Fenton Farmers Market helps local businesses

The Fenton Farmers Market, which located in downtown Fenton in front of the Community Center, brings in many customers for new business owners, especially for those who have only been at the market for only four weeks. 

Ben Goodrich, the owner of New Leaf Farms, attends the market as his first year at being a local vendor for the market. 

Goodrich started farming in his mother’s backyard while growing his microgreens within his house as well. 

“Our business specializes in salad greens and we also have other vegetables,” said Goodrich. “Such as radishes, beets and carrots.” 

Goodrich owns New Leaf Farms, a local produce farm that specializes in microgreens and vegetables. Being a vendor at the market has helped his business in many ways from new customers to feedback. 

Goodrich said: “Because of the Farmers market, I’m able to get a lot of feedback from new customers, from people asking questions gives me a chance to educate people on the microgreens that I’m selling. That gives us information to be able to grow with the market and meet the demand of the market.” 

The feedback that Goodrich has received is “little things” like the Facebook page or business cards that are making improvements for Goodrich who wants to expand and give more interest to his customers. 

Goodrich started his business because he “fell in love with it” and then decided “Why not try it as a business? Why not go out there and make something happen?” 

Pat Allen, Fenton Farmers market manager, said that having the Fenton Farmers Market impacts local or small businesses in the area. 

“There is a lot of (foot) traffic,” said Allen.

DoG barking with visitors every Saturday for the Williamsburg Farmers Market

Visitors roam around the 60+ vendors making up the 2023 Williamsburg Farmers Market hosted on Duke of Gloucester Street every Saturday. Tracy Frey, manager of the Williamsburg Farmers Market, poses with her rescued porcupine at the market information booth.At the market information booth located at the top of Duke of Gloucester Street, Tracy Frey, market manager, introduces her rescued porcupine to any intrigued community member. A line of customers form in front of Agriberry Farm’s booth, a fruits only producing farm, bringing fresh produce from Hanover County. Virginia Bread Company had a non-stop flow of customers practically selling out of inventory before 10 a.m..Timothy Seaman, compelling acoustic musician, serenaded the market on June 3rd, while playing his hammered dulcimer.Gift of Nature employees stand behind their weekly booth. The farm sprouted in 2001 and is a family business that sells flowers and plants grown on their three-acre property in York County.Visitors inspect plants for sale by Cachalot Farm on June 3.Even bunnies make their way down to the Williamsburg Farmers Market every Saturday.

Will new infrastructure deal help Battle Creek roads?

Capital Avenue in Battle Creek is under construction. Photo by Jaiyda Tyler. A Battle Creek resident is expressing her hope for a big change for the city’s roadways following the bipartisan agreement on president Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan that was made June 23. 

Marilyn Morris, 62, said she has owned a home on the city’s Eastside for over 20 years and her main residential road for commuting had barely been touched over the past two decades. Since hearing about the bipartisan agreement she has expressed her hope for the future of the city’s highways and residential roads such as her own. “It’s been years since they actually uprooted the road…They’ve patched a few pot holes here and there but never really got around to redoing it how they should,” she said.

State lawmakers could stop local governments from taxing plastic bags

BY RAY WILBUR
Capital News Service
LANSING —Environmental and recycling groups fear the passage of a state bill that would restrict how local governments manage plastic waste and litter. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jim Stamas, R-Midland, would prohibit local governments from banning or placing a fee or tax on plastic bags. Washtenaw County passed an ordinance in June that would put a 10-cent fee on plastic bags used at grocery stores. Other counties, such as Muskegon County, have discussed similar programs.
The bill would make those ordinances irrelevant and create a uniform law to allow businesses to operate smoothly, Stamas said. The bill passed the Senate in May and had a hearing in the House Committee on Commerce and Trade.