Press Release – New City Market Rally

3 08 2008

From a press release.

MEDIA ALERT

City Market Rally Proponents of the new City Market Project gather at Stadium District

What: Rally of supporters for the new City Market Project

Who: Supporters of the New City Market Proposal

When: Monday, August 4 at 5 p.m.

Where: Stadium District in the undeveloped retail area of the first floor

Why: To gather together all supporters of the proposed new City Market and answer questions of those who are interested in additional information on the project

Details: The public is invited to come and support the new City Market Project and get additional information before heading to the Lansing City Council meeting that evening to voice support


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Categories : Food News, Lansing

Buy Fresh, Buy Local – Select Michigan Farmer’s Market

24 07 2008
Shoppers looking for deals at the farmers market at the State Capitol

Shoppers looking for deals at the farmer's market at the State Capitol

I know it’s hard to believe but I actually got my butt out of bed this morning so we could make our way to the State Capitol for the farmer’s market.  We parked along Michigan near the roundabout and headed towards the Capitol.  I was really surprised at just how many people had already started checking out the booths at just a little after ten o’clock.

The sidewalks on the east lawn were lined with pop-up tents full of flowers, produce, fish, herbs, cookies, and much more.  One of the first place we stopped had zucchini and squash 3 for $1.  I just picked up a pasta recipe that uses both of those, so my girlfriend snuck through the crowd and grabbed a few.  As she was paying, she also noticed pints of Traverse City Cherries.  After handing me the bag of zucchini, she went back for cherries. 

The next stop was for me.  The thing I love about farmer’s markets is fresh herbs.  I’ve tried growing my own, but I get impatient and I usually end up killing the plants.  I’d rather just spend a couple bucks and buy small bunches as I need them.  I picked up a bunch of basil and oregano for a couple meals next week.  I love the smell of fresh basil and it made the car smell good the rest of the day. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Downtown, Farmer's Market, Food News, Lansing

Press Release- Gov. Granholm Visits Farmer’s Market

24 07 2008

I’ll have more on this later tonight.  My girlfriend and I made it down there and wound up with some good stuff.  For now, here’s a press release from the Governor’s office on her stop there this morning.

Granholm Visits Capitol Farmers’ Market, Underscores Benefits of Supporting Local Economy
Encourages citizens to visit SaveMoney Web site for money-saving tips
 
LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today visited the “Buy Fresh, Buy Local – Select Michigan” farmers’ market on the State Capitol lawn to underscore the benefits of purchasing local agricultural products.  Granholm said supporting local farmers’ markets is a great way to ensure that money stays in Michigan and, in some cases, can be a money-saver for the consumer since local products aren’t being shipped long distances, which can increase fuel costs that are passed along to shoppers. Read the rest of this entry »

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Planning Board Votes to Sell City Market

23 07 2008
Could the Lansing City Market be getting a new home?

Could the Lansing City Market be getting a new home?

I really think this could be a good thing.  I know there’s history in the current building, but anything to pump  some new life into the Market can’t hurt.  I’ve been there twice and both times was a little disappointed.

The Lansing Planning Board voted 6-0 Tuesday to support the $1.6 million sale of Lansing City Market to East Lansing developer Pat Gillespie.

“I support what the city is proposing to do with the sale of the property,” said Andrew Frederick, a Planning Board member. “I’m willing to trade off the history preservation for getting that (site) cleaned up.”

Gillespie wants the market property at Shiawassee and Cedar streets for Market Place, a $24 million to $30 million retail, office and residential development along the downtown riverfront.

With proceeds from the sale, Lansing officials have said the city would build a new $1.2 million to $1.7 million year-round, indoor-and-outdoor market on nearby park land it owns. Read the rest of this entry »


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Farmer’s Market or Supermarket?

15 07 2008

WILX picked up on what I’ve been saying for quite a while.  Ditch the supermarket when you can and you’ll get fresher food. (I’ve made grammar corrections so they story makes sense)

To compare the prices at the Farmers Market to the Supermarket we bought all of the same items that Anne bought at a local grocery store, broccoli, zucchini and 10 baby potatoes, now while we may have spent the same amount of money at (as) Anne this (the) difference is her produce will likely last longer; us on the other hand, we’ll probably have to make another trip back to the grocery store pretty soon. Read the rest of this entry »


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Lansing City Market

29 06 2008
  • 333 N. Cedar St.
  • Lansing, MI 48912
  • (517) 483-7460
  • Website

I really want to like the Lansing City Market.  When we were planning our move to Lansing, both of us were really excited about a year-round farmer’s market that was open a few days a week.  In our present situation, there was a market 15 miles away that was only open Saturday mornings from eight to noon from May through September and since my girlfriend worked Saturday mornings, we could never go to the market together.  Our first weekend here after the move, we got up early and headed downtown.  We had expectations that this was going to be the best thing that ever happened to us.  What a disappointment.  The vendors were rude and pushy and the selection wasn’t that good.  I wasn’t ready to give up though.  It was April, so it was still pretty early in the year.  I said we’d try again come summer.  Well, we tried again at the end of June.  The selection was better and the vendors were a little less pushy, but our view of the market didn’t really change much. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Farmer's Market, Lansing, Reviews

Farmer’s Market’s Set to Open

21 05 2008

Both the Lansing State-Journal and the Lansing City Pulse had articles today about farmer’s markets getting ready to open for the season.  There have been a lot of stories in the local media in the past couple months about people turning to farmer’s market for cheaper produce.  I know I’ve shopped more at local markets since moving to Lansing than I ever did in the past.  Usually, I went to Schnuck’s, Kroger, and Wal-Mart.  In two months, I’ve been to Wal-Mart twice (I would do that in one day sometimes before), Kroger once a week for items I can’t find at Horrock’s and there are no Schnuck’s, but we’ll replace that with Meijer and I’ve only been there a handful of times.

The Holt Farmer’s Market is brand new this year and just a couple miles from my house.  I’ve seen the building a few times and can’t wait unti they open on July 12.  According to the City Pulse article, the Holt Farmer’s Maret will require produce to be located in Michigan and “grow a high percentage of their product.” 

Of course, there’s the Lansing City Market which I’ve been tough on in the past, but we’ll be giving that another try this summer.  The vendors were pretty pushy there and that was the big turn off.  Hopefully summer will bring more people and the vendors won’t have time to be pushy and we can enjoy ourselves a little more and just look around at our own pace.

Lynne Crandell has compiled a pretty good list of Lansing Area Farmer’s Markets for the City Pulse….check out their website HERE for that list of locations, times, and websites 


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Lansing City Market Plans – Update

26 04 2008

Just one day after posting on the City Market, the Lansing State-Journal provides insight into the plans.

While City Market and its supporters continue to work on marketing and outreach, some say the ever-struggling market doesn’t have a real shot until (developer Pat) Gillespie buys the property from the city for up to $1.6 million.

Lansing would use that money to construct a new City Market facility closer to the Grand River. The new market proposed would be at least 9,000 square feet and include indoor and outdoor space, Gillespie said. The current site is 16,000 square feet, he has estimated, and includes east and west wings.

Like I said in my last post, I was really disappointed in what the Market offered.  I’m all for farmer’s markets and home grown food, but I didn’t like the layout or the selection.  The place seemed empty. 


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