Come Grow With Us!
History of the DSFM
For the last 100 years farmers have been selling their
produce directly to consumers in Saginaw, MI. Saginaw has had a number of different farmers' markets
during this time. From 1910 to the end of the 1930s the Farmers' Market was near the Jacobson's store
on Federal Avenue. In later years, the Market occupied different sites, including: near the former
Montgomery Ward's building, the Saginaw Fairgrounds, and Hayden Street.
The current Downtown Saginaw Farmers' Market (DSFM) grew out of an effort by Saginaw's PRIDE in Saginaw, Inc.
which saw the need and desire for a market. In 1992, PRIDE sought the assistance of the City of Saginaw and
the Saginaw News to help having Market days in the downtown area. Early on the Market featured two to three
vendors on two days per week from July through October. The Market moved to its current location, the the
corner of Washington and Thompson, in 2002. Today the DSFM has more than 50 vendors and operates four days a
week. An early season sees the Market open late in May and expands as the Michigan growing season brings more
bounty into the city.
The Customers
The customers a the Downtown Saginaw Farmers' Market represents every walk of life in the Saginaw area. Families
with young children push strollers past Market tables while senior citizens carefully look over the produce under
the blue and white stripped tents. People from nearby offices -AT&T and St. Mary's Hospital among them- stop
to buy lunch from one of the four food vendors or soup in the fall. Retirees look over fresh flowers, fruit, and
vegetables on dark green market tables. Volunteers at community tables share information with anyone who stops
by at their display space. Mothers and seniors receiving WIC and Project FRESH meet up with local agencies to
receive their coupons and purchase their fresh Michigan-grown produce at the Market. All of these people are drawn
to the Market by the ability to purchase local food directly form the farmers and get the freshest food in the area.
The Farmer-Producers and Vendors
Vendors arrive early on Market days to get their tables set up for the day. The vendors come to the Downtown
Saginaw Farmers' Market from different locations throughout the region, including: Bay City, Munger, Chesaning,
Hemlock, Vassar, and Saginaw. Most bring fruits, vegetables, or flowers they have grown and harvested themselves.
Other vendors sell freshly prepared food like baked goods or preserves. Local food vendors offer Market customers
snacks and lunch during the Market day.
