I didn’t grow up here. I was born and raised in New York in the Bronx. My family moved to Michigan in 1977 and after graduating from Specs Howard School of Broadcasting I moved to West Michigan in 1986. I finally found my new home in Muskegon in 1989 and have lived here ever since.
I was here when things looked pretty bleak in this town, remember “will the last person out of Muskegon please shut off the lights” ? What a turnaround it has been and for me one of the best symbols of that turnaround is our Farmers Market. Muskegon has had a Farmers Market since the late 1880’s. Its been in several different locations over the years but in 2013 construction began on what is now the #1 Farmers Market in the state of Michigan. It’s not only a place where Farmers can sell their fruits and vegetables but also gives small businesses an opportunity to sell their goods as well. With 170 stalls there is something for just about everyone, which is why the Market is always crowded when it’s open.
But to me what makes our Market great is all the other things it does. Live music from their permanent stage, giving local artists a place to perform (and you know how important it is to me to support our local music scene). It’s also the indoor Market which they use in Winter with various vendors for you to explore. It’s all the events they hold like their Food Truck rallies and seasonal events for the whole family.
Of course, it’s also Kitchen 242, a certified 1,520-square-foot shared-use commercial kitchen and food business incubator. It’s a huge facility and it’s where I decided to interview my friend Lisa Potter the manager of the Muskegon Farmers Market. I’ve known Lisa for years, we’re both on the Taste of Muskegon committee (side note: we’ve already started meeting about Taste 2027). Take a few minutes to watch the video and learn more about this amazing venue right here in downtown Muskegon. See ya at the Market !
