Returning next month to Dwight P. Mitchell City Center Park in downtown Benton Harbor will be the Benton Harbor Farmers Market.

This will be the 15th year for the market managed by the Berrien County Health Department. Market coordinator Carla Smart-White tells us it was started as a way to help Benton Harbor residents get access to fresh fruits and vegetables because options to purchase them locally are limited for some.

A given market day will attract around 500 people.

“I think the thing that they love, it’s fresh from the ground to their plate, to their home, where they can cook,” Smart-White said. “Also, at the farmer’s market, they do receive recipes. They interact with the farmers as they purchase. The farmers are also able to let them know nutritional values and how to cook items.”

Smart-White says the market invites community partners to come and put on demonstrations and offer services to residents. There are also activities for the kids. She says they’ve got about ten vendors signed on so far.

“Our regulars from previous years, they’ll come through along with bakers, artisans with with their art, resources, of course our producers.”

The health department is also looking for new vendors, and anyone interested can contact Smart-White. You can do so here.

Community partners that work with the health department to put on the market each week will include Corewell Health, the Benton Harbor Public Library, the YMCA, and MSU Extension.

The market starts for the season on June 18 and will be held each Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through September 24. Everyone’s invited.