People came from all around Big Rapids to the parking lot next to Bernie’s Place for locally made goods of all kinds, from goat milk soap to cutting boards.
The first Big Rapids farmers’ market of the season was held on Friday, May 8, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with vendors offering a variety of pastries, hot food, and other artisanal products.
Stone Column Farm is one of the vendors that took part in the market. They are based in Hersey, and their farm is based around goat milk products. The farm sells a variety of different goat milk products, such as soap and lotion, while also offering beard oil, lip balms, and bath bombs. For Eva Ford of Stone Column Farm in Hersey, the farmers’ market is a way to introduce new products to a brand-new customer base.
“Goat milk is much easier to digest than cow’s milk,” Ford said. “While also being higher in protein, most people who can’t tolerate a lot of cow’s milk can drink goat’s milk. I always encourage people to do their own research, because I never want to convince anybody to try goat’s milk. I always let the data speak for itself.”
The farmers’ market holds many benefits for the community, with a mission of providing a showcase for locally made goods and fresh, locally grown produce. The market also participates in food assistance programs, which help community members bring home fresh produce, with the market accepting SNAP, and they participate in the Double Up Food Bucks Program. This matches Bridge Card purchases of fresh produce dollar for dollar.
Administrative Assistant of Recreation Emma Walters spoke about the benefits for Ferris students who may be interested in checking them out.
“The farmers market has a lot to offer for Ferris students,” Walters said. “The market is proud to partner with the Bulldog Pantry to offer coupons that can be used by students at the market for various food items. The market is also a great place to connect with friends, take a break from studying, or find homemade tastes that students may be missing while they are away from home.”
The farmers market has plenty of students showing up to enjoy the benefits, such as graphics media management junior Tanner Perkins, who attends the farmers market almost every week.
“I just think it is a great place to see the kinds of things that people are producing locally,” Perkins said. “Not to mention you can get higher quality stuff here. Anybody who hasn’t gotten the chance to go should definitely check it out.”
The farmers market will continue throughout the summer, on Fridays from May 8 until October 30 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Then the market will extend to Saturdays, starting on July 11th and going until September 26, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.