A source for your freshest locally grown produce

These profiles will acquaint you with some of our Frankenmuth Farmers Market vendors.

 

Please enjoy the Market and join us in supporting our

local producers !

Beyer Farms

 

Gerald Beyer has farmed for 44 years, but only 5 years has Jacque been on the farm.  With two young children, this life was perfect for Jacque…she could be a stay at home mom!

 

The Beyer’s farm because they love it.  They take great pride in bringing to market the finest of produce-fresh and healthy.  To do this they have a staff of high school students that help throughout the season.  Their growing season starts early, early, early in their family greenhouse…at our opening in May their lettuce and radishes were the talk of the market.

 

This young family works very hard and when asked, Jacque said the most important thing about her hard working husband is his fathering…the best dad ever.

 

The Beyer’s Farm is located in Munger and will be at the market the entire season.

 

Blueridge Bakery

 

Blueridge Bakery is a family owned bakery in Capac, Michigan.  Debra King is the owner and head baker of this family.  Debra grows all her own fruit and processes it into pies, jams, syrups, cookies and quick breads.  During the blueberry season which lasts very nearly six months, the market enjoys the healthful benefits of her harvest.  Her blueberries are organic and out of this world.

 

What sets Debra’s baked goods from others is her small kitchen feel.  They are definitely home baked and a perfect reason to not bake yourself.  Every pie is perfect, every cookie delectable.

 

Come and enjoy a cookie and cup of coffee from Blueridge Bakery!

 

Brigg Apiary and Orchard

 

Sharron and Gary Briggs have been in the orchard business since 1978; however, Gary’s father had an orchard so he has grown up with this knowledge.  Prior to this endeavor they were vegetable growers but as they got older decided they wanted to pick things they didn’t have to bend over for…hence the trees.  The bees arrived when they needed pollinators for the trees and one thing led to another.

 

The Briggs have 200 varies of apples, half being heirloom, 30 plums-early to late, 10 pear-including Asian Pear, 10 peach, 5 sweet cherries, strawberries, blueberries, red and black raspberries, paw paws, persimmons, walnuts, pecans, gooseberries, currents and more.

 

Lastly, Gary is an avid Master Garden and often lectures about fruit trees…Sharron is allergic to bees.

 

Paul Bublitz

 

Paul thinks pumpkins make people happy…that is why he grows them…and six years into his business this young farmer has a bright future for his family farm.  Paul took up this profession after receiving a degree in business from Delta College.  Helping Paul on the farm is a league of cousins, friends and his father.  In conversation with Paul he more than once would remark on what he was able to learn from the ‘older timers.’  Paul sees a future that includes his own greenhouse and more acreage.

 

Paul also attends the Farmers Market in Tawas City.  His cousin steps in to greet the patrons of our Frankenmuth Market.  Paul’s land is in Bay City.

 

Lynnette Fouch Bugenske

BetterFinds, LLC

Specimen & Architectural Grade Michigan Natives

 

Born in Saginaw, Lynn spent summers in Grand Traverse & Leelanau Counties mushrooming with her grandparents, picking cherries on her uncle’s farm & learning Michigan’s woods & wildflowers from her family. Now an Advanced Master Gardener, a Business Member of the Wildflower Association of Michigan & a 30-year volunteer at Saginaw County’s Price Nature Center, her love of Michigan’s flora has evolved into a business, a representative of Michigan’s emerging Native Plant industry.  Or as her husband laments: “I used to have a yard; now I have a nursery!”

 

Lynn formed BetterFinds to promote Native Michigan Perennials & Ferns – plants that also call Michigan ‘Home’.  She offers both the usual – Lobelia, Purple Coneflower, False Solomon Seal – the unusual – Sarsaparilla, Bellwort, Interrupted Fern – & the hard to find – Trillium, Hepatica, Red Lady Fern.  She grows all her plants on less than an acre in Saginaw & takes pride in the fact all were propagated from legitimate sources or obtained through sanctioned rescue efforts.  She looks forward to introducing you to Michigan’s Native Plants, be it a specimen for that sunny niche or at home on your deeply shaded woodlot.

 

Lynnette will be bringing her plants on selected market days…check our website www.frankenmuthfarmersmarket.org for those times.

 

Butter Crust Bakery

 

In the early morning during wind, rain, cold, ice, snow, fog or pestilence you will find Greg Sochocki making his way to the tiny bakery on Dixie Highway for his appointment with the dough hook at Butter Crust Bakery located in Bridgeport, Michigan.   If I had not seen it for my own eyes I would not have believed the from-scratch baking techniques employed by Greg and his son Jamie.

 

Buns, many different kinds of bread, pies, cakes, fried cakes and turnovers – they do it all.  During our visit to the bakery Greg and Jamie never stopped with their routine daily jobs, talking, measuring, stirring, shaping, and baking.

 

Greg is carrying on a family tradition, sadly however Jamie does not have that same desire---maybe he’ll change his mind.

 

Greg is an avid fisherman, this I know because often when I ask Jamie where his dad is the reply is almost always “he’s gone fishing.”

 

Doodle’s Sugarbush, LLC

 

In the heart of Michigan's rich farmland and tall woodlands lies a quaint sugarbush owned and operated by the Henson family.  Doodle’s Sugarbush, LLC combines modern technology and state of the art equipment to produce some of Michigan's best maple syrup.  Their attention to detail and their love for nature combines to produce a maple syrup with superior taste and color.

 

Pure maple syrup is an agricultural product produced only in the spring from the sweet sap of the sugar maple tree. The sugar maple is found only in the northeastern region of the North American continent, making its gift of pure maple syrup a treasured and valued product. Here in Michigan, as winter turns to spring in March and April, trees are tapped and sap is collected. The sap is then "boiled down" to syrup density over a roaring wood fire. About 40 gallons of sap is required to make one gallon of syrup.  Quality control is of utmost importance in providing you with only the best nature has to offer.

Maple syrup is only one of the sweet delicacies of “sugarin” Doodle’s has to offer.  They also make a variety of other maple products such as:  Granulated Maple Sugar, Candies, Creams, Sauces, Seasonings and other tasty treats.  Their attractive packaging and high quality product will not only tempt your taste buds with a unique ‘taste of Michigan,’ but also will make a great gift for that special someone.

 

Leora and Dennis Doyle

 

The Doyles have been a landmark in Frankenmuth for many years.  Leora and Dennis have had a stand on Dehmel Road selling produce to passers by for some time.  Dennis is a retired railroad man and in retirement decided to do a little gardening…one thing led to another until finally his operation with the help of Leora became a going concern.

 

Like so many of our vendors the Doyles have that common thread that weaves through there philosophy of land and good soil conservation.  The Doyles moved to this area to retire, but sitting on their porch rocking is the last thing the Doyles are doing.

 

What I remember most about the Doyles is the box welded to their flat bed wagon that you could stuff money into when you buy your produce at the road side stand.  As a little side note…the Doyles met at Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

 

Great Lakes EMU Products, LLC

 

Harvey Rudell is an amazing person.  When visiting his compound located just north of Midland in the deep woods I could only draw one parallel – Doctor Doolittle meets Born Free.    His acreage is expansive and through the gentle rolling terrain of Mid Michigan.  Over the years Harvey has constructed pens to hold all his wildlife — emu, llama, donkeys, and horses.  The winding paths between the high wire fencing are so peaceful to navigate.  When Harvey passes through, the animals all gravitate towards him.  It is quite a sight to see.

 

Harvey got into the business on a hobby level and it has grown exponentially over the years.  The health value of emu oil attracted him to this venture.  Nestled on the meandering trails that walk you past the various animals is a product store stocked with the oils that are extracted from the emu.  There are fewer and fewer processing points for Harvey making it necessary for travel to other states to render the oil and processing the meat.  Every part of the bird is used.  At Harvey’s booth you will find meat products and wallets and emu eggs which are a beautiful black/green.

 

Harvey is always willing to have a conversation at his booth about this healthful product.  Everything from lip balm to salves to emu jerky.

 

Hoffman Farms

 

Bill Hoffman and wife Dawn have been farming for 15 years.  His father thought it was a crazy idea, but like most children they don’t listen to their parents…good thing in this instance.  When asked why he got into this kind of farm production he explained that with the little plots of soil carved out of the woods getting large pieces of equipment in and out these spaces were difficult and the crop yield was not equal to the effort put in.  An alternative then made itself known to Bill making good use to small plots of land and he began in vegetable farming.

 

Bill has a greenhouse and starts his seedlings each year for himself and also to sell.  Hoffman’s is also a location for purchasing seeds of various kinds.  Bill has a road side stand on the Dixie Highway which started as a picnic table by the side of the road fifteen years ago.  Bill also sells Christmas trees that are grown on his property, makes garland, and on the horizon is a pork/beef venture—details to follow.

 

Bill, his wife Dawn, his parents and in-laws, aunts and children comprise the heart of this family run farm.  Located on the Dixie Highway, their tradition of farming and green house services are well known in the community.  Bill is also a member of our Executive Board which brings much needed prospective to the meetings and the process of running a market.

 

With the help Dawn, their two children, various mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles and friends the Hoffman booth is like a family reunion.  Bill is always the first to show up at the market…between 5:00 am and 5:15 am…he is the first farmer that the Market Master meets.  Something about Bill that might surprise you …he studied pre-law.  For Bill farming in this manner is a passion and being the easy going guy he is sums it up by saying….sometimes things work out with nature and sometimes they don’t, that’s why I like doing this, you never know what’s going to happen.

 

Kapow Soap

 

Laura (Frankie) Schoenow Weiss is our market’s soap maker.  Her seductively aromatic soap is one of our value added products.  Frankie produces her soap in her home with the freshest and highest quality ingredients.  Her over 25 scented soap varieties are made with olive oil, essential oils, herbs, and oats making this soap a healthful alternative to commercially made soaps.  Frankie offers personalization and gift boxes.  We encourage you to visit Laura’s website at www.kapowsoap.com for details.

 

Lawrence Farms

 

Greg Lawrence and his wife Tina have embarked on a venture of organic farming.  Greg has long been interested in organic farming going back to age 16 when he read his first Organic Garden from Rodale Press.  Greg graduated from Frankenmuth High School in 1975, worked at Universal located in Frankenmuth for 25 years.  Upon retirement Greg decided to put into use his desire to live off the land.  Greg has a keen interest in all things concerning the world of farming – from the insects and the roll they play in a healthy crop to the nutrients.  Greg’s self taught knowledge has brought him to this point of farming.

 

Greg was able to obtain a Federal Loan to put into place his plan to raise heirloom and ethnic vegetables.  Heirloom vegetables are plants that have not been hybridized and genetically modified and are closest to their original plant characteristics.  Ethnic vegetables are vegetable varieties that are familiar to other countries such as the Mediterranean, Thailand and the orient.  Greg wanted to grow produce that nobody else did and introduce them to market.

 

Greg is a self taught farmer with a passion for the environment.  He has seen the changes in our water and air over the years.  He is an avid recycler, a Frankenmuth festival volunteer and member of Saginaw Pheasants Forever.  Tina, his children, and brother-law help Greg in his commercial farming operation.  His farm is located on Vassar Road south of Birch Run Road.

 

Moonflower Medicinal

Shekinah Honey

 

Felecia Smith is an herbalist in the tradition of the ancients.  Felecia gathers in the wild her herbs in the making of her lip balms, salves, salt scrubs, oils and other health products.  Felecia is assisted on occasion by her friends in this endeavor however her herbal foraging is often done solo.

 

Felecia’s training is extensive.  Her seven years of working in this field started with a one year apprenticeship with a Wise Woman practitioner in Birch Run, Michigan followed by formal education at the North American School of Botanical Medicine in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The Wise Women tradition is worldwide and promotes grassroots herbal remedies and carries on the traditions of early herbal remedies.

 

Felecia’s apiary business is called Shekinah, which in Kabbalism means dwelling place and is the female soul universe.

 

Reinhardt Blooms

 

This cut flower farm is located in Kawkawlin and has evolved over a seven year period into an amazing operation.  Walter had farmed for 25 years and sold perennials in the spring.  Joy was looking to make a career change so with the help of Walter she did.  Joy and Walter Reinhardt and their daughter Kate now manage 25 acres of soil they use to grow and gather a hundred or more different varieties of annuals and perennials.   Walter is the person who has the knowledge of farming in this manner with Joy and Kate as his loyal partners.  Unable to use any kind of herbicide to control the weed growth the job of controlling these pests is left to manual removal…at some point the battle does seem to weigh heavily to the weeds; however, out of it all the Reinhardt’s mine their crop of flowers to bring to market.  This is an extremely labor intensive production.  The three of them gather from their beds enough varieties and quantities of flowers to make 600 to 700 bouquets each week in the height of their growing season.

 

The Reinhardt’s are a member of the Cut Flower Association keeping them abreast of the last and greatest trends in cut flowers.

 

Great care is taken in the cutting and processing of the flowers to assure a long lasting bloom in each bouquet.  This sets the Reinhardt’s apart indeed…if you have ever had one of their beautifully arranged bouquets it is not unusual that they last from one Saturday to the next.  A staff of arrangers including three sisters has been with Joy for many years and Friday is arranging day.  Joy and Kate attend the Midland and Rochester Farmers Markets as well.

 

Sommer’s Greenhouse

 

David Sommers grew up in a greenhouse with his grandfather on the western side of Michigan.  When he moved here to take a teaching position he carried with him this tradition and knowledge.  David was a teacher and principal in Bridgeport and has been in the greenhouse business for 33 years.  David’s wife Pat assists him and he also hires approximately 8 people throughout the growing season.

 

David has a loyal following of buyers who return year after year to discover what new plant David has been able to find and propagate for that year.  David has an untraditional, informal gardening style in the gardens that surround his green house….he simply plants all the seeds or plants all the same time paying no attend to size or height and lets nature take its course.

 

David brings to the market a huge variety of plants to choose from… the varieties are staggering.

 

Timm Family Farm

 

The Timm’s farm is located in Bay City.  Gerald and Marion have farmed this third generation farm for 28 years.  With the help of sisters, brothers, parents, grandparents and children they run their operation of 60 acres.

 

When touring the Timm Farm one can not help but notice the seemingly endless fields of single crops…acres of onion, acres of pepper, acres of tomatoes... it is quite a sight to see.  To better their crop yield they bring in bee hives…a smart move to increase production.  Once the crops are picked they are brought back to the barn to be sorted, washed and crated up for market.  As Marion and her sister are busy supervising this part of the process there are children racing around the barn in battery powered little tractors ‘learning the business’ of farming by imitation…. I noted that strapped to the back of the John Deere vehicle was a baby’s car seat… when I looked, sure enough there was a baby in there.

 

This family run business is expanding to the raising of deer for hunting camps.  When Marion and Gerry aren’t farming they’re doing ceramics and golfing, respectively.

 

 

Paul Weiss

 

Paul is unique in his produce…Paul grows an unusual variety of vegetables, herbs fresh cut at the market – just the amount that is requested – and flowers.  Paul has cilantro the entire season and this year he will be selling a ‘bucket of salsa’… everything you will need to make a batch of fresh salsa – tomatoes, peppers, onions, herbs and more – ready to take home.… Bravo to Paul!