ESCANABA & GLADSTONE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Farmers market season is in full swing for many U.P. communities, with the Escanaba and Gladstone farmers markets kicking off in early June.
The Escanaba Farmers Market is held at the Downtown Marketplace each Wednesday and Saturday. Vendor Connie Porath of Dulahann’s Bakery sells yeast breads, cinnamon rolls, cookies, fudge, and other baked goods using recipes passed down from her mother. She says while the is usually slow to start, business tend to pick up week after week.
“Once the produce starts to come in, then it gets even busier, but we have to rely on the growing season of course,” she said.
This is Porath’s third year at the Escanaba Farmers Market. Having a regular place to set up shop has helped her build a strong customer base over time.
“It’s nice to see the people that come back, and they look for you,” said Porath. “I do bake in the winter for people that can’t go the whole year without my bread and stuff, so it’s been nice to have that.”
At the Monday afternoon Gladstone Farmers Market, the same is true for Shanna’s Sugar Shack, which sells banana bread, rhubarb crisps, cupcakes, and cake pops. However, owner and baker Shanna Martin says the rain did have an impact on this week’s sales.
“The first two weeks were really great,” she said. “It was pretty busy. I want to build my clientele, and word of mouth really helps.”
“She also does specials for certain holidays and stuff, so I’ll make the flyers for it and we’ll bring them here,” said Shanna’s Sugar Shack office manager Isabella Smiley. “All of our contact information is on those flyers. It helps grow the business, especially online.”
In addition to building clientele, Martin and Smiley say the market also helps businesses expand their offerings.
“We take suggestions,” Smiley said. “Last week somebody suggested s’mores, and she did the s’mores cake pops for this week. We’re pretty open to whatever.”
Vendors say they’re hoping for sunny skies ahead to draw larger crowds throughout the summer to explore the variety of products being made in their own backyard.
“A lot of people think ‘farmers market, it’s produce, that’s it.,'” said Porath. “You can go from crocheting and knitting to baked goods to wood products. A lot of unique, different things here.”
“I’m definitely expecting it to be a good season,” Martin said.
The Escanaba Farmers Market runs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. The Gladstone Farmers Market takes place at 907 Delta Avenue each Monday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Follow the Escanaba Farmers Market and the City of Gladstone on Facebook for updates on the markets throughout the season. Shanna’s Sugar Shack can be reached on Facebook, at the Dewdrop Family Restaurant, or at (906) 280-0033.
