Farmer's Market Assisted By Albion-Homer United Way

An Albion-Homer United Way $2,000 grant is making sure supplying fresh produce to the Albion Farmer’s Market is financially viable for local vendors. In addition the grant also helps use the subsidies to help stock the Community Table of Albion’s Food Pantry.

With the AHUW grant to the Downtown Development Authority the agency is able to reinstate the Farmer’s Market subsidy program. The program guarantees vendors at least $75 in weekly fresh produce sales for attending the small market. Fresh produce vendors must attend 80 percent of market days to receive the subsidies.

The grant is consistent with the United Way mission to improve the lives of local residents in Albion and Homer through support of the fresh produce subsidy program.

Providing subsidies ensures that fresh produce vendors will leave the weekly market with $75 in sales either through direct customer sales or with a subsidy to make up the difference. The subsidy will also be used to purchase fresh produce for the Community Table of Albion for  distribution through its Food Pantry open every Friday.

The subsidy program started in 2019. It runs from June to the end of September and is designed to ensure constantly available fresh produce at each weekly market, make it financially worthwhile for vendors to come to the market as it helps the local Food Pantry obtain fresh fruits and vegetables.

An additional goal by providing the subsidy is to increase regular market attendance from 80 to 125 individuals every market day. Increasing the number of customers will help support the local food economy and provide greater community access to fresh local food.

Emily Verbeke is the Farmer’s Market Coordinator and DDA vice chair. Under the DDA leadership the weekly market is held on Wednesdays from 4 to 7 pm mid-May to the end of September in Stoffer Plaza. The venue is located at 211 Market Place behind Kids ‘N’ Stuff  Children’s Museum.

Albion-Homer United Way’s commitment is to help fund non-profit programs through grants. On-going donations throughout the year are needed for funding these efforts.

According to AHUW Executive Director Marcia Starkey there are several good reasons to donate to the local United Way including that donations fund Albion and Homer specific programs and funding decisions are made by a local board. Donor lists are never shared with other agencies and payroll deductions make donating easier. Donations can be mailed at any time to AHUW P.O. Box 55, Albion, MI 49224, made on-line at www.albionhomeruw.org or by contacting Starkey at 517-499-2563.

AHUW board members are Carolyn Amos, Donisha Brewer, Chris Burdette, Robert Hawkins, Art Kale, Marc Newman, Isabell Nazar, Gary Tompkins, Eddie Williams and Shane Williamson.

Albion Farmer’s Market fresh produce and flower vendor sells spring flowers to a customer at the recent market at Stoffer Plaza.