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4th Wednesday Farmers Market a Sellout Success!
Please note that the second market is scheduled for:
Wednesday, September 24, 11 AM to 6 PM, at 5201 Cass Ave.
Location: 5201 Cass Ave, in front of Prentis Hall (School of Business) on WSU campus
For a Black and White flier, please click here
For a color flier, please click here
Wayne State University's inaugural farmers market on August 27 was a sellout success. Since 11 AM when it opened, the market drew in a steady crowd of customers—WSU students and employees and others who lived and worked in midtown—with estimates of 405 visitors during the noon lunch hour, and 1,220 for the entire day. Most vendors ran out of product by 4 PM, 2 hours before close of market.
The market featured regional farm products from Michigan and Ontario, Canada, with several vendors selling Detroit-grown produce. All expressed great interest in returning to future markets at WSU. According to Marilyn Barber of the Black Community Food Security Network, who sold produce from the D-Town Farm, “We saw a good concentration of customers. Everyone who bought from us was very appreciative and thanked us for being there. This market is every farmer’s dream!” Don Ridley of Ridley Orchards summed up his praise for the work in organizing the market with, "you guys did a good job!"
Feedback from the customers was equally positive. WSU employee Amy Cooper emailed us: “The deals were good, the produce looked beautiful, and everyone was very helpful!” Cooper typically goes to Eastern Market when she can, and appreciates being able to support local farmers, but hesitates to drive all the way back to the area for a sixth day in a week, so "having the market right on campus saved me time and gas--double bonus." Robin Mazhar, another WSU employee, noted that “almost everyone from my department went out, bought some items, and came back to work smiling. This was a wonderful event. Please continue it.”
The market received superb media coverage as well. Fox 2 News covered the opening, so that a few customers who saw the news at 11 AM actually were able to visit the market later that day. Fox and Channel 20 aired their coverage that evening; additionally SEED Wayne was also featured on Channel 20's evening news on Labor Day. Model D and Michigan Citizen were among the community newspapers that also covered the 4th Wednesday Farmers Market.
SEED Wayne gratefully acknowledges the many campus and community partners, whose support and involvement made the market such a great success. On campus, special thanks are owed the Division of Business Operations and, in particular, to Nabelah Ghareeb and her staff who were involved in all aspects of preparation for and implementation of the 4th Wednesday Farmers Market project. Community partners Eastern Market Corporation, Avalon Bakery, and Earthworks Urban Farm are also much appreciated. We couldn't have done it without you all!
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