We’d like to acquaint you with some of our Downtown Rochester Farmers’ Market farmers. The market features vendors promoting a wide array of plants, flowers, vegetables, fruit, bread and so much more.
The Backyard Bouquet Farm, Inc., Armada
If there was an award for the market’s most beautiful display, Bob Koenders would be our winner. He sells beautifully arranged florist-quality and specialty cut flowers, including sunflowers, alliums, foxtail lily, lupins and more. With more than 20 years as the major Detroit/Flint regional wholesale florist supplier of cut flowers, Bob claims “the best customer value remains at the Downtown Rochester Farmers’ Market.” Owner of The Backyard Bouquet in Armada for the past 30 years, Bob received a degree from MSU as an Agronomist. Bob has created his own “Designer Pumpkins;” Kitchen Garden Seeds, a mail order seed company, introduced “Bob’s Designer Mixture” this year. Bob’s seeds and pumpkins will be available at the market this season. Bob is extremely qualified and willing to share “growing concerns” with all Rochester Market customers. “I enjoy the experience of the market and have come to value the many customer relationships I now have.”
Binkley Farms, Brown City
Binkley Farms is a family run business from Brown City. The Binkley’s have passed farming down through the generations; the grandparents worked in farming and logging, the parents enjoy farming, and now Jacqueline & her siblings, grandchildren, nieces and nephews are involved. Jacqueline commented it makes for “great job security!” Their homegrown products include a variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers. The Binkley’s enjoy helping people eat right, and rumor has it that Jacqueline is an excellent cook! She freely offers canning and cooking tips as well as suggestions for people to start their own gardens.
Blueridge Blueberry Farm & Bakery, Capac
Blueridge Blueberry Farm’s blueberries and vegetables are certified, naturally grown. This means they are grown following organic standards and methods. Besides their delicious blueberries and vegetables, they sell handmade confections and baked goods including pies, cookies and tea breads baked with 0g trans fat. Their farm is located in Capac in St. Clair County. Alicia enjoys visiting with the customers and finds the Rochester market a safe, family-friendly environment where her young children can come along to sell with her.
Blue Water Organics, Brown City
Michael & Lee Chaput look forward to seeing their loyal customers every weekend at the market. All their produce is grown on an Amish family farm in Brown City and is USDA Certified Organic. Their produce is grown and harvested without the use of motorized vehicles. When the crops are harvested, they hitch up two horses to a wagon and drive the wagon through the field gathering produce. The Chaputs have been in the farming business for 15 years.
Breadwinner, Rochester
Mark Jaroch, owner of the Breadwinner Bakery at 818 N. Main, has brought his hand-crafted baked goods to the market every Saturday for the past 10 years. His specialties include scones, muffins, pizza pitas, cookies, granola, and a variety of freshly-baked, unique breads made from scratch, using organic, natural, local ingredients. As a small family-owned bakery, they all get involved on Saturday for the Farmers’ Market. “We love the atmosphere and the social interaction with the customers.”
Choices Bath & Body, Ray Township
After a family member was diagnosed with cancer, Helga Soave started to pay attention to the products she used for her family. She decided to take advantage of her background in chemistry to create better products. As a result, Choices Bath & Body was born! She produces custom bath and body products, or you can utilize her pouch system to create your own. Helga hopes to eventually open a store in the Rochester area.
D.G. Nurseries, Dryden
David Guay has been in the farming business for 20 years. He brings from his farm in Dryden a wide array of flowers, herbs and vegetable plants. “Success lies within a grower who cares and understands about plants. One who takes the time to show others how to become involved in the wonderful world of gardening. Good quality plants make people happy and that’s what makes me, as a plant lover, happy to serve you.”
DeMeulenaere Farm, Romeo
Bob DeMeulenaere, often seen in his coveralls and baseball cap, can tell you anything you’d like to know about the farming business, his product and how to use it in a recipe. Bob, and his wife Julie, have been in the farming business for the past 30 years. They both grew up on a farm and learned the meaning of a hard day’s work. On their farm in Romeo, they grow a variety of fresh herbs, greenhouse tomatoes, vegetables and fruit in season, hanging baskets, fresh-cut and dried flowers, pumpkins, decorative wreaths and greens. Bob and Julie take great pride and care that all their produce is fresh and tastes fantastic. They’ve made a lot of friends and many regular customers in Rochester over the 10 years they’ve been coming to the market.
Elya’s Village Gardens, Macomb Township
This green goods store is famous for their annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs. Located in Macomb Township since 1964 and part of a family farm operation, Elya’s Village Gardens has been a part of the Farmers’ Market since day one. “We love plants and we love people,” says owner Byron Elya. They enjoy participating in the market because it gives them an extension of their business into Oakland County.
Great Harvest Bread Co., Shelby Township
Barry and Theresa Troszak have been making homemade baked goods for three years. Even as a detective, Barry takes part in the making of delicious breads, cookies, muffins and scones. The secret to their success is that all their goods are natural and made without preservatives and additives. For them, the Downtown Rochester Farmers’ Market is “a wonderful experience for everyone!”
Hickory Hill Farm, Clifford
Look for the vendor in his “orange” signature shirt, straw hat and beard, and you’ve found Cousin Don from Hickory Hill Farm in Clifford. On any given Saturday, you can find Cousin Don chitchatting with customers seated around his picnic table or over at a fellow vendor’s stall discussing the local economy and the Michigan farming business. This past year, Cousin Don appeared on the Martha Stewart show, promoting the book he is featured in, “American Farmer: The Heart of Our Country.” The book portrays the faces and stories of farmers from all across America. Hickory Hill Farm has been the family farm since 1888. “You help me, and you help Michigan,” he says. Selling and supporting Michigan agriculture is what he does. Cousin Don sells maple syrup, eggs, strawberries, rhubarb, asparagus and a large variety of other vegetables.
Java River Organic Coffee, Washington
Java River has been a part of the Farmers’ Market since 2003. All of their coffee is organic and fresh roasted weekly. They sell coffee by the cup or coffee beans in a bag. Their one-of-a-kind product tastes delicious and is 100% fair trade certified. When asked about the market, “We enjoy talking to the people; it’s a great crowd and run very well!”
Kenzoil, Inc., Howell
Located in Howell, Kenzoil, Inc. has been whipping up their famous condiment for 13 years. This delicious product is a blend of extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil, fresh garlic and spices. It’s a one of a kind product used as a salad dressing, dipping oil, pasta sauce or even a marinade. Being that it is a mix of fresh herbs and spices, Kenzoil is gluten-free, vegan, raw, dairy free, kosher, sugar free, soy free and low in sodium. This scrumptious and healthy condiment was created by Ken Carlsen. He was at home attempting to make a healthy salad dressing when he came up with what is now known as Kenzoil.
Medley Greenhouses, Ray
Sylvia Medley has been growing produce for her entire life. Now at 68 years old, she brings her tip-top skills to the Downtown Rochester Farmers’ Market. She sells a variety of all different kinds of plants and produce.
Miller’s Big Red, Inc., Washington
Ken Miller and company have been bringing their fresh products each and every Saturday since the Farmer’s Market first opened. Miller’s Big Red offers a wide variety of fresh fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, peaches, apples and a range of flowers too! All of their products are made fresh from their farms which are located east of Rochester Road and west of Mound Road.
Penzien Farms, Imlay City
Penzien Farms has been a vendor at the Downtown Rochester Farmers’ market for the past 10 years. The family-owned and operated farm, located in Imlay City, has been there “since the beginning of time,” according to Craig Penzien. Craig recently graduated from Grand Valley State University with a teaching degree, but has chosen to stay in the family farming business. In his spare time, Craig coaches a high school wrestling team. In the spring, he sells annual bedding plants, and in the summer and fall they have a huge variety of fresh-picked fruits and vegetables.
Perfect Petals Garden Center, Mayville
For the past 10 years, Perfect Petals Garden Center has been bringing their beautiful flowers and tasty produce to the Market. From hanging baskets to veggie plants, they’ve got it all. Every year they bring something new to the table; something that’s hard to find anywhere else. John and Kim Malburg pride themselves on their personal relationships with their customers. They love the atmosphere of the Market and enjoy seeing the customers return each year. They grow nearly 100% of their product and are experts on what they sell.
“R” Bees Honey Farm, Columbus
John Robertson sells raw and Michigan 100% pure honey, candles and other honey-related products from his Columbus, Michigan farm. Johnie, a Chrysler retiree, has been in the beekeeping business for the past 25 years. He and his wife, Lucy, try to keep over 100 colonies and do all the care, maintenance and processing of the honey. During the season, he offers a beekeeping demonstration, complete with a bee colony and a beekeeping outfit for the kids to try on.
Raub-Rae Farms, Brown City
This certified organic farm sells vegetables, eggs, beef and chicken. In 1991 the O.C.I.A, an internationally recognized certifying agency, certified Raub-Rae Farms as entirely organic. They’ve been coming to the Market for three years and enjoy the community support for great food. Last year, they were recognized as a Centennial Farm by the Michigan Historic Society. Raub-Rae Farms has been owned and operated by the same family for 100 years.
Reinhardt Blooms, Kawkawlin
Joy Reinhardt and her daughter Katie, from Kawkawlin, take great pride in their product. All their cut flower bouquets are grown on the family farm. “Our flower bouquets are unique and the color combinations are very lively.” Reinhardt’s beautiful cut flower arrangements displayed in pastel buckets are simply breathtaking.
Ross Farms, Brighton
Located in Brighton, Bill and Sharon Ross have been participating in the Market since the beginning. They sell jams, salsas, honey, perennials and a variety of ornamental trees. All of their products are organic. Their jams are made from the berry plants they offer at the Market and the vegetable starting plants are in their salsas. Ross Farms has been up and running since 1972, growing from an 8’ x 12’ greenhouse to a current 12,000 square feet of greenhouses. They consider their customers friends and love the interactions with people at the Market.
Sansonetti Gourmet Food, Holly
Kathy & Joe Sansonetti have created a line of high-quality Michigan-made food products produced in their gluten-free professional kitchen. Their handcrafted products range from pasta sauces to appetizers, mustards, barbecue sauces, salsa and dipping oil. “Michigan” barbecue sauces feature Michigan products such as apples, cherries and maple syrup. They have unique mustards for mustard lovers; Spicy Curry Mustard & Roasted Red Pepper Mustard. In March 2010, they won a Gold Medal in the Napa Valley Worldwide Mustard Festival competition for their Roasted Red Pepper Mustard.
Sharkar, China
Sharon Ostrowski has seven children who are all a part of the family- run farm. They take great pride in their products grown on their farm with 4 greenhouses and 50 chickens. Sharkar has never missed a market; they’ve been coming since the market opened in 2000. They sell a variety of vegetable plants, blueberries, apples, squash, Swiss chard and so much more. Sharkar is probably best known for their more than 150 varieties of herbs. All of their products are picked fresh for each market. Located in China, Michigan, Sharkar has been in the farming business for over 100 years. They keep coming back to the market for the great atmosphere, great customers, and because “it feels like home.”
The Toffee Store, Rochester
New to the market this year and home of some of the most delicious old English toffee is The Toffee Store. Their specially made toffee consists of only five ingredients; four of which are all from Michigan. Each piece of toffee is individually dipped in chocolate and drizzled with roasted pecans, giving it a mouth-watering taste. Starting out as an internet phenomenon, this great product moved onto farmers’ markets and is also sold at The Give Thanks Bakery, 225 Main. Owner Heidi Paterson “wants to support and grow our community commerce…from MI, buy MI, for MI.”
Tracina’s Gourmet Specialties, Clinton Township
There’s just no doubt about it; Tracina’s makes the best gnocchi and pasta available using the freshest and best ingredients. Their products not only taste delicious, they are ready to savor in just two minutes. All their flavored gnocchi are made with ricotta cheese, except their potato and sweet potato varieties. Tracina’s product is made with all natural ingredients using no additives or preservatives. Also available is their delicious Tomato Basil Sauce with hand-crushed tomatoes.