The Big Rapids Farmers Market is a vibrant environment for students and locals, offering fresh produce, homemade goods and a taste of community spirit.
The market’s location has changed from previous seasons and is now located at 225 N. Michigan Ave. The market is open on Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and offers fresh and homemade goods like soaps, cheeses, fish, jewelry and even freezer-dried candy. Big Rapids Farmers Market offers students and members of the community a reliable source of fresh and organic fruits and vegetables that are locally grown.
Rick Torres of Ranger Rick’s SuperMex Salsa is in his second year as a vendor. He is one of the many vendors who is regularly set up throughout the market’s season. Torres has been making salsa since he was 10 and is very passionate about his craft. He sells his famous crunchy salsa, which comes in varying heats from low, medium, hot and extra hot.
“The consensus I get with all my customers and people who sample my salsa is that there isn’t just heat,” Torres said. “But there is a nice flavor that leads you to it.”
Torres and his wife travel between Big Rapids and Traverse City, selling their products. The Big Rapids community is a crucial reason why they continue to set up in this market.
“The people that come here know they’re supporting someone from the area and know the products they receive are going to be fresh,” Torres said. “This community has shown their love to our business and they continue to come back each week. It really is like a family which is why we always look forward to seeing our regulars and new customers.”
Austin Richards of Austin’s Fudge is another vendor, who has become a community favorite throughout the market space. Richards is in his second year as a vendor and appreciates how welcoming the community and other vendors have been.
“This market really brings people together,” Richards said. “Everyone takes care of each other and watches each other’s backs.”
Richards has been making gourmet fudge ever since his grandmother taught him how. Due to a peanut allergy, Richards could never eat fudge when visiting Mackinac Island, as it is made in a kitchen that contains nuts. Knowing what it’s like to deal with peanut allergies of his own, Richards ensures his fudge is peanut-free by keeping his kitchen clean of all nuts.
One of his favorite things about the market is being able to interact with the members of the community.
“Seeing all of the kind people that show up is great,” Richards said. “Here and there I see some familiar faces so it’s nice when they stop and say hello.”
John Monahan of Happy Jack’s Kettle Corn has been a vendor at the Big Rapids Farmers Market for the last seven years. They sell multiple flavors of kettle corn, including cheddar, white cheddar, jalapeno cheddar, garlic parmesan and many more. As someone with seasons of experience, he understands why the community appreciates the farmers market.
“People like to get good quality for their dollar, everything here is fresh, and right off of the farm for the most part,” Monahan said. “We cook all of our popcorn right in front of everyone, so you can see it’s fresh for yourself.”
Monahan and his wife Loura are both alumni of the university and are also Emeriti. They have been involved at the university for over thirty years and have been operating Happy Jack’s Kettle Corn since 2017. They can donate and volunteer with some of the sports teams on campus and help out when fundraising comes around.
“We get some students that show up but we don’t get as many as we would like,” Monahan said. “This time of year and late spring we usually get more students and we try to do a lot of things in the student area like Rec Fest. Our house is three miles from where we stand so we try to give back to our community and Ferris as best we can, which is always a nice thing.”
Monahan’s former job on campus involved being around many different people all day long, which he enjoyed. Running the stand at the market allowed him to talk with and meet new people each week. He is hopeful that the number of community members and students continue to grow as the end of the season nears.
“It is invigorating for me that I have so many people that I get to see and talk to,” Monahan said. “Some of them you get so used to seeing week after week, and when they don’t show up, you get worried because they’ve become a friend.”
Big Rapids Farmers Market will remain open each Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., rain or shine, until Oct. 25. To stay up to date with scheduled vendors and additional activities, check out @Big Rapids Farmers Market on Facebook. Rapids Farmers Market on Facebook.