The faces behind the West Willow Farmers Market, standing together in a garden with their new shirts.
YPSILANTI, MI -- Joshua McAllister is hoping to bring the fruits of his urban farming concepts to Ypsilanti Township’s West Willow neighborhood.
McAllister, who is also part of Washtenaw County Black Farmer Fund -- a group that aims to support and fund local Black farmers -- is one of the organizers behind a new farmers market taking root in West Willow.
The West Willow Farmers Market, located at 2057 Tyler Rd. Ypsilanti, will kick off Saturday, June 18, 2022.
Visitors to the market will be able to find fresh produce, meat, honey, baked goods and other artisan items. There will be food trucks, fire trucks, flowers, fresh produce for children to plant, and the Marines, with activities like pull-up bar challenges and relay races.
McAllister was inspired to start the market from not having a place to sell his honey, unless he went to Ann Arbor or downtown Ypsilanti.
“Bringing the farmers market allows local vendors, local entrepreneurs to come set up a booth and sell right in their neighborhood,” McAllister said. “There really isn’t an outlet for farmers or anyone to sell their products without going outside of the neighborhood, keeping it a low-income area.”
The inaugural farmer’s market is part of a larger “blossoming” initiative in the neighborhood, according to officials.
The New West Willow Neighborhood Association (NWWNA), originally the neighborhood watch, has been working to restore the community’s health, relationships, and youth education. By creating a space for conversations and relationships, they want to learn how to best provide for each individual in West Willow. They have four goals for the summer and fall:
“At times we focus on people’s problems rather than look at their gifts,” Jo Ella Coles, Grant Procurement Manager for the NWWNA, said, referring to the goals. “And each community has gifts.”
Many more organizations have donated to support the market programs. NWWNA donated their space, and Whitehead Memorial church offered a parking lot and a grassy area. Habitat for Humanity and DTE have worked to provide information and activities such as bringing flowers to put in flower pots. To clean up the neighborhood, Waste Management donated dumpsters.
Connecting youth with older adults has mutual benefits, Coles continued. In exchange for older adults getting to pass on their life stories, younger people can learn about planting seeds, irrigation and finances. Twenty-three young residents will have summer jobs at the market, with food gatherers providing free breakfast and lunch. There, they can learn how to use a POS machine, meet local vendors, and set up tents.
Takunia “TC” Collins, executive director of Willow Run Acres and Assistant Farmers Market Manager, is bringing agricultural knowledge, programs, and lots of potatoes for people to plant.
“It’s very important to get your kids involved now,” Collins said. “Because when they get older, they will have a talent and training, so that way they can go to a community college, or even to a major university. It’s very exciting that this is happening for West Willow and the residents in the community, because it’s long overdue.”
According to Collins, many programs haven’t been able to make an impact due to lack of funding, which is a constant obstacle for the residents. The funding, at least for the farmers market, comes from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, in the form of a $20,000 grant.
“We’re in a food desert,” NWWNA President JoAnn McCollum said. “The way the subdivision is built, it’s really isolated. We have challenges with transportation. It’s hard to get to grocery stores. We’ve been asking and looking for ways to get fresh fruits and vegetables in West Willow.”
Linda Mealing, a resident of West Willow since 1971 and Community Garden Program Director, will also be running a booth. She likes working hands-on with the garden, along with some of the young people who are working at the market.
“This is something right there in our community,” Mealing said. “You can catch a neighbor and say ‘Hey, give me a ride, I’m going there.’”
McAllister is hoping to grow the market organically, adding vendors as the growing season progresses. The market will be accepting SNAP benefits, the EBT card, and they plan to add the Women, Infants, and Children program as well.
“I’m really excited to see the community come together,” McAllister said. “I’m seeing everybody get excited. The kids are excited. I’m excited to see the kids work in their own neighborhood. My family’s excited to all get together and jump on some bounce houses.”
The kick-off event is free, open to the public and runs 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. To find out more about the West Willow Farmer’s Market, click here.
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