The New Baltimore Farmers Market is officially open for its 17th season.
On Sundays through October, thousands of visitors will head downtown to explore about 75 vendors every week, including returning participants and some new faces, too.
“The 2024 market is slated to be the biggest New Baltimore Farmers Market yet,” said market President Carl Weinreich. “The market received over 170 vendor applications and had to turn away approximately 40 additional applications.”
With an expanded footprint of almost 100 booth spaces, the market will feature an array of vendors this season.
“The market features over 15 farmers selling everything from flowers, fruits and vegetables, meats and poultry, eggs and even micro sprouts,” Weinreich said. “Other vendors include cottage and/or licensed food, artisans, crafters and specialty homemade/handmade products.”
Entertainment is included weekly, including “Jazz at the Market,” courtesy of the New Baltimore Arts & Culture Commission, on the first Sunday of every month. The market will also have a minimum of two food trucks offering different options each week.
Opening day was May 5. The Anchor Bay Air Force JROTC-MI-931 Color Guard also helped celebrate by presenting the flag.
Market organizers received positive feedback from both visitors and vendors, Weinreich said.
Returning vendors Alan and Debra White of Roaming Hills Bison said the New Baltimore market is their favorite to attend. The pair sells fresh sausage and smoked meats, as well as a line of soft goods including bowls, beer mugs and leather products.
“We started out with a 10-foot foot tent and now we have a 40-foot tent if that speaks any volume,” Alan White said, when asked what he thinks of the market.
Additionally, special event markets include Plant & Flower Day, Spring Into Summer Day, Christmas In July, Sweet Summer Corn Roast, Grandparents & Seniors Day, annual Dahlia Challenge judging and awards, and the Harvest Festival Boo Bash.
“Over the past four years, the market has almost doubled in size,” Weinreich said. “With this great expansion, the market has added an additional market employee and has restructured the board to appoint three additional board members, including former Mayor John Dupray, who is also one of the original founding members 17 years ago.”
The market runs for 25 weeks on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Oct. 27. There will be no market on June 23 during the Bay-Rama Fishfly Festival.
A new interactive map can be found on the market’s website at newbaltimorefarmersmarket.com/nbfm-interactive-map.
“It is a user-friendly tool that allows visitors to easily navigate and explore the market,” Weinreich said. “The map displays all the vendor locations and allows visitors to click on each vendor icon to access detailed information, including a brief description of the products offered, business names, images and contact information.”
The New Baltimore Farmers Market is a 501c3 nonprofit community organization. For more information, visit newbaltimorefarmersmarket.com or facebook.com/newbaltimorefarmersmarket.
