Senior Day, Fall Shift Mark September at the Dearborn Farmers Market

The Dearborn Recreation Department's Senior Services is planning a shopping trip to the Dearborn Farmers and Artisans Market this Friday as one of the group's many excursions. Travel coordinator Virginia Blow arranged the gathering to highlight one of Dearborn’s many gems.

Market manager Joan Reed said she is delighted that the senior group is stopping in for a visit.

“We would love to see more groups like this attend the market regularly," Reed said. "Sometimes in the fall we see school trips, too, and this all adds to the community feel of our Farmers Market."

Reed plans on offering two raffle prizes on Friday for the seniors–both bags filled with bounty from vendors in the market.

“We will draw winners at the end of the day Friday," Reed explained, "and the following week, those winners can return to the market to pick up their prizes with a bag full of that week’s goodies."

Though many seniors are coming as a group, all senior citizens are welcome to participate. Virginia Blow, who hosts a cable television show on City of Dearborn Television, is expected to film a segment from the market on Friday to chronicle the visit.

The visit comes at a time when fall products begin to appear in the market. “Last week we saw the first of the Mums, and it is just the beginning,” Reed said.

Many varieties of fall squash arrive in the upcoming weeks, along with apples, cider, pumpkins and more.

“There is a natural turn of vendors as well in fall," Reed added. "Some will leave, but other seasonal ones will likely return."

She said she hopes to see a vendor return who carries fall décor, including bales of hay. Two other fall-friendly items that are not currently available in the market that Reed would like to see one day are Michigan maple syrup and garlic.  

One of the other activities that culminates in the fall this year is the completion of the competition. The Dearborn Farmers Market participated in this celebration of Michigan apples, where local artisans painted a large fiberglass apple that was on display in the market this season.

The completed apple will travel to Eastern Market next week in an exhibit with the other apples from 20 markets throughout Oakland, Macomb and Genessee counties. The public is asked to vote for their favorite apple (Reed hopes that Dearborn Market enthusiasts will cast their vote for their market's handiwork) to select a winner during Eastern Market’s Michigan Apple Gala on Oct. 14.

Michigan residents may also be eligible to win prizes by visiting a minimum of five markets and getting a “passport” stamped in each location.

The Dearborn Farmers and Artisans Market runs every Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., through Oct. 28.  It is located just north of Michigan Avenue behind the . You can also follow the happenings of the market on Facebook.