Inkster Task Force Debuts New Farmers Market

The Inkster Task Force is bringing the opportunity to purchase fresh produce and home-baked goods to the community, by way of a Farmers' Market being held in cooperation with the National Kidney Foundation. The Farmers' Market will be held each Wednesday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Inkster Task Force Building located at 27020 Michigan Avenue, between Inkster Road and John Daly Street. Healthy foods will be available for purchase along with convenient ways to pay. "So we're able to have fresh fruits and vegetables here and we will also be accepting SNAP benefits, so the Bridge Card will be accepted here at the farmers' market, and Senior Fresh as well," says the Inkster Task Force's LaNita Pickett. Credit and debit cards will also be accepted.

The Farmers' Market is a fortunate addition for the city of Inkster, which offers few supermarkets or produce stands. "Inkster is a food dessert where there are not a lot of healthy foods," says Pickett. "I hope the residents start to eat more healthy, so we can decrease the diabetes and hypertension here in the city."

Due to the arrival of the pandemic last year, plans for a farmers' market were put on hold and the city held a one-day Harvest Market in October. This year's Farmers' Market is the first season-long market in the city and hopefully the first of many, says Pickett.

A healthy cooking demonstration and samples will be part of each week's market, courtesy of Sandra Johnson of Kayshaun's Kitchen. "We expect to have farmers bringing in fruits and vegetables, and then the purpose of the demonstration is to help people who don't know how to use these fruits and vegetables in a healthy way, to teach them how," says the Farmer's Market Manager Joyce Phillips, adding that the goal is to get people to eat healthy.

Established in 2001, the Inkster Task Force seeks to promote communications and collaboration across public, private, and non-profit sectors to improve the quality of life for Inkster residents. Since 2013, the organization has operated as a 501c3 non-profit which enabled it to obtain a grant from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to partner with the National Kidney Foundation to bring the Farmers' Market to the city.

Pickett says she expects local farmers to begin arriving in June to sell fresh produce. "We're still getting good foot traffic. We're looking forward to having more people visit as the farmers come out." For now, the farmers' market has vendors selling baked goods, flowers, herbs, and handmade items and curious shoppers are stopping by. Pickett says the Farmers' Market will also provide a place to socialize and meet neighbors. The Inkster Task Force also has volunteer opportunities for youth to help out at the Farmers' Market during the summer. One shopper remarked, "It's an interesting market and hopefully as the summer goes on they'll have more people come out."

The Farmers' Market began on Wednesday, May 5 and will continue through October 6. For more information on the Inkster Task Force and the Farmers' Market, go to http://www.inkstertaskforce.org or see the organization's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/InksterTaskForce --or just drop by any Wednesday evening.

Pickett says they are anticipating a good year at the Farmers' Market. "In Inkster, I think it's well-needed to bring good vibes to the city and to also let people come out to enjoy the vendors that are here as well as once we start having fruits and vegetables, they'll be able to come and enjoy that as well," she says.