Downtown Marquette Farmers Market Season to Open Saturday, May 25th

The Downtown Marquette Farmers Market’s Grand Opening will be on Saturday, May 25. This year’s market sees the return of many favorite vendors, as well as a few new additions. Shoppers visiting the market will find a great selection of local artwork, baked goods, flowers and live plants, and of course, the first of the season’s fresh produce harvest from local farms. For the market’s Grand Opening day, Michael Waite will be providing live music from 10am-1pm.

The 2013 season will be the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market’s second year participating in the Double Up Food Bucks program (DUFB), made possible by a grant from the Fair Food Network. The Fair Food Network is “a national nonprofit that works at the intersection of food systems, sustainability and social equity to guarantee access to healthy, fresh and sustainably grown food, especially in underserved communities.” Under Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB), families who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are given the means to purchase more Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables at farmers markets while supporting local food growers and the local food economy. How? Each time a SNAP recipient runs a Bridge Card at market, he or she receives double the amount of money. In other words, if a Bridge card is swiped for $10, our grant funding enables us to give out $20. This extra money can only be used for fresh, Michigan grown produce sold at the market, which frees up the original Bridge card allocation for other groceries found at the market, such as meat and bread. This year’s grant award is bringing $9000 into our community, putting some extra money in the pockets of local farmers and healthy food on the tables of local families.

The market will be held every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9am-2pm, through October 26 at the Marquette Commons, 112 South Third Street. Bridge Cards, Market FRESH, Project FRESH, credit, and debit cards are all accepted. The Double Up Food Bucks program will begin on July 1. For more information about DUFB or any questions about the market, call 906-362-3276, or e-mail marketmanager@mqtfarmersmarket.com. The market’s website, mqtfarmersmarket.com, will have updates on programs and events throughout the season.