Portage is trading in its pop-up tents for a permanent, $3.25 million home for the weekly farmers market at 125 East Centre Avenue, next to the Portage Zhang Senior Center. A ribbon cutting is set for this Tuesday, and the first market at the new site is scheduled for next Sunday. The purpose-built structure replaces roughly a decade of parking-lot setups with covered pavilions, built-in electrical hookups and space for food trucks, which city officials say should give local growers and small food businesses a more reliable, weather-resistant place to sell and gather.
According to a news release from the City of Portage, the project came together with a $1 million donation from Charles and Lynn Zhang, $1.75 million in state funding and a $500,000 contribution from the city. The release also credits project partners Abonmarche, Quest and Penchura, and invites residents to the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new market site. Officials say the permanent market is intended to support vendors and community programming well into the future.
Pavilions, Power And Room For More Vendors
As reported by MLive, the layout features a large central pavilion, two smaller pavilions on either side, shaded canopies and electrical hookups that let vendors plug in instead of firing up noisy generators. The covered configuration boosts capacity from roughly 35 vendors to about 50 and brings in ADA-compliant walkways, a performance area for musicians and space for multiple food trucks. Planning documents note that the pavilions were purchased through a cooperative agreement that trimmed costs compared with earlier estimates.
What You’ll Find There
The market page from Portage Parks & Recreation lists vendors slated for the new site, including 13 Cookies, Bailey's Meats, Celery City Coffee Roasters, Zazu Mushrooms and Sarkozy Bakery. The page also notes that the market runs on Sundays from May through mid-October, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and that many vendors participate in SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, Senior Project Fresh and WIC. Brianna Wurtsmith is listed as the market manager and primary contact for both programming and vendor inquiries.
Community Impact
Organizers told MLive the market has expanded quickly, from roughly a dozen vendors and about 5,000 seasonal visitors to more than 30 vendors and roughly 30,000 patrons each year. “A farmers market is many things to many kinds of people,” Farmers Market Manager Brianna Wurtsmith told the outlet, adding that the permanent site will help vendors cut generator costs and improve the customer experience. Supporters say the investment is meant to keep food dollars local, bolster small businesses and make fresh produce easier to access across Portage.
The market opens in its permanent home this Sunday and will continue every Sunday through mid-October, with live music and rotating food trucks scheduled on many dates. Organizers say the new structure should help the market expand programming, outreach and vendor support as it moves into its next decade.
