Opening day of the Springfield Township Farmers? Market was a hit. The weather was a little rainy towards the end, but that didn’t keep customers from visiting.
Upon arriving, the first 200 visitors to the market were given a cupcake to celebrate the market’s first birthday. In addition, the first 40 families were given an heirloom tomato plant. Visitors were also able to get a bumper sticker promoting their love of farmers markets and the recipe of the week.
Market Manager Laura Haselhuhn said that the vendor turnout was very good. There was also a steady stream of visitors all day long.
There were 17 different vendors at the market. Some of the things you could find were hot dogs, balloons, dog treats, salsa, soap, honey, jewelry, garden statues, salad dressings, flowers, birdhouse gourds, baked goods, fruits and vegetables. Every vendor also had special and unique goods to offer.
Diana Regan of Diana’s Heirloom Produce provided the free heirloom tomato plants and also sold a variety of other heirloom products at the market.
Regan became interested in heirlooms and started out slowly 10 years ago. Four years ago, she got involved in farmers? markets. She now attends five different markets in Oakland County to sell her products.
Regan has five acres in Highland, two of which she uses to grow 100 different varieties of heirloom tomatoes, 15 varieties of heirloom eggplants and 10 varieties of heirloom cucumbers. She also has some hot and sweet heirloom peppers.
Regan grows all of her products naturally and in addition to the heirloom plants, sells breads, jams and herbs. If you are interested in her products, Regan can be contacted at tomatolady10@gmail.com.
Another vendor you could find at the market was April Forbes of the Cakeria.
The Cakeria is a from-scratch bakery where they make ‘everything that has to do with pastry and some breads.?
The Cakeria menu changes a lot and features a lot of items people have never heard of before. This is because they use locally grown Michigan products in their baked goods.
Forbes said selling at the market last year was a lot of fun. She also said the business at the market is good and the Cakeria did really well selling there last year.
The Cakeria, however, is looking bigger than farmers? markets. Forbes said they recently auditioned to be on the Food Network show Cupcake Wars.
Their audition video, which they only had 48 hours to develop, can be viewed on Youtube.
The Springfield Farmers? Market will continue every Sunday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. through Oct. 14.
For more information, visit their website springfieldfarmersmarket.wordpress.com.