Wayne State University will kick off summer with its weekly Wednesday Farmers Market, offering fresh, locally grown vegetables, fruit, herbs, flowers, honey, baked goods and several lunch options.
The market opens June 4 and will run 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Wednesday through Oct. 29 at 5201 Cass Ave.
This year's market will feature local growers such as Brother Nature Produce, Grown in Detroit, D-Town Farm, Burda's Berries, as well as the Van Houtte and Holtz farms.
Prepared food vendors such as Midtown's Avalon International Breads and Corktown's Brooklyn Street Local will also maintain stalls at the market. Russell Street Deli will continue to offer its delectable wraps and soups, while new vendor Mystic Kettle will sell popcorn popped on site. Sweet Potato Sensations' cupcakes and ice cream will nicely round out lunch.
The Wayne State University Farmers Market accepts the Michigan Bridge Card and WIC Project FRESH and Senior Project FRESH coupons. The Bridge Card is part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps impoverished households buy food. Project FRESH and Senior Project FRESH are state government programs that give pregnant women, children and senior citizens access to Michigan-produced fruits and vegetables sold at farmers markets.
"By participating in these nutrition programs, the Wayne State University Farmers Market supports Michigan producers while also increasing access to healthy food in Detroit," said Kami Pothukuchi, associate professor of urban planning and SEED Wayne director.
To provide additional benefits to low-income households, the market will match Bridge Card spending dollar for dollar, up to $20 per card per day, with Double Up Food Bucks. Double Up Food Bucks may be spent only on Michigan-grown produce and are made possible at the WSU Farmers Market through a partnership with the Fair Food Network.
Students who are enrolled in classes will also benefit through the Student Advantage Project. The project gives students $10 in vouchers in exchange for $5 in cash, with the vouchers to be spent exclusively on fresh produce. The goal of the project is to increase students' consumption of fruits and vegetables while also benefiting local farmers.
The Wayne State University Farmers Market is a project of SEED Wayne. As with other program activities, the WSU Farmers Market is made possible with the help of several campus partners, with special thanks to the School of Business Administration, Office of Campus Sustainability, the Dean of Libraries, the Office of Economic Development and the Department of Public Safety.
About SEED Wayne:
SEED Wayne's mission is to collaboratively build sustainable food systems on the campus of Wayne State University and in Detroit neighborhoods through activities in research, teaching, campus operations and community engagement.
SEED Wayne projects include three campus gardens, the Wayne State University Farmers Market, a 4,000-square-foot passive solar greenhouse at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen for year-round production of vegetables for the soup kitchen and the Healthy Eats community nutrition project. For more information on the program, visit clas.wayne.edu/seedwayne.