Written by Tory Niewiadomski | 28 June 2010

Bath Farmers Market opens July 15

After more than a year of planning, the Bath Farmers Market will open for business July 15 from 3-7 p.m. at Couzens Park, just north of the intersection of Clark and Webster Roads.  The market, located across from the Bath Middle and Elementary Schools, will feature locally grown produce from area farmers, plus other food products, crafts and entertainment.

Farmers Markets have become popular across the country for several reasons – mainly for the high quality and nutritious locally grown food that was picked that morning and trucked a few miles, instead of picked last week and shipped across the country.  Shoppers also appreciate buying directly from growers, who, when not busy with customers, are more than happy to talk about what they sell and even provide cooking tips and recipes.

Perhaps just as important, farmers markets are community meeting places.  The Bath Farmers Market hopes to become just that by providing a comfortable park location, live entertainment and children’s activities.  Like markets around the world, the Bath Farmers Market will not only connect consumers with local farmers, but will connect them with their neighbors and their community.

In this era of tight budgets, the farmers market offers a chance, at very little cost, to boost economic activity and bring people to the Township Activity Center.  The TAC, which includes the Webster Road corridor from I-69 north to the traditional Bath downtown, is targeted for mixed use development by the township’s Comprehensive Plan.  Studies have shown that across the country farmers markets are economic engines that spur activity at businesses located nearby, even those that sell food items.

The market will run every Thursday beginning July 15, and will move to the Bath Community Center from November through April with the same hours (Thursday, 3-7 p.m.), then back to Couzens Park in May, 2011.  The market still has openings for vendors, so if you would like to apply, please click here for a vendor application.   If you would like to learn more about Bath Township's Farmers Market, please visit the Farmers Market Board web page or click here.