Our Vendors
We love that our vendors come from diverse age, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds and are farmers, backyard gardeners, greenhouse growers, and community gardeners! Click on the links below to learn more about many of our regulars!
Asolerefuge Farms Coblentz Acres
Don’s Farm Fairview Farms
Fleigh/Parrin Farms Good Medicine Farms
Green Bush Farms Growing Hope
L and L Living Stones Community
Karpo Farm Kuntry Gardens
Maggie's Baked Goods Needlelane Farms
Pilar's Catering
Stonehearth Breads and Bakery
Thomason Family Farm Tony Scampa
Valley Family Farm Ypsilanti Food Co-op
Zilke Vegetable Farm
Asolerefuge Farms
Name of farmer: Mike Smith
Percent of produce homegrown: 98%, the rest is foraged, I don’t buy from anyone
Produce highlights: Asparagus, green beans, tomatoes
Why do you farm? I like coming to the market to interact with customers. I also enjoy the farming aspect, it is a very quiet and reflective time.
Coblentz Acres
Name of farmer: Amos Coblentz
Percent of produce homegrown: 100%
Produce highlights: Green beans, tomatoes, sweet corn, cauliflower
Why do you farm? Income
Don’s Farm
Name of farmer: Don Rickard
Percent of produce homegrown: 99%, blueberries are still from Michigan
About: Don’s produce depends on the weather, apples tend to have a highly differing yield from year to year. He uses irrigation, since the property is sandy and water soaks through.
Why do you farm? It’s a hobby, I was raised on a farm and always had a garden. I like to see things grow, it’s a big part of me.
Fairview Farms
Farmer Name: Sam Parise
Product Highlights: Honey, maple syrup, jams
About: The 120 acre Fairview Farms produces everything from christmas wreaths to bees. Farmer Sam Parise, a veteran of WWII, teaches the public about raising bees and their importance. He is active in the Michigan State University Master Gardener's program.
Fleigh/Parrin Farms
Name of farmers: Don and Ruth Fleigh
Percent of produce homegrown: 80%
Produce highlights: Strawberries, sweet corn, cantaloupe, watermelon, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower
Why do you farm? It’s a family thing we have done for generations. We like having fresh produce, there’s nothing better. Also, its nice to come to the DYFM to see and meet people. All walks of life come through here, it really makes you see new perspectives on life.
Good Medicine Farms
Name of farmer: Norris Stephens
Percent of produce homegrown: All of it is grown in the area, some of it is from different farmers
Produce highlights: Leafy greens, onions, tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupes, pumpkins
Why do you farm? Enjoyment, most of all. I have a desire to see people eat healthy food. I’ve always enjoyed gardening since I was little.
Green Bush Farms
Name of farmers: Wayne Havens and Kathy Southerland
Percent of produce homegrown: 100%
Produce highlights: Strawberries, rhubarb, corn, peppers, tomatoes, onions, squash
Why do you farm? My uncle has farmed 50 years of his life, I have always farmed and always loved it. I also like the money from selling the produce!
Growing Hope
Name of farmer: JP Swanson
Produce highlights: Spinach, heirloom tomatoes, winter squash
About: As a farmer for Growing Hope, JP sells and farms food that is grown in the Ypsilanti area. He feels strongly about creating and strengthening healthy local economies.
L and L
Name of farmers: Lois and Leona
Percent of produce homegrown: 75% or more
Why do you farm? Because I like farming, I am retired so I don’t have anything better to do but play in the dirt. It’s also a habit.
Living Stones Community
Name of farmer: Amy Heath
Percent of produce homegrown: 100%
Produce highlights: Greens, peppers, heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers
About: Living Stones Community is a non-profit organization was developed in response to the Washtenaw County challenge with recidivism. They devised an internship plan for formerly incarcerated adults which includes training in urban agriculture, personal development, and entrepreneurship. Contact them at Livingstonescommunityfarm@gmail.com
Karpo Farm
Name of farmer: Steve Karpo
Percent of produce homegrown: 100%
Produce highlights: Strawberries, peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots, apples and cider
Why do you farm? I used to be a full time mechanic, but I took over the farm for my dad.
Kuntry Gardens
Name of farmer: Andy Stutzman
Percent of produce homegrown: 95%
Produce highlights: Strawberries, tomatoes, watermelon
Philosophy: Staying at home and farming is the goal.
Maggie's Baked Goods
Name: Magnolia Minor
Popular Products: Sweet potato pie, Maggie's hawaiian rolls, peach cobblers
About: Magnolia Minor has been baking since she was six years old or younger. She sells a variety of baked goods at three weekly farmers markets, and has been at the DYFM for four years. She raises eight kids by baking as a single parent.
Needlelane Farms
Name of farmer: Beverly Ruesink
Percent of produce homegrown: 100%
Produce highlights: Greens, snow peas, mushrooms, beets, garlic, squash, cabbage
About: Needlelane Farms employs biodynamic practices, using and reusing every resource that the farm provides. For example, manure from cows is used as fertilizer, and if a tree falls down it is used to grow mushrooms. Everything on the farm is there already.
Pilar's Catering
Name: Silvia Nolasco-Rivers
About: Silvia Nolasco-Rivers founded Pilar's Catering to bring the taste of Salvadoran food to the southeast Michigan area. They are committed to using local and organic ingredients whenever possible, frequently using produce from Tantre Farms in Michigan. Most of the meat used comes from local sources and is also organic, free range, and hormone free. Pilar's Catering is making its mark abroad, participating in the Homegrown Festival and appearing as one of the Top 105 Places to Eat in the Midwest, according to Midwest Living. Visit www.pilarscatering.com for more information.
Stonehearth Breads and Bakery
Name: Adam Ulbin
About: Stonehearth Breads and Bakery is a family owned business based out of Brooklyn, MI. They sell a wide variety of breads, encompassing everything from German breads to Italian milanos. Also included are their desert breads, such as strawberry-white chocolate, red raspberry-dark chocolate, and peach pecan. Another popular product is their four cheese pepperoni roll. All of their breads are made from scratch with no preservatives.
Thomason Family Farm
Name: Aubrey Thomason
About: Thomason Family Farm sells a special variety of cheeses, all produced within downtown Ypsilanti. The Thomason Family Farm tent at the DYFM is run by Aubrey Thomason, who doubles as a cheese maker for Zingerman's Creamery in Ann Arbor. She has worked in agriculture for the past five years, and has done work with cheese in the states and abroad.
A slogan on their banner reads: "From teat to table in 24 hours!"
Tony Scampa
Percent of produce homegrown: 100% organically homegrown
About: Tony grows a variety of produce in a greenhouse, which skews the conventional growing times for every plant. During the mid season, he introduces a variety of woodwork that includes birdhouses constructed from salvaged materials.
Valley Family Farm
Name of farmers: Patricia and Kenneth Huling
Percent of produce homegrown: 100%
Produce highlights: Onions, early greens, chard kale, radishes, beets, sweet corn, peppers, cucumbers, squash, potatoes
About: Valley Family Farm tries to provide a quality product to our CSA members (at the same time today they are bringing 45 people to the market to be exposed to other vendors and ourselves). They aren’t organic, but they are natural, using no pesticides and no non-organic fertilizers. This allows them to pass on savings to their clients, since organic means more money.
Ypsilanti Food Co-op
Name: Corinne Sikorski, Emma Goodman
About: The Ypsilanti Food Co-op has been around for 36 years. They bake an assortment of artisan breads, including their pesto ciabatta when basil is in season. The co-op also provides support and services for the surrounding community. At the DYFM the co-op provides service for EBT and credit cards.
Zilke Vegetable Farm
Name of farmer: Tom Zilke and Family
Percent of produce homegrown: 100%
Produce highlights: Lettuce, peas, tomatoes, peppers, okra, cabbage, melons, squashes
About: Tom started to plant vegetables and loves to grow, he grew a lot of figured he should sell some. Teenagers run the booth because Tom doesn’t like to stand still.