Imagine an open-air year-round fruit and vegetable Market that seems to go on forever. The Eastern Market in Detroit was packed with people during a weekend visit by a number of local Kalamazoo and Calhoun County officials who wanted to see what is possible and to hear how they do business from the managers of the place.
The idea is to do something like it in South West Michigan, and primarily in Kalamazoo. The quality was fantastic and the prices were amazing. While much of it was grown in Michigan, not all of it was. Mayor Bobby Hopewell says they may not have the money to do it today, but there are other ways to pursue such projects.
Jim Marshall with the U.S. Department of Agriculture says it’s a great way to bring fresh produce to the urban core and a win-win for farmers who can sell retail instead of wholesale.
Both see expanding the Bank Street Market as a good place to begin.
Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell:
Jim Marshall:
