bank street farmer's market

I have been to many farmers market but this was one of my favorite. Very comparable to the farmer's market in Golden CO. it was a great way to spend a Sat morning. There was a huge variety and nicely organized. The only bad thing was traveling back home to Illinois that day without a cooler so I could not buy everything I wanted.

I love taking my family here on Sat mornings. We browse the many vendors, purchasing fresh fruit and veggies, as well as herbs and flowers. We also can buy a lot of our meats from local places that taste so much better than grocery store meats. You do need to get their early if you want to be get popular cuts of meats.In addition to stocking the fridge, you can also get an assortment is sweets and food from vendors and lunch trucks. My kids (2 and 7) love picking out what to have for lunch. Yesterday we also treated ourselves to the best red velvet cupcakes from Eat Desserts First (I think that was the name!). It is truly a blast if you enjoy fresh, local fare. One hint though: Bring your own bag/basket to put your purchases in. And god luck finding a place to park. It's quite a popular spot!

Take some extra time to find a parking space because the Kalamazoo Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings on Bank Street, just south of downtown, is becoming one of the most popular spots in the area. And even compared to markets in other cities we have traveled to, this one wins hands down.The best of local organic farming, natural products, a sprinkling of artistic vendors, flowers, and more are HERE. Each year they try to add a little more space for music and food trucks so the experience is complete.It's under a roof, but still "outdoors", so don't worry too much about the weather. There are a few tents in the center. And vendors are usually anxious to chat about their wares. Have fun and linger. The market closes right after lunchtime, so you'll have plenty of time for all your other Saturday activities.

like many attractions it is like a pendulum. . years ago was a first rate market. place to go for good value, support local small farmers, ,freshness and quality. Meet old friends, socialize. Then prices went up, quality down., fewer old friends went. fewer shoppers meant , some venders stopped coming , or raised prices to make up for reduced volume? but now i think it is on the upswing . more venders, better quality, prices, and thus more shoppers.

This is a first class Farmers Market. You can find everything "in season" there. There is produce, obviously, but also food to eat, music to listen to, smiling faces, flowers, herbs, plants, dog biscuits, bread, home made soap and deodorant and so much more. Much - but not all the produce - is grown organically, even if they are not certified they practice organic gardening. Just ask. They will tell you. It is open on Saturdays and one day during the week. There is a winter version - obviously less local produce but there are eggs and meat and root vegetables.

We love going there all summer long. You will find lots of locally grown fruits, vegetables plus flowers and plants. We enjoy the live entertainment and the variety of vendors where you can grab a bite for lunch. My only disappointment is that many market items (fruits and vegetables) are from out of state but I avoid those booths completely. It can get crowded but part of the fun is after you are done shopping, sitting and listening to the live entertainment and watching all the people. Fun place!

Parking is challenging, the location is out of the way, the market has outgrown its space, but it is still the best Farmers' Market in Michigan by far for variety, diversity, and its emphasis on local and/or organic fruits and veggies as well as a huge variety of locally made foods. I have visited over a dozen other markets and Kalamazoo's is by far the best one, even with all its logistical challenges

Love going to the market and selecting their products - everything is fresh and very delicious - love the pizzas and sauce that I buy every month - the Tamale Guy has great guacamole, the best chips, and home salsa - the other one I love is the ginger and molasses cookies - they are gone for the winter but will be back in April - they are in the hall across the street for the winter - love going there and buying fresh produce, meats, and other items such as their breads, candies, wreathes, etc.

If you are looking for an authentic farmers market, this is the one! Tremendous variety, all local, excellent quality - this decades-old market is buried in the sidestreets of Kalamazoo, and can be a challenge jammed on for non-locals to find. But once you locate it, you'll be glad you did. Be sure to bring your appetite. There's local food made on site, always good. The Kalamazoo market is always busy on Saturdays, when all the stalls are filled. If you don't like crowds, go early - by 10 am it's packed. Or, you can go on Tuesdays and Thursdays - not as many vendors, but not crazy-busy either. Parking is conveniently near all the vendors, so you don't have to walk far. Handicapped parking available. If they could just add places to sit, this market would be perfect.

There are some new artisans and vendors at the market that we flock to every Saturday. There is Cheri Chocolates who sells crispy chocolate covered bacon with pralined pecans sprinkled on top. She makes turtles, too, and my mother buys a weekly dose. When the fruit was slow to harvest, a farmer from North Carolina, a sweet short lady with a drawl, started baking pies. They are modest in size, but flavorful in fruit with a delicate crust. We love Dublin Jerky and it's nice not to have to drive over 50 miles to get it. My daughter gave her father the beer soap for Father's Day and she loves the fragrance. The flowers this August from our favorite grower are glorious. We leave with a bouquet every week. The challah bread from Great Harvest is like eating golden, buttery pillows. We love a cup of the blueberry lemonade from Gorilla Gourmet. We love the oblong cantaloupes from one of the farmers near the flower booth. I wish I knew the names of all these sellers. The best arrival of all is the Amish donut maker. Last week, he sold out early, 750 donuts and 40 boxes of donut holes. Now we know to arrive by 9 if we want donuts. He offers samples. They are so tender: glazed, powdered or plain. His cheese is terrific, low in salt. Samples of that, too. He is a great salesman!

We moved to the Kalamazoo area last fall and have been pleasantly surprised with the local attractions. The Bank Street Farmer's Market is wonderful! I particularly like that each of the stalls is cleared marked with "Grower" "Artisan" "Retailer" etc. I love talking to the growers, who often have recipe suggestions. I saw purple bell peppers there this Saturday - I don't think I've ever seen them beautiful. And the growers will go the extra mile - if you want to eat a plum this afternoon while picnicking, they'll help you select the ripest one. But if you want them to be ripe on Wednesday, they'll help with that, too. Can't say enough positive things!We try to go every Saturday. Go early (before 8:30) if you can for best selection and fewest crowds. It can get overcrowded after nine.

What a great start to a Saturday morning! Fresh produce, food trucks, music, aromas, friends, sunshine and more!! Have a coffee, pastry, sandwich. Run into people you know. Buy direct from the grower. They've cut back on all the crafty stuff, but a few quality crafters are there. Best chicken in the area...yeah, ottos!! It's the place to be on Saturday in Kzoo!! You'll also be surprised how much money you'll spend! All for a good cause.

Wonderful variety of vendors-with a wide variety of the staples as well as unexpected. My favorite staple is Otto's chicken and unexpected is the exotic mushrooms which are unavailable in the local stores. Highly Recommend!

Talk to the farmers, chat with your friends. Find out for yourself how much better everything tastes when it's picked close to ripe and it's FRESH! We've found who has the best asparagus, best rhubarb, best muskmelons, best sweet corn, best tomatoes, and last week we even discovered Thai eggplant. Not to mention the lovely Swiss chard, arugula, cheeses, and the quiche. So good, you'll never bother to make it yourself ever again!

Everything you need in the way of food. Local farmers and entrepreneurs gather on Saturday with their offerings. We always find what we need. Some are priced reasonably-others seem high. Have to shop around and know what you want to pay.