Clawson, Royal Oak

Full-scale farmers market is coming to Clawson

By Jeremy Carroll
C & G Staff Writer

Royal Oak’s market features expanded spring hours

CLAWSON/ROYAL OAK — While at the Eastern Market in Detroit or the Royal Oak Farmers Market, Clawson resident Travis Cochran began seeing more and more of his neighbors.

“I started thinking, we could support (a farmers market) of our own,” he said.

With a committee in place and the backing of the city, Clawson held one test farmers market event last fall, and that was a hit. The group is back for eight separate days this year, with the market running from May 23 to Sept. 12 on Sundays.

“We are trying to foster it as a community event,” Cochran said. “We don’t want it to be something where you just come and buy your produce. We are going to have children’s activities and entertainment. We want people to stay around and enjoy the park too.”

The farmers markets will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 23, June 6, June 20, July 11, July 25, Aug. 8, Aug. 22 and Sept. 12 at the Clawson City Park.

Cochran said there would be 40-45 different vendors each day, selling items from fresh and organic produce to pies and locally made pickles.

Taste is the key difference between the items sold at the market and those sold at a traditional supermarket, Cochran said.

“At our market last year, I bought some tomatoes, and I think I blew myself out on (bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches) because they were so good,” he said. “It just has a little better taste than something that may have come from 3,000 miles away.”

While the fresh fruits and vegetables are the highlight of the market, Cochran does want the market to become a complete family event.

“We want people to come out and see their neighbors and spend a day in the park,” he said. “And with our vendors, you should be able to make a really great meal.”

For more information, visit www.clawsonfarmersmarket.info.

Over in Royal Oak …

As the calendar turned to May, the Royal Oak Farmers Market expanded back to its spring and summer hours, with the market open 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on both Fridays and Saturdays.

May 7 will be the first day of the Friday markets, Market Master Gwen Ross said.

“That’s something people always look forward to,” she said.

Early in the spring, there are a lot of flowers being sold by vendors, and other items like spring lettuce are appearing. But unlike many markets, she noted, the Royal Oak Farmers Market features some farmers who sell produce grown in a greenhouse, so many items are available year-round.

“We have a lot of farmers that have a lot of items ready right now,” Ross said.

The largest addition to the market this year is its new kitchen, installed this past winter. During market hours, its food is also sold to patrons who are there to shop; the kitchen has also helped in the expansion of special events, like the Cinco de Mayo happening that was held May 1.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Jeremy Carroll at jcarroll@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1110.