Market Champions

Farmers Markets - Market Champions

The Health Department of Northwest Michigan was awarded the 2020 Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support local farmers markets within our health department jurisdiction. The title of our 3-year project is Growing Farmers Markets in Northwest Michigan.

With the funding the health department was awarded, community health staff are able to attend five local farmers markets each week as a Market Champions. Market Champions serve as ambassadors to the markets they attend as well as doing outreach in the surrounding community to help bring more visitors to the markets.

Market Champions also provide recipes, tips, food demonstrations, and opportunities to learn more about the unique features of each market. Look for the Market Champion logo at your local farmers market to talk to our Market Champions!

Farmers markets that currently participate were extended the opportunity to be part of the program based on the eligibility criteria of accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The following farmers markets chose to participate throughout the 3-year project. All five of the markets below accept SNAP (also called Bridge Card, EBT or food assistance) food benefits cards, and they participate in the Double Up Food Bucks program. Double Up Food Bucks is a program offered by the Fair Food Network. It matches EBT/Bridge Card, P-EBT, or food stamp dollars that can be spent on fruits and vegetables. This means that when you purchase produce at the local market with your SNAP food benefits cards, you get a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $20 to spend on more produce per visit!

To apply for food assistance in Michigan go to MI Bridges.

		Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 am - 12 pm in Veterans Park. For more information visit www.boynecitymainstreet.com/farmers-market-welcome/ or www.facebook.com/BoyneCityFarmersMarket
		Thursdays from 8 am - 1 pm on Bridge Street For more information visit www.charlevoixmi.gov/338/Farmers-Market or www.facebook.com/CharlevoixFarmersMarket
		Thursdays from 2-6 pm at the Railroad Park Community Pavilion. For more information visit www.mancelonafarmersmarket.com or www.facebook.com/MancelonaFarmersMarket/
		Fridays from 8:30 am - 1 pm on Howard Street between Mitchell and Michigan. For more information visit www.petoskeychamber.com/downtown-petoskey-farmers-market or www.facebook.com/PetoskeyFarmersMarket
		Saturdays (May - October) and Wednesdays (June - August) from 9:00 am - 1 pm on West MainStreet, Downtown Harbor Springs For more information visit www.harborspringsfarmersmarket.org/ or www.facebook.com/harborspringsfarmmarket
Bellaire Farmers Market		Fridays from 8 am - 12 pm at ASI Community Center and Park, 102 Maple St. For more information visit www.areaseniorsinc.org/series/bellaire-farmers-market/ or Find them on Facebook!

Don't live near one of these farmers markets? Use this Farmers Market finder tool from the Michigan Farmers Market Association to locate a market near you!