Ep 1: Where Ypsilanti Gathers to Eat, Grow, and Belong

On a Saturday morning in Ypsilanti, the market wakes up early.

Tents bloom across the lot. Farmers unload crates still cool with morning air. Someone pours the first cup of coffee while kids tug at their grown-ups, already scanning for fruit, crafts, or the familiar POP Club table. By the time the music starts and the bells ring, the market has already become what it does best – a place where people gather.

If you’re looking to experience the best of what Ypsilanti has to offer, such as fresh, locally grown food, handmade goods, and a deep sense of community, the Ypsi Farmers Market is where it all comes together. Yes, you’ll find incredible produce and beautiful artisan work. But more than that, you’ll find a market built on care, access, and belonging.

The market is managed by Growing Hope, a nonprofit organization rooted in the belief that everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy food. Under their leadership, the Ypsi Farmers Market has grown into far more than a weekly shopping stop; it’s a community-centered food system in motion.

At the heart of the market is a commitment to food access.

Programs supporting families using SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, senior benefits, and other initiatives aren’t treated as add-ons—they’re central to how the market operates. The goal is simple but powerful: make sure everyone, regardless of income, feels welcome at the table.

But access doesn’t stop with shoppers.

The Ypsi Farmers Market also serves as an incubator for small businesses, offering local growers, food makers, and artisans a low-barrier entry point to consistent customers.

For many vendors, the market is their first step, from cottage food production to something bigger. Paired with Growing Hope’s incubation kitchen, the market helps bridge the gap between start-up dreams and brick-and-mortar realities. When vendors are ready to grow, the infrastructure is already there to support them.

That care for growth has been part of the market’s story from the very beginning.

The Ypsi Farmers Market started in the 1970s as a community dream—just a handful of farmers, a beekeeper, and a few local artisans coming together to share what they had. In 2003, when the market came under the management of Growing Hope, it began to take on a larger role as a central hub for food access in Ypsilanti. Some of those early vendors are still part of the market today, their presence a living thread connecting past and present.

Now, with a permanent home in downtown Ypsilanti and markets held twice a week, the Ypsi Farmers Market offers a vibrant mix of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, prepared foods, flowers, soaps, candles, jewelry, and more. But what truly sets it apart is the way it centers people, not just products.

Throughout the season, the market becomes a space for learning, celebration, and connection.

There are programs designed especially for young families, like POP Club—a summer initiative that introduces kids to fresh fruits and vegetables while encouraging them to explore the market with confidence. The Kids Zone invites creativity through art projects, sensory tables, and games, turning the market into a place where children feel they belong.

The calendar is full of community-driven events as well. The Kids Market gives young entrepreneurs the chance to take over the stalls for a day. The Annual Community Resource Fair brings organizations from across the county together to share services and support. Seasonal celebrations, like the beloved Spooky Market, mark the fall harvest time. 

There are also weekly offerings that quietly meet real needs: free bike repairs through the Ypsi Bike Co-op, and the BYOC (Bring Your Own Container) station where shoppers can refill household staples like soap and detergent, reducing waste while saving money.

All of it adds up to something rare: a market that feels less like a transaction and more

like a relationship.

Whether you’re a longtime market regular or stepping into the Ypsi Farmers Market for the first time, you’re invited to come as you are.

By supporting local vendors, you’re helping small businesses grow, strengthening the local economy, and participating in a food system built on mutual care.

To learn more about upcoming events, seasonal recipes, and ways to get involved, through volunteering, internships, or community programs, explore the market’s website and stay connected. This is just the beginning.

At the Common Table, there’s always room for one more.