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Find Fresh, Homegrown Goodness at West Michigan Farm Markets

One of the best things about West Michigan is the fresh goodness of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Various farm markets around the region offer a bounty of the best-tasting produce around. Shopping for fresh produce is convenient, with many of the local farm markets open from May until September or October.

Here are Details on West Michigan Farmers Markets:

Mason County

Ludington – 3pm-7pm on Fridays during the summer. It is located in Legacy Plaza– 110 N. James St., Ludington. May 27th-September 23rd, 2022.
Scottville – Scottville 10 + 31 Celebration on Saturday, August 6th and during the Scottville Fall Celebration on Saturday, September 17th.

Oceana County

Pentwater – Mondays and Thursdays from 10am-1pm on the Pentwater Village Green- 327 S. Hancock St, Pentwater. The Monday market runs from June 6th-September 5th and the Thursday market runs from June 6th-September 22nd, 2022.
New Era – 4-7pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from June 28th-Labor Day. 1820 Ray Ave., New Era.

Manistee County

Manistee – 9am-12pm on Saturdays, May 28th-October 1st, 2022. Wagoner Community Center- 260 St. Mary S. Pkwy.
Onekama – 2pm-6pm on Fridays, June through mid September. Main Street, which is a part of M-22, across from Onekama Hardware.

Benzie County

Elberta – 8am-12:30pm on Thursdays, May 26th–Labor Day. After labor day, hours shorten to 9am-12pm. The market is located in Penway Park- 1098 Lakeside Blvd, Elberta.
Frankfort – 9am-1pm on Saturdays, May–October . The market is located in the Open Space Park- 800 Main St., Frankfort.

Leelanau County

Empire – 9am-1pm on Saturdays, June 11th–September 3rd. It is located on Front Street next to the Post Office.
Glen Arbor – 9am-1pm on Tuesdays, June 7th–September 13th. 6394 W. Western Ave., Glen Arbor
Leland – 9am-1pm on Thursdays, June 9th–September 8th. Bluebird Parking Lot- 102 River St., Leland.
Northport – 9am-1pm on Fridays, June 3rd– September 9th. 105 S. Bay St., Northport.
Suttons Bay – 9am-1pm on Saturdays, May 14th–October 22nd. North Park- corner of M204 & M-22 at 601 Front St., Suttons Bay.

Grand Traverse County

Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers Market in Traverse City – 8am-12pm on Wednesdays and 7:30am-12pm on Saturdays, May 7th–October 26th. Southwest corner of Cass St. and Grandview Parkway in Downtown Traverse City. (The Market moves to the Old Town Parking Garage during the National Cherry Festival).
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons Farmers Markets – 2pm-6pm on Mondays, May 6th-October 3rd. In the winter, their market is from 10am-2pm on Saturdays. Both are located on Cottageview Drive, near Trattoria Stella in the Village.

West Michigan Harvests

Although the seasons are dependent upon the weather, we’ve listed the time periods when local crops typically are harvested.

Late April-June: Asparagus, Raspberries, Rhubarb, Strawberries

July-August: Apples, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cherries, Corn, Green Beans, Peaches, Raspberries, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Watermelons, Zucchini

September-October: Apples, Green Beans, Tomatoes, Watermelons, Zucchini

Interested in learning more about local agriculture? Read our story about the Agricultural Trail in Mason & Oceana Counties and download a brochure for more details.

Spring Goodness

Asparagus starts the season in the spring, with Michigan being the third largest producer in the nation. Oceana County is actually known as the “Asparagus Capital of the World,” due to its high production of this healthy crop.

Also in the spring comes the maple syrup, a true American sweetener. Here in Mason County, Kistlercrest Farm on Old PM Highway produces about 1,200 gallons of syrup every year. The real thing is thinner than the brands of syrup you buy in the supermarket, but the taste is far superior. The Kistlers also make maple sugar candy, granulated maple sugar, and at Christmas, maple cream candies.

Summer Fresh!

As summer arrives, so does a bounty of fruits and vegetables, including apples, cherries, lettuce, sweet corn, and strawberries. Local farm markets and roadside stands sell the freshest produce, picked daily. Near the end of summer, it’s blueberry time. Michigan tops the list for the most blueberries grown in the nation. Various U-picks in the area let you choose your own blueberries.

Fall Harvest

Autumn is a wonderful time in West Michigan, with cool temperatures, trees sprouting gorgeous colors of reds, yellows, and oranges, and best of all…pumpkins! Driving through the countryside in search of the perfect pumpkin is enjoyable in itself, but once you arrive at your destination, you’re in for a treat. Many farms offer corn mazes, hayrides, and pumpkin decorating, just in time for Halloween.