Fresh produce, handcrafted goods, and racks of clothing filled the pavilion at Bulldog Park on Saturday morning as Crown Point kicked off the first day of its weekly Farmers Market.
The market runs most Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 24 through Sept. 27. It features more than 70 artisans, farmers, gardeners, food trucks, and more. This year, most weekends will also include yoga or tai chi sessions hosted by Southlake YMCA, along with live music from the Lakeside Artists Guild. The event has brought the community together for years, offering visitors a chance to shop, eat, connect, and support local businesses.
“We’re really excited to get the Farmers Market underway,” said Diana Bosse, special events director for the City of Crown Point. “We’ve got a lot of great vendors this year, with some new farms to introduce. There’s a good selection with a lot of variety, so we’re looking forward to seeing people come out. We usually get a great turnout.”
One vendor joining the market for the first time this year is Lebanese Grape Leaves, a stand run by sisters Miranda Swigon and Madison Popjevach. They serve an array of freshly cooked Lebanese and Mediterranean dishes including grape leaves stuffed with beef and rice, baklava, lamb and chicken kebabs, and homemade hummus.
“This food’s been in our family for a century, and no one else really makes it like this,” Swigon said. “We just wanted to share something that we felt was totally unique. We’ve been making this food our whole lives, and we’ve never seen grape leaves like this in a restaurant or anywhere else, at least here in Northwest Indiana. We wanted to bring it to other people.”
Other food stands offered an array of Mexican dishes, baked pretzels, freshly brewed coffee, and more. Bakeries such as BĀK HOUSE and Great Harvest Bread Company brought along an array of breads from traditional loaves to sweet desserts.
“We’re really excited,” Swigon said. “We’ve been preparing for this, so we’re just happy to be here.”
The Farmers Market, of course, would not be complete without its farmers. Some brought in fresh produce such as carrots, strawberries, or broccoli, while others came loaded with trays of herbs or jars full of honey. One of the new faces this year is Chris Berry, who runs Always Garden. Already known at some of the other markets in the area, Berry was excited to make his debut at Bulldog Park.
“Everything you see is 100 percent organic, started from seed myself and trained from birth for our crazy Indiana weather,” he said. “On top of that, these are all heirlooms, no GMOs. I even import some seeds from other countries so I have unique, rare varieties of heirlooms that you won’t find anywhere else.”
For farmers like Berry, events such as the Crown Point Farmers Market are one of the most important ways to find new, loyal customers.
“It’s very important to support small, local businesses,” Berry said. “When it comes to Farmers Markets, we’re bringing in plants, produce, and healthy food. That’s what we’re all about. I’m excited to get more healthy food out there into the community so that people can have longer, healthier lives with their families. I’ve been told that Crown Point is a heavy gardening community, so I’m looking forward to meeting a lot of great people today.”
For a full list of vendors and updates to the market schedule, visit crownpoint.in.gov/373/Farmers-Market.
