Up North Progressive

Evart has one. Leroy has one. Hersey has one too. Big Rapids has one two times a week. Cadillac? Yes, they have one. Just about every town and city in Northern Michigan boasts a farmer’s market where people can gather to buy and sell locally grown produce. They’re becoming more popular as the demand for local food grows and people want to eat food that’s good for them. One town this year that used to have a very nice farmer’s market doesn’t have one – Reed City.

How popular are farmer’s markets? At some – like Big Rapids and Evart – people can shop using EBT food benefits. Some markets participate with double up food bucks, which turns every dollar of EBT benefits into two.

But not at Reed City this year. The summer will be spent looking for a new source of fresh eggs, beautifully huge heads of Dutch flat cabbage ordered in volume to make sauerkraut, and the fresh greens and herbs purchased weekly.

The Reed City Farmer’s Market will be missed.