Meet the Locavorious Growers
The harvest of 2012 was challenging for many of our local growers, especially the orchards. Record spring warmth, followed by hard freezes, followed by record heat and drought conditions in the summer made for a roller coaster-like year for farming. In 2012, Locavorious purchased from 25 local farms; this number is somewhat reduced from the 42 farms we purchased from in 2011. Here’s to hoping for more favorable growing conditions for our friends in 2013! Meet the growers:
Richard and Deb Lenz, Tantre Farm, Chelsea, Michigan. You cannot miss the most beautiful displays at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market Wednesdays and Saturdays. Certified organic.
Karlene and Jonathan Goetz, Goetz Farm, Riga, Michigan. Karlene and usually Jonathan and son Steve are at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market Wednesdays & Saturdays with quite the bounty.
The Tilian Farm Development Center farmer residency and training program, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Established in a wonderful public-private partnership between Ann Arbor Charter Township, the Food System Economic Partnership and Selma Cafe, Tilian enables year round farm business development and farmer training. And grows great certified organic food!
Kapnick Orchards, Britton, Michigan. Every Wednesday and Saturday at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market (and Saturdays through the winter) you can find Scott and his crew. A family-owned orchard founded in 1958, Kapnick brings a wonderful variety of Michigan peaches, apples, berries and other fruits to market, as well as baked goodies.
Leduc Blueberries, Paw Paw, Michigan. Family owned and operated for 50 years, second generation Joe Leduc and his wife Chantal now farm 400 acres of berries.
Karen and Kurt Wilczewski, Wilczewski Greenhouses, Howell, Michigan. Karen says all the work is done by the Wilczewski family…and they’ve been farming the same land in Howell for 20 years now. To find the Wilczewskis at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market, just look for the largest cauliflowers you have ever seen.
Wade Pregitzer and his whole family, Pregitzer Farm Market, Munith, Michigan. In 1996 Wade thought he’d grow and sell a few pumpkins at a roadside stand, and now, as they say, the rest is history. You can find Pregitzer’s stands and CSA pick-ups at the Westside Farmers Market, Chelsea, Jackson, and sometimes the Lansing city farmers market too. Have some fun and go visit their place in the fall. Pregitzer Farm Market
In addition to those listed above, Locavorious fruits and vegetables were grown by: Brookside Farm, Carol’s Blueberry Patch, Coblentz Acres, E & S Produce, Felzke Farms, Friske Orchards, Gibbs Berry Farm, Grandview Orchards, Green Bush Farms, Green Things Farm, Living Stones Community Farm, Makielski Berry Farm, MSU Student Organic Farm, North Bay Produce, North Star Organics, Persall Farm, Rowe’s, and Umin Farms.
