Fulton Street Farmers Market Opens for the Season This Saturday
Michigan's oldest continuously operating farmers market kicks off its 104th season with 80 vendors, a new maple syrup cooperative, and extended hours.
Fulton Street Farmers Market opens for its 104th season Saturday, May 31, with 80 vendors selling produce, meat, baked goods, flowers, and crafts. New this year: a five-farm maple syrup cooperative with a dedicated booth and a Thursday evening market running 4–7 p.m. starting in June. The market runs Saturday mornings 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. through October.
Michigan's oldest continuously operating farmers market opens for its 104th season this Saturday, and organizers have made a handful of changes designed to address longtime complaints about parking, hours, and product diversity.
The Thursday evening market is the biggest addition: starting June 5, the market will run 4–7 p.m. every Thursday through September, specifically targeting downtown workers who can't make the Saturday morning rush. The evening market will have 35 vendors — a mix of the Saturday regulars and a handful of food trucks.
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Saturday's full market runs 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. through October, with 80 vendors at opening and capacity to grow to 95 by peak summer. New this year: a maple syrup cooperative featuring five Kent County farms with an expanded selection of dark, medium, and flavored syrups, plus maple candy, cream, and fermented hot sauce. Market director Yvonne Teague says the co-op model lets smaller producers who couldn't previously afford a full booth slot participate.
The parking situation on Lake Michigan Drive gets an upgrade too: a new 40-space overflow lot at the adjacent church property is available Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. GVSU's D-Route bus stops directly in front of the market.
