NORTHVILLIANS,
Mark your calendars! The Northville Chamber of Commerce will be launching OPENING DAY of the Farmers’ Market on Thursday, May 2nd.Northville’s Farmers’ Market has consistently been award-winning, dating back to its unofficial inception over a hundred years ago. It is the largest Thursday market in the State and attracts folks from over 90 ZIP Codes, according to data collected last year and averages over 2000 visitors each Thursday.
This year, because of the Downs Development activities, it will be temporarily transitioned to the Highland Lakes Shopping pavilion at 7 Mile and Northville Road. With the outstanding weather as of late, ready yourself for a big opening day, being the perfect opportunity to grab some flowers for your gardens, a special person in your life or in preparation for Mother’s Day.
Historic Farmers’ Market Activities:
The Farmers’ Market is sponsored and run by the Northville Chamber of Commerce. The first day of the season is always exciting and draws a large crowd coming from all over the State. Many take off from work to attend Opening Day activities, and I always have to clarify that it isn’t for the Tigers opening day – it’s for the Northville Farmers’ Market. I will be down to the Market on May 2nd to experience its 2024 launch at its new transitional location. Link
Following are Highpoints of related Northville’s Farmers’ Market history:
1827 – Northville’s roots originated as an agricultural community. Our town was founded as a center of commerce in the Michigan Territory, with the first mills established here grinding the corn & wheat because of access to three flowing tributaries. Later, that hydraulic power was used during the Industrial Revolution when Northville was second only to Detroit in economics & production in the State. From these early beginnings, much of the produce from our surrounding farmers started to be sold in Northville, setting the stage for a central regional selling location of local grown crops.
1919 – An article in The Record spoke about Pickard’s Meat & Farmers’ Market housed in the old Opera House on Dunlap and Center Street (where a new multiuse structure has just been built). It was mentioned in that article that not only did the market thrive in selling local vegetables from community farmers, but augmented that with selections of poultry, fish, and other livestock through the first half of the 20th century. Early on, many of the vegetables, fruit, and berries for this market came from the Orchard Heights area of town where the Eaton Farm occupied most of the land from Rogers to Clement & from Main to 7 Mile.
Additionally, during the early 1900s, fresh cheese from Northville’s famous Cheese Factory owned by Governor Warner of Farmington was sold alongside many vendors’ products, both locally and at Eastern Market in Detroit.
1952 – Shortly after our Opera House was torn down, the Market was hosted in various parking lots around town.
1974 – The Thursday Farmers’ Market was then led by John Genitti and offered produce from local farms, including vegetables, fruits, even maple syrup tapped from our plethora of maple trees.
1988 – The Farmers’ Market was located in the MAGS parking lot (today’s Northville Square) across from the Post Office.
Over the Years the Farmers’ Market has been housed in many locations around town, including Town Square, Main & Hutton, Northville Square, the Marquis Theatre parking lot, and the old Opera House, before it made its way to Northville Downs, which unofficially opened as our Farmers’ Market location in 1990.
For the 2024 season, this community market will temporarily be housed at the Highland Lakes Mall on 7 Mile and Northville Road. The Farmers’ Market Task Force, a citizen advisory group, has been working on both this interim market location and the future permanent home planned for next year. Stay tuned for more details on the new location long term.
The City, Township, and the Chamber of Commerce, along with the Farmers’ Market Task Force all remain committed to having the market make its home in our Community. In closing, I remind you again to get ready for an early Mother’s Day present and pick up some flowers at the Northville Farmers’ Market on Opening Day (Thursday, May 2nd) at 7 Mile & Northville Rd from 8AM to 3PM … see you there!
Keep that Northville “Farmers’ Market Faith”!
Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
BTurnbull@ci.northville.mi.us / 248.505.6849
(Reach out to me anytime or forward this communication to others interested.)
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