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West Michigan Farmers 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's the Typical West Michigan Farmers Markets Schedule:

Mason County

Ludington – Late May-late September: Fridays from 3-7pm. Live music from 5-7pm. It is located in Legacy Plaza– 110 N. James St., Ludington. To register or for more info, visit downtownludington.org.
Scottville – During the Scottville Fall Celebration in September. Visit cityofscottville.org to register or for more info.

Oceana County

Pentwater – Early June through late September: Mondays and Thursdays from 10am-1pm on the Pentwater Village Green- 327 S. Hancock St., Pentwater. Email travelinfo@pentwater.org for registration info.
New Era – Late June through mid September: 4-7pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays. 1820 Ray St., New Era. To register, visit facebook.com.

Manistee County

Manistee – Late May to early October: Saturdays from 9am-12pm. Wagoner Community Center- 260 St. Mary S. Pkwy. For more info or to register, visit manisteekitchen.org.
Onekama – Early June through early September: 2pm-6pm on Fridays. Main Street, which is a part of M-22, across from Onekama Hardware. Call the Manistee Visitors Center at (231) 398-9355 for more info.

Benzie County

Elberta – Late May through mid October: 8am-12pm on Thursdays through Labor Day and, after Labor Day, hours shorten to 9am-12pm. The market is located in Penfold Park- 1098 Lakeside Blvd, Elberta. For more info, visit facebook.com.
Frankfort – Early May through late October: 9am-1pm on Saturdays. The market is located in the Open Space Park- 800 Main St., Frankfort. Call (231) 352-7117 for more information.

Leelanau County

Empire – Mid June to early September: 9am-1pm on Saturdays. It is located on Front Street next to the Post Office- 10234 Front Street, Empire.
Glen Arbor – Early June through mid September: 9am-1pm on Tuesdays. 6394 W. Western Ave., Glen Arbor
Leland – Early June through early Septemer: 9am-1pm on Thursdays. Bluebird Parking Lot- 102 River St., Leland.
Northport – Early June through mid September: 9am-1pm on Fridays. 105 S. Bay St., Northport.
Suttons Bay – Mid May through late October: 9am-1pm on Saturdays. Located on the east side of the intersection of M-22 and M-204 (between Concord St. and Race St.), Suttons Bay.

To register or for more information on Leelanau County Farmers Markets, visit leelanaufarmersmarkets.com.

Grand Traverse County

Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers Market in Traverse City, Wednesdays from early June through late October AND Saturdays from early May through late October 28th – 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). Apply here.
Interlochen Farmers Market and Arts & Crafts Show – 9am-2pm on Sundays from early May through late October. Located at the corner of M-31 and M-137 in Interlochen. For more info, call (231) 970-1340.
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons Farmers Markets – Indoor Market from 10am-2pm on Mondays – November 4th, 2023 to late April, 2024 (Stay tuned for end date). Outdoor Market is open Mondays from early June to early October, 1-5pm. Both are located on Cottageview Drive, near Trattoria Stella in the Village. Call or text Diana at (231) 620-3585 to register.

Stay tuned for the most updated schedule of West Michigan Farmer's Markets!

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.