Mich. (WLUC) – At first glance, a farmers market is simply a place where farmers, bakers and artisans come together to sell what they make and grow
But look a little deeper, and you’ll find something more meaningful — a community built on connections, where neighbors meet, stories are shared and passion is passed from one person to another.
Emily Navarra-Meftah and her husband Eric helped to revitalize and now co-manage the Manistique Farmer & Artisan Market.
“There’s a huge shadow economy in this area,” said Emily Navarra-Meftah. “There are a lot of talented growers and bakers and farmers. They’ve worked very hard to harvest their food the day of the market, up baking. You know, they’re messaging me what they’re going to be bringing at, in the middle of the night.”
Navarra-Meftah even put in the effort to identify new producers for the market and travel door-to-door and invite them to participate.
It’s that kind of passion that has made Katheleen’s Creations Owner Katheleen Haynes a fixture at the market for nearly 17 years.
“It’s fun. I like the excitement,” Haynes said. “I like to be able to have a business that my friends can enjoy also. I’m a baker- it gives me a chance to bake and that’s something I like to do.”
The energy and bustle at the market is as palatable as the offerings that adorn each table. The underlying rhythm to it all is provided by ManyTracks, a husband-and-wife instrumental duo that are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this year.
Steve Schmeck reflects on his 15 years of performing at the farmers market with his bride Sue Robishaw.
“Here, we have a real receptive audience,” Schmeck said. “I like playing not on stage, we’re just kind of background music and we keep the volume down so the vendors can still talk and do their thing and we kind of fit in.”
The Manistique Farmer & Artisan Market runs every Wednesday through the month of October.
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