Eastern Farmer's Market, Detroit

The Eastern Farmer’s Market in Detroit is awe-inspiring. Here’s what they say about it on their website:

Detroit Eastern Market is the largest historic public market district in the United States. Every Saturday, Michigan's largest and most colorful market is host to more than 150 farmers and vendors from Michigan, Ohio, and Canada offering a cornucopia of fruits, vegetables, breads, baked goods, jellies, jams, honey, apple cider, cheeses, spices, herbs, plants and flowers.

Since 1891, Detroit's Eastern Market has been home to an amazing community of farmers, merchants, restaurants, unique shops, food lovers and residents. On any given Saturday, more than 26,000 Detroiters, suburbanites and tourists shop elbow to elbow, sharing experiences from generation to generation.


My husband and I visited for the second time last weekend. The market reaches for blocks, although it wasn’t as full as it had been when we went during warmer months. We found some lovely asparagus, pears, shitake mushrooms and wood for our fireplace.

I can hear the question you’re about to ask. Pears in February? No, not everything is 100% local. I don’t remember being as surprised by items like Florida oranges the first time we went to the market. That said, I’m not sure how much local produce there could be in the middle of the winter.

There are also some amazing stores around the market. We started at the Gratiot Meat Market (perhaps officially across the street from the market) and left with reasonably priced steaks, liver and New York style pork sausages. Then we were taken by two nut stores, Rocky Peanut and the Germack Pistachio Company. We bought fried peanuts from Rocky Peanut, something I’d never heard of before. You can eat the shell and all. Covered in delicious salt, these were a unique treat.

What's your favorite stand at the market or store nearby?