more raspberries, Walla Walla onions, flowers, herbs, new garlic, new red potatoes, zukes,and probably some greens. Heat and deer have ruined the beans and done considerable damage to the vine crops. The DNR was here last week and we will be on the list for fencing next year. Now we can finally try those apples, rutabaga, flowers and other deer delicacies.

Blueberries are beginning to ripen and were at the market today. Yum…. They are tasty.

Sadly the strawberry season has come to an end, however raspberries are doing well and there are lots of them at market.

Beets and onions are growing well with several vendors selling them.

Lovely flowers are available. Like these sunflowers:

Raspberries are coming in strong.  Mmmm…. they are tasty.  There are several vendors bringing berries.

The first local sweet corn was at Wednesday’s market.  Ben grows his corn in the Wendigo area and starts some of it under plastic so he can have an early crop.

It’s nearing the end of Strawberry season, there will probably be berries Saturday yet.  Come early as the supply might be limited.

All kinds of onions are available, from large sweet ones to red, yellow, and  white ones.  Fresh Garlic and Shallots can also be found.

Peas, both shelling and sugar snaps (where you eat the pod and all) go good with the new potatoes which are just starting to appear.

There are a few green beans showing up.  Quantities are limited so come early to get them.

Plenty of lovely fresh flowers are perfect for brightening up your home, office, or bringing a smile to a loved one.

The market has gotten off to a good start with lots of fresh veggies and fruit beginning to show up on vendor tables.

There are green top beets from small to medium size.  Green top shallots and onions.  You can find plenty of salad fixings with several kinds of lettuce, spinach, beet greens, and other goodies.  The herbs can be used so many ways, in cooking meals or salads.  Peas and broccoli are great this time of year.

You can find honey along with many kinds of jams and jellies.  And, on Saturdays there is maple syrup and locally raised meats.  Don’t forget the home baked bread and cookies, mmmm they are good.

Cucumbers and zucchini are just starting to show up along with a few fresh raspberries.  It’s about mid-season for strawberries.  Blueberries shouldn’t be too far in the future.

Check out some pictures from this season.

Be sure to stop in and visit Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 8 to noon.