Rejoice, for springtime is here! The arduous, soul-crushing slog through winter is behind us! And while there are ample reasons to be excited about the upcoming months of warm weather, let us start by appreciating one of the truly great springtime rituals: the opening of the Kalamazoo Farmers Market. After five agonizing months, the outdoor market reopens this coming Saturday!
There are few institutions that I cherish more than the Kalamazoo Farmers Market. For years I’ve been making the weekly pilgrimage (typically by bicycle) every Saturday morning starting in May and ending in November. Only an out-of-town vacation or a debilitating sickness can keep me from a market Saturday. And while the market is certainly a convenient place to buy fresh, local produce and meats, it also serves as a social event, a weekly community gathering where one enjoys seeing friends and acquaintances from around the Kalamazoo area. You could even say the farmers market is my church. But instead of communion bread and wine I have an almond croissant and iced coffee.
The Market opens May 4th and runs every Saturday through November. Starting in June, the market is also open on Tuesdays from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and on Thursdays from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
Though the market is open from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm each Saturday, I aim to arrive between 9:00 am and 10:30. I realized in all my years of attending the market I’ve never seen what happens at 7:00 am. How do the vendors set up? Are there many customers that early? I’ve also never been at the market much later than noon. Do people actually show up as late as 1:45? What does the ebb and flow of a seven-hour market day feel like? With these questions in mind, I decided one Saturday to spend the entire day at the market. Here is my experience: (more…)
Brohemia 