Corner Farmers' Market opens Saturday
COLDWATER — The southwest portion of the four corners in downtown Coldwater will blossom into a healthy exchange of products and education Saturday morning for the opening of the Corner Farmer’s Market, which will sport upwards of eight vendors with the possibility of more as the season goes along.
Starting at 9 a.m. and running until 1 p.m., vendors will procure everything from hand-crafted soaps and raw honey to locally-sourced meat and produce.
"We are looking for this to be a market of high quality — the committee understands it might take some time to build, but those who craft and grow with organic principles are very proud of their products," Christian Arnold, owner of Pure Earth, said. "We are looking to increase access of healthy food for our community.”
Saturday will be the opening day for the project constructed by the Farmers' Market Committee, whose members include Nichole Steel of the Coldwater Chamber of Commerce, Luke Bovee and Christian Arnold of Pure Earth, Val Albright of Michigan State University Extension, Georgia Balsley and Courtney Dirschell.
The committee has received eight commitments by local producers for attending the market Saturday, and at least another four to join at a later date, Bovee said.
The products and vendors slated for Saturday are hand-crafted soaps — made from essential oils; His Acres Farm selling local meats; Gardeners for Veterans, with produce and flowers with proceeds going toward veteran education; JC’s Bees, bringing raw honey from Bronson; and the Vibrant Health Institute, providing wheatgrass and microgreens with a variety of growing products.
Pure Earth will also have a booth, where they will feature local products sold in their store, as well as displaying produce from local farms whose representatives can’t attend.
“The motif for the market is focusing on local people producing health-conscious products, either in the produce they grow or products they make,” he added. “Everyone has some sort of health conscious slant.”
A large component of the market is molding a family-friendly, fun environment with live entertainment and educational resources; attempting to not only provide health cognizant products, but couple that with the knowledge behind the item.
“Other activities throughout the market will be live music, kids activities, and educational opportunities regarding recycling, composting, canning and more,” Dirschell said.
The committee has established partnerships with local businesses and organizations that will be on hand to represent their affiliated interest.
“We are also excited for this first market to partner with the Branch District Library, who will have a booth sharing healthy recipes at 10 a.m., Taylor's Books and More will be doing a story time at 10 a.m. and a plant activity, and Children's Museum of Branch County doing a potato stamp project while they are open 10-4 p.m. The Corner Market bags will also be available for donation, with all of the proceeds going back to help support the market,” Arnold said.
Produce growers are still wanted, which may be something that comes along as the market expands out of its infancy.
“There’s been a lot of interest,” Bovee said. But, “We hope produce growers will catch on.”
Which is something Bovee feels will eventually come with the efforts of committee members, “there’s a lot of active people on the market’s committee.”
“I feel good about it, I hope it can stay and grow,” he said.
The market will run every Saturday until the last Saturday in August, and vendors are welcome to join at anytime during the 10-week stretch. Bovee encouraged community members who may have a naturally-grown garden or speciality baked goods to participate, as markets like these are reserved for small-scale, locally-sourced items and sellers.
The fee is $15 for a one-day booth reservation, $50 for four weeks and $120 for 10 weeks, but Bovee said the committee is willing to work with people who start later in the season with discounted fees. The money received from fees and donations will go toward funding the event and inherent expenses of set up. Those interested in registering should contact Pure Earth by phone at (517) 617-3457 or email at pureearthcw@gmail.com.
Those registering, however, need remember the market’s explicit focus is on “the use of local, organically-grown products or for the farm to use organic practices with pesticide-free and herbicide-free produce.”
