The Muskegon Farmer’s Market is one of the greatest farmer’s markets we have been to throughout the country. They have a wide variety of community initiatives, events, and programming that support the local food economy and entrepreneurship in Muskegon. Most communities have a farmer’s market of some sort, but Muskegon prioritizes theirs, and it makes a big difference in the quality and variety of products available. Offerings at Muskegon Farmer’s Market are on par with larger markets we’ve been to like Soulard Market in St. Louis, Missouri. There is a lot more here than you’d expect, and if you are looking to eat local foods while traveling to Muskegon or the western lakeshore, the Muskegon Farmer’s Market is a must-see.
Muskegon Farmer’s Market Details
The Muskegon Farmer’s Market is owned and operated by the city of Muskegon. It has been open since 2014, and in that time, it has become a staple of the Muskegon community. The summer market runs May – November and is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm. The winter market runs December – April and is open Saturdays only from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. The Market also offers the Flea Market May – September on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 – 2:00 pm.
What You’ll Find at the Muskegon Farmer’s Market
The Muskegon Farmer’s Market is much larger and nicer than you’d expect for the size of Muskegon. It is on par with farmer’s markets in large cities like Chicago and St. Louis. This isn’t one of those markets where all you’ll find are the same fruits and vegetables at each of the booths. While there are more produce providers than I can count, many of them have unique offerings to differentiate themselves and have niched down to provide specific food or medicinal products that are tailored to their own harvests and customer base. Many of the vendors operate independently of the market as well, but bring their wares to sell as part of a large overarching mission to provide food through crop shares and other local agricultural options. On any given day, you will find several local meat producers, a mushroom vendor or two (especially seasonally), and countless niche food products that are being produced locally.
Kitchen 242 in Muskegon: The Community Kitchen
This is a varied market with so many options, and a large part of that is because of Kitchen 242, an on-site commercial kitchen available for rent to anyone with proper food licensing in Michigan. This unique community kitchen is similar to others in the area including the Starting Block in Hart. These spaces allow would-be food producers, restauranteurs, and caterers to get started without investing in a commercial kitchen space. Many of the vendors at the Muskegon Farmer’s Market operate out of this kitchen, and others have graduated to their own facilities after experiencing significant growth. This unique offering means that the Muskegon Farmer’s Market vendors can offer more advanced products than you find in most traditional market.
The Muskegon Farmer’s Market Community
There is something special about a vibrant, bustling market full of vendors sharing their wares and customers seeking to purchase them. When you throw in a healthy dose of communal support, the impact on a city can’t be overstated. The market is where many businesses in Muskegon started out, including Aldea Coffee. There is live music every Saturday through the summer, and busking is allowed at all times so you never know when you’ll catch a musician sitting on the corner strumming your favorite song. We (Joesephella) usually perform on the stage at the market 1-3 times during the summer, and it is one of our favorite venues.
How the Market Gives Back
One of our favorite things about living in Michigan is the access it provides us to such excellent local food producers. We believe in the importance of healthy food, and we love that Muskegon Farmer’s Market provides so many opportunities for people to access healthy food. They have several initiatives that support access to healthy food in the community.
Senior Power of Produce
During the summer, Muskegon County residents, age 60+ can receive tokens to spend on fruits and vegetables at the Muskegon Farmers Market if they provide their name, age, and address. In 2023, Senior Power of Produce spent $74,000 with local producers.
Kids Power of Produce
During the Summer, kids who come to the market on Saturdays between 10:00 am and noon will receive $4 worth of tokens to spend on produce. There are also activities and events that support healthy eating and lifestyle such as food tasting, cooking classes, and yoga lessons.
Does the Muskegon Farmer’s Market Take EBT?
Double Up Food Bucks
People who receive EBT can shop at the market all year long, and every day, the market will double the amount you spend up to $20. For instance, if someone with EBT plans to spend $20 on produce, they can take their Bridge Card to the office and obtain $40 worth of tokens to spend at the market. This is an excellent initiative that helps local families afford healthier foods, and it also supports the local food producers. Office open for EBT Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 8:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. May – November. December – April: Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Why We Love the Muskegon Farmer’s Market
We discovered the Muskegon Farmer’s Market when we first performed there, and ever since, it has been one of our favorite places in Muskegon. This really does feel like the heart of the city, and we love how communally focused everything is. It feels like a festival every Saturday, and the quality of products available makes a huge difference when preparing meals. My favorite finds at the market have been baby morels and various other cooking mushrooms, an excellent rack of lamb, and the smoked bacon we have sampled from two different vendors. I also had an apple vendor select just the right combination of apple varieties for me to make homemade applesauce that didn’t require sugar. This is the primary benefit of attending the Muskegon Farmer’s Market. These vendors are farmers and food producers who know what they are selling. They know how the food was grown, how it was produced, and have the best recommendations for how to prepare or use it.
What’s your favorite thing about the Muskegon Farmer’s Market?