Beyond Buying

Councilmember Desiraé Simmons on the Power of the Farmers Market

Farmers markets exist at the intersection of economy, food justice, and community. They are spaces where fresh food meets real relationships, where small businesses take root, and where local purchasing power turns into collective impact. But beyond that, they are spaces where time slows down, where neighbors reconnect, and where a local economy is built—not through policy alone, but through people showing up, week after week.

Councilmember Desiraé Simmons, who represents Ward 3 in Ypsilanti, has seen firsthand how markets like this shape the way a city moves forward. We sat down with her to talk about the economic, social, and cultural power of farmers markets, and what it means for Ypsilanti as the market moves downtown this season.

"A Farmers Market is an Economic Engine"

Julius Buzzard: We hear a lot about supporting local economies, but often that conversation is focused on big development projects. From your perspective, how does a farmers market serve as an economic engine for Ypsilanti?

Desiraé Simmons: There are so many ways! One of the biggest is that it allows small, home-based businesses—cottage food makers, bakers, growers—to sell their products directly to the people who live here. It’s accessible entrepreneurship in action.

It also builds consumer confidence. People know exactly where their food is coming from, who grew it, how it was made. When people have that level of trust, they’re more likely to shop in a way that aligns with their values.

Access, Choice, and Food Justice

JB: The Ypsilanti Farmers Market has been a leader in making fresh, local food accessible. What’s the broader impact of that work?

DS: One of the most powerful things about this market is that food assistance doesn’t limit choice. If you’re using SNAP, WIC, or Double Up Food Bucks, you’re not just taking what’s given to you—you’re choosing the food that’s right for you and your family.

That choice is huge. It means people are getting fresh, high-quality food, even on assistance. And it creates this incredible mixed-income space where everyone, regardless of how they pay, is shopping side by side, interacting, and being in community together.

A Market That Moves With the City

JB: This year, the market moves downtown—a big shift. From a city planning perspective, what does this move mean for Ypsilanti?

DS: We’ll miss having the market in Depot Town—Ward 3 has loved hosting it. But moving downtown means the market becomes more central, more accessible, and more visible.

It’s part of the bigger picture of making downtown Ypsi vibrant and full. With the market here, people won’t just shop for food—they’ll explore other local businesses. I’m really excited to see how those connections grow.

Farmers Markets as a Gathering Place

JB: Sometimes, government work can feel removed from the day-to-day lives of residents. But markets like this are a place where policy meets people. How do you see that playing out?

DS: Farmers markets are spaces of assembly. They bring people together in ways that influence how we think about community needs and solutions.

It’s hard to imagine Ypsi before the market—it’s such an integral part of the city now. And when you look at how it started, it’s a great example of a community-driven solution to food access and economic development. That’s why it’s still here, growing, expanding, evolving.

On a personal level, I love how the market breaks isolation. I know people who come just to see a specific vendor, or to reconnect with folks they might not see otherwise. That’s a powerful thing.

What to Notice at the Market

JB: If someone were visiting the market for the first time—not just to shop, but to understand its role in the community—what would you tell them to look for?

DS: I’d tell them to just watch.

Watch how people move through the space. Notice the rhythm of it—the ritual of showing up, chatting with vendors, seeing what’s in season. Notice the conversations, the small moments of connection.

The market changes how we relate to food, but it also changes how we relate to time. It slows us down, even just for a moment. That’s something I want people to see.

Join Us in Growing This Market

This season, the market is evolving—a new location, new opportunities, and a growing community.

📍 NEW LOCATION: 16 S. Washington Street

🛍️ Opening Day: May 3, 2025 | ⏰ 9 AM – 1 PM

💛 Want to help keep this space thriving? Become a Friend of the Market today. Your support keeps this market accessible, equitable, and deeply rooted in Ypsilanti.

👉 Join Here

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A Just Food System Is Not Given--It's Grown

By Julius Buzzard • June 3, 2025

Beloved Community, We are living through a moment of transformation, where food is not just nourishment, but resistance. Not just a value, but a strategy for survival. Right now, the federal government is proposing deep cuts to SNAP and agricultural programs—policies that will land hardest on those already carrying generational weight: low-income families, elders, youth, and Black and Brown growers who have built life out of scarcity. These are not fiscal decisions. They are declarations: hunger is acceptable. Control is preferred. Liberation through land and food is a threat. At Growing Hope, we reject that logic. We are building food sovereignty in Ypsilanti. We grow not for charity, but for power. We believe our people deserve more than handouts—they deserve the tools to feed themselves, their kin, and their neighbors with dignity. The stakes are real. SNAP cuts will force impossible choices: rent or groceries, insulin or dinner. Food pantries, already threadbare, will shoulder what systems abandon. And local growers, especially Black farmers, will feel these cuts in shrinking markets, broken promises, and lost infrastructure. One grower shared, “We were finally starting to believe we had a place in this system. Now they’re pulling the rug again.” This isn’t new. This is legacy. This is the pattern. And still, we grow. Because food sovereignty is not a trend—it is a birthright. It is the right to grow what sustains us, share what we harvest, and control our future without permission. So what now? We move. Speak up. Call your reps. Tell them: cuts to SNAP and ag supports are attacks on our future. Invest local. Every dollar at the farmers market is a vote for resilience. Organize. Join us in shifting land, infrastructure, and food power into community hands. Grow. Grow food for yourself, your family, and your community. We are unwavering. A just food system is not given—it’s grown. Let’s grow together. With grit and love, Julius P.S. Our teens are actively engaging in this work every day, laying the foundation for generational health and a truly just food system. Read from them firsthand here .

2025 Teen Leadership Afterschool Program Highlights

May 22, 2025

Thursday, May 22 marked the last day of the after school program for our Teen Leadership Program. We wanted to take a moment to share some of the highlights from the past eight months and recognize all of the hard work done by our young food justice leaders: Tuula Martinez, Eli Harris, Josie Smith, Jaylah Cotton, Sienna Troy, and Nick Corvera-Garay! Deepening Knowledge The fall and winter months on the farm make way for many workshops in our Teen Leadership Program! This year, the majority of our meetings were youth-facilitated, and each of our teens planned and facilitated their own workshop relating to Food Justice, Cooking, or Community Organizing. They shared family recipes in their cooking workshops, talked about the effects of colonization on our food systems, and discussed power mapping in community change work. In the fall, we visited UM Campus Farm and the Community Food Forest at Leslie Park to learn from other food growers in our area and their farming practices. We prepared for the growing season at the Growing Hope Urban Farm with workshops about plant families, companion planting, and crop planning! Community Engagement This school year, our Teen Leadership Program planned and presented at least one free community engagement event every month! They hosted monthly Food Sovereignty Film Screenings and discussions with some of their favorite films being Seed: The Untold Story and Gather . They prepared and sold handmade tea bags and honey at the Ypsi Farmers Market. Each of our teens made their own zine for the first Ypsi Zine Jamboree at the Freighthouse. They hosted a public workshop on corn nixtamalization, and processed corn they grew last summer into fresh tortillas. In collaboration with the Washtenaw County Youth Commissioners, they planned and hosted Fighting Food Insecurity: One Bowl of Ramen at a Time event at our Urban Farm with the support of FedUp , Food Gatherers , and The Farm at Trinity . The goal of this event was to educate folks about food insecurity in our community and provide an easy way to elevate a simple meal like ramen with fresh veggies and edible weeds! They did informative tabling events at YCS schools, the Ypsi Library, and other community events. Perhaps the biggest accomplishment was the launch of the Growing Hope Seed Library! Our Teen Leadership Program saved and packaged seeds from our farm, sorted thousands of seed donations, organized varieties alphabetically, and planned a launch party for our permanent Seed Library! The Seed Library is open to all and is located at the Growing Hope Urban Farm. They revived their own Instagram account– you can follow at @growinghope_teens to get a first hand look at all their work! Seeding, planting, and growing The Teen Leadership Program manages three of the growing areas on our Urban Farm: the Children’s Garden, the Sharing Garden, and The Oasis. The teens are responsible for crop planning, seed starting, and planting the beds in each of these areas totaling over 20 garden beds! The teens worked together to make crop plans by calculating seed starting dates, transplant dates, how many plants per square foot, and creating cold and hot crop rotation plans. They soil blocked, started seeds, and planted all of the cold crops for the 3 garden areas which you can see growing now at our Urban Farm! They will continue to follow their crop plans all summer long to know when to harvest cold crops and plant more hot crops. Harvested food will be given out for free in our Community Produce Cart and also used in cooking lessons in our Summer Teen Leadership Program! We are incredibly proud of this group of young people and grateful for their hard work, commitment to the community and the local food system, and the perspective and joy they bring to our organization! In June our current group of teens will be joined by six new teen crew members for a summer full of learning, growing, and leading!

A wooden shelter with a ramp and chalkboards in a park.

Come as you are. Leave with what you need. Return when you can.

By Julius Buzzard • May 6, 2025

Beloved community, This season, as we plant new seeds of possibility and dig deeper into our shared commitment to nourishment and justice, I’m overjoyed to share something truly special: our brand-new produce stand , a beautiful structure dreamed up and built by the youth of Brightmoor Makerspace . It stands as a declaration—not just of what is possible, but of what is already happening when we invest in our young people, listen to the land, and center care in our collective work. Positioned near the parking lot for easier access, the new stand features a solid platform and a ramp—making it easier for neighbors with mobility challenges, elders with walkers, or caregivers pushing strollers to roll right up and gather what they need. More than just a structure, it’s an invitation: Come as you are. Leave with what you need. Return when you can. We’ve expanded the space to offer more. More produce, more flowers, more herbs, more abundance shared in community. And we’re able to do that because this isn’t just our stand; it’s yours. Our longstanding model of solidarity over scarcity continues: growers and farmers from across the county bring their surplus here, ensuring that good food never goes to waste, and that dignity remains on the table for all who visit. The need this season is real. Inflation is high, and legislative shifts have cut the legs out from under programs that once helped meet people where they’re at. Trusted partners, agencies, and food providers are being forced to scale back or shut down. And yet— our produce cart remains open , every single day of the week. No ID checks. No income tests. No red tape. If you need food, it’s yours. Period. We’ll begin stocking the stand later this month. We usually fill it in the mornings, but please don’t hesitate to call ahead. This is the work of youth, farmers, and neighbors who understand that liberation tastes like tomatoes in July and basil on your fingers and peaches you didn’t have to ask permission to pick. Come through. Eat well. And keep building with us. In solidarity and soil, Julius P.S. Don’t miss Pizza on the Farm—Thursday, May 23! Join us for wood-fired pizza, farm tours, and storytelling under the sky. It’s a gathering of hearts, mouths, and movements. Let’s eat, learn, and build together. RSVP here .

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