Hungry for Holland's Farmer's Market

Circumstances seemed to favor a trip to the air conditioned movie theatre rather than an outdoor market. It was cloudy with occasional rain and cracks of thunder. It was hot and muggy. And it was Wednesday. Still, a bustling crowd of shoppers had gathered at the Holland Farmer's Market.

Mary Heemstra, a local resident, was there picking through produce and avoiding the weekend rush. “Saturday is just too crowded for me,” Heemstra says. “And Wednesday seems to have just what I need.”

The farmer's market, held in the city's expansive Eight Street Market Place, is open just two days a week mid-May through Mid-November. But the market regularly features more than 50 vendors and a wide array of produce, plants, and flowers as well as meats, cheeses, and baked goods. And, if the mid-week crowd on scorching August afternoon is any indication, it's becoming one of the more popular stops in the region for locally harvested foods.

“The market is growing by leaps and bounds," says Candy Todd, the market master for the past 10 years. “There is not quite as much going on Wednesdays. But on Saturday our 120 [merchant] spaces are full.”

The 20^th Century Meat Market, for example, located in downtown Grand Rapids, is a relatively new vendor. Owners of the popular shop for years have sold their specialty kielbasa and wieners at markets in Kalamazoo, Muskegon, and Grand Rapids. But now they've added the Holland market to their list of stops due.

Original, special events are likely one reason behind the market's growing popularity. New to the market this year are weekly demonstrations with activities geared to introduce children to healthy eating habits. The scheduled children’s programs include an exploration of watercolor paints sponsored by the Holland Area Arts Council, learning about butterflies and bees, and learning about the importance of healthy nutrition.

The popular Chef Series also returned for a second season this summer. Journeyman Café chef and owner Matthew Gibran Millar will provide an introduction to whole and organic foods on August 18, 2007. Butch's Restaurant Chef Adam Smith will give a tutorial on cooking with homegrown garden foods on August 25. Judy Nykamp, the floral writer for the Holland Sentinel, will give flower arranging suggestions on September 1. And on September 8 the Holland Area Master Gardeners will offer tips on what gardeners can do to prepare their garden for the long winter and a productive spring. In fact, Candy Todd says there is always a master gardener on hand at the market to answer questions.

In addition to special events, another unique aspect of the Holland farmer's market is that the vendors commonly provide samples food for shoppers. Whether its blueberries, jerky, sausage, or bread, customers have a chance to take a taste test before they buy.

“People often come with a lot of questions," says Karra Schmula of Noffke Farm in Coloma, MI. "So it's nice for people to be able to taste the food they are buying and meet the people they are buying it from.”

Schmuhla sells the produce grown on her family’s farm at the Holland market on Wednesdays. But five other days a week she treks over to Chicago and sets up at one of the big city's many markets. She said the atmosphere at the Holland market is dramatically different from the scene in Chicago.

“In Chicago they seem to always be in a hurry,” Schmula says. "This market is steady and relaxed."

To help you navigate the scene, here are three tips for shopping at the Holland's Farmer's Market:

• Bring a bucket filled with water to keep floral bouquets fresh and free from wilting.
• A small cooler is a useful way to keep fruits, vegetables, and meats cool on a hot summer day, especially for those traveling long distances to market.
• Go hungry! The samples and purchases you make will leave you wanting to eat in the car.

Doug Marlink strolls and plays the banjo

Photographs by Johnny Quirin - All Rights Reserved

Johnny Quirin is a Grand Haven based freelance photographer.  This is Johnny's first assignment for Rapid Growth