The Downtown Marquette Farmers Market, which is operated by the Downtown Development Authority, noted an increase in sales during its 10th year in the Marquette Commons at the end of its 2017 season. Pictured, Theresa Raikko of Harvey, left, and Wanda Bell of Marquette check out the plants on sale at the opener of the 2015 Downtown Marquette Farmers Market. (Journal photo by Christie Bleck)

MARQUETTE — After the end of its 2017 season in December, the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market, which is operated by the Downtown Development Authority, noted an increase in sales during its 10th year in the Marquette Commons.

Around 2,200 customers attended the market every Saturday, with an estimated total count of 52,800 people over the 24-week season, according to statistics published in Marquette Matters, a bimonthly publication produced by the city of Marquette.

During May 20 through Oct. 28, the market offered products from 56 seasonal vendors and 30 rotating daily vendors. The extended winter market, which ran through Dec. 16, included 40 vendors. Vendors provided a variety of fresh produce, eggs, meats, prepared foods and artisan goods.

Among the 90 vendors, including themselves, there are 297 people employed. That information came as a result of the economic impact study the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market has been participating in with Michigan Farmers Market Association and the Farmers Market Coalition.

Myra Zyburt, who has been the market’s manager for five years, said a 15 percent increase of customer spending was reported. Zyburt said customers spent $1,503,000 in 2016 and $1,721,812 in 2017.

“It was a strong market when I started and has continued to grow each year with additional new vendors, more customers and longer seasons,” Zyburt said in an email. “There has been an increase in the interest and support of locally grown/produced food in the last few years and farmers markets as a destination for tourists and out-of-town guests … it is a fun place to hang out and see who you see and the different things that are available each week.”

Throughout its season, the market offered 11 food-tasting demonstrations and numerous performances by local musicians. Various organizations also provided educational sessions about products, wood turning, corn shelling, weaving, smart gardening, children’s planting demonstrations, nutritional benefits and ways to prepare different items.

“There is the unique privilege to talk to the grower/producer of the product, not an opportunity that is often available. That is huge given that most (of) everything else you purchase elsewhere you have no contact or access to who and how the product was created,” Zyburt said.

A recent survey by the Michigan Farmers Market Association noted that 68 percent of the customers at the market planned to do additional shopping in the downtown area.

“Customers of the market report they come to downtown because of the market and then they spend more than twice as much money at area businesses than they do at the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market,” Zyburt said.

In 2017 over $20,000 worth of food benefits were distributed between Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, WIC Project FRESH and Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH and Hoophouses for Health.

“That is a big impact on providing healthy food that also supports local agriculture and small businesses,” Zyburt said. “For 2018 I am looking forward to building on the success of the previous year. There is always room for growth of the type of vendors at the market and certainly customer base and food assistance distribution,” she said.

During the next market season, Zyburt said 10 farmers will be participating in the Hoophouses for Health program. The program is designed to increase the farmers season extension growing structures on their farm by providing a zero percent interest loan.

“Rather than paying the loan back in dollars, the loan is paid back with vouchers the farmers receive from qualifying households who are issued vouchers and then use the vouchers to shop for their households food at participating farmers booth,” she said. “This is an ingenious full circle program, addressing farmers need for season extension growing infrastructure and the need for food insecure households to have regular access to healthy food. The program is also supporting farmers markets and the production/distribution of local food. A very effective, multi-faceted solution.”

Zyburt said she’s looking forward to building on collaborative relationships with community partners to provide food preparation demonstrations at the market and other demonstration/programs in the upcoming season.

The 2018 market will open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 26.

Jaymie Depew can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. Her email address is jdepew@miningjournal.net.