Dearborn Takes Part in Eastern Market's MI Apple Trail

Notice a giant, gray apple sitting in the last Friday?

This Friday during the market–which runs 8 a.m.-1 p.m. next to –visitors can watch as that apple becomes a work of art as part of the MI Apple Trail.

The project, funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, is the result of a partnership between Detroit’s Eastern Market and the Michigan Apple Committee aimed at promoting art, local markets and Michigan’s apple industry.

“Each of the 20 participating markets has received these four-foot tall fiberglass apples at no cost to them,” explains spokesperson Vivian Carmody. “So the idea is that each market will get a local artist to decorate or paint their apple and it will be displayed from the beginning of August through the middle of September at the local farmers markets.”

Carmody is the executive director of Main Street Franklin, which is also sponsoring one of the apples at its market. Other participating communities include Wyandotte, Farmington, Royal Oak, Novi, Flint and Bloomfield, plus a slew of others.

In Dearborn, transformation of the apple begins this Friday. The artists are all members of the Pockets of Perception team–the same group comprised of students from all three Dearborn high schools that is heading up efforts to design and build two partnering sculptures to be displayed in the city.

The Dearborn Chamber of Commerce, and will sponsor their apple-painting efforts.

In mid-September, all apples will be moved to the Eastern Market, where they will be displayed for about a month.

Then on Oct. 14, Eastern Market will host its annual Apple Gala and Auction. There, each of the apples will be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with proceeds benefiting each of the markets that hosted the project.

Additionally, the Michigan Apple Committee is hosting a passport program, which encourages passport holders to visit multiple farmers markets in Michigan to receive stamps. Once enough stamps are collected, the passport can be mailed in to enter the participant in a prize drawing.

Overall, Carmody said the pieces come together to support important causes.

“The idea (is that) this public art project that would both encourage people to visit their local farmers markets as well as kind of celebrate our Michigan apple industry,” Carmody explained.

To learn more, visit www.detroiteasternmarket.com.

Watch Dearborn Patch for a video of the Pockets of Perception crew decorating the apple.

Also at the Market

• The will be on-site with adorable adoptable dogs and Fido Bakery treats.
• Henry Ford Community College is hosting an information booth.
• will be hosting a community health booth.
• Double-Up Food Bucks continue.