ESCANABA — The Escanaba Farmers Market is officially underway for the 2026 season, bringing fresh local products, handcrafted goods and community vendors to downtown Escanaba every Wednesday and Saturday through the end of October.

The market is held at the Escanaba Marketplace, located at the corner of Ludington and South 15th streets, Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

The season opened Wednesday with 24 vendors participating in the first market of the year.

Although the growing season is just beginning, shoppers can already find a selection of early-season produce alongside a wide range of locally made products.

“There’s going to be a little bit of produce this time of year,” said Assistant Market Manager Jessica Thorsen. “Rhubarb is usually something we see early in the season.”

In addition to fresh produce, vendors offer baked goods, maple syrup, jams, dog treats, wool yarn, handcrafted items and other locally produced goods.

Thorsen, who raises goats, creates goat milk soap using milk from her herd. She said the product has become popular among customers with sensitive skin because of its moisturizing properties and carefully developed formula.

According to the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority (DDA), the Escanaba Farmers Market has been a community tradition for more than a century.

The DDA cites the Century Book, published during Escanaba’s 1963 centennial celebration, as describing the longstanding relationship between local farmers and the city’s businesspeople.

“Herman Gessner, merchant and civic leader, encouraged farmers to bring their produce to town once a week in the summertime and display it for sale,” the DDA noted. “Then through today, the Escanaba Farmers Market has been an institution that is popular with both the producer and consumer.”

Vendor applications and market rules are available on the Escanaba Farmers Market website. Additional information and market updates can also be found on the market’s Facebook page.

—

Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.