The Farmington Farmers and Artisans Market is pulling in nearly 4,500 shoppers every Saturday and averaging about 125,000 visitors a year, general manager Walt Gajewski told C&G Newspapers.
The downtown Farmington market's next big draw is the third annual Apple Dessert Bake-Off on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Riley Park. Registration closes at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. Contestants can find registration instructions on the market's website. Entries must specify the dessert and whether the contestant is competing as a home baker or professional. An email reply from organizers confirms registration.
Gajewski said attendance spiked earlier this season after the Cyclospora outbreak linked to contaminated iceberg lettuce. The open-air market gave people a way to buy produce directly from local growers. Michigan reported two deaths tied to the outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC declared the outbreak over on Sept. 11 after tallying 12,883 illnesses across 21 states.
The bake-off grew out of Farmington's 2024 bicentennial celebration. Volunteer Peggy Castine, who has helped run the market for more than eight years, was part of the group that pitched the idea.
“A lot of us are history buffs … and we came up with the idea of an old-fashioned bake-off,” Castine told C&G Newspapers. “Picking apples as a theme was easy because this area had a big history of growing apples.”
Monica Ingles, owner of Kitchen Creations in downtown Farmington and Sorella's Cake Studio in Livonia, serves as head judge. Kitchen Creations sponsors the event. Farmington Mayor Joe LaRussa serves as emcee.
Entries must be dropped off between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the banner in Riley Park north of the Walter E. Sundquist Pavilion, 33113 Grand River Ave. Judging runs from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., with winners announced around 11:15 a.m. Judges score on taste, appearance, use of apples and creativity. No alcohol is allowed in entries, and past winners must submit new recipes. Full details are on the market's bake-off page.
The market runs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday, rain or shine, through Saturday, Nov. 7. More information is available at farmingtonfarmersmarket.com.
