Community Corner

Dexter's Farmers' Market Opens Amid Sunny Skies

Local vendors sell jewelry, plants and produce at the seasonal market.

Warm weather and sunny skies greeted dozens of residents attending the opening of the Dexter Farmers' Market on Saturday.

"We're excited about the weather," Courtney Nicholls, assistant village manager said. "It's great to see all the vendors with some early season stuff and we'll be seeing more produce vendors in the summer."

Whitney Smith of Southfield, was there to sell handmade jewelry with her mother, Anita.

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"This is the first time we've been to the Dexter market," Whitney said. "We didn't even know Dexter had a farmers' market until we read about it ."

Whitney said she and her mother make an assortment of jewelry and are planning on opening a boutique in the near future.

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"My mom has been making jewelry for 15 years and she really enjoys it," she said. "We like coming out to as many farmers' markets and art shows as we can to sell."

Joan Hutchinson of Ann Arbor said she too was attending the market for the first time.

"I love Dexter. I've done the Chelsea market in the past, but Dexter has a sweet little market," she said. "This is a nice group of people with a variety of products."

Hutchinson sells "natural media crafts" using feathers and inspiration from Native Americans.

"Twenty years ago I started finding feathers while going on walks after my son died, and pretty soon I had two shoeboxes full and my craft just took on a life of its own," she explained.

Jane Kelly of Kelly Farms in Dexter, who was selling maple syrup, said she has attended the market for the past three years and has noticed the market's popularity increasing every year.

"It's really catching on," she said. "All of the vendor slots have been filled this year, which is good."

Nancy Rhoads of Ann Arbor said attending the market is like a homecoming.

"I've been coming on Saturdays for the past three years, and I won't go to any other market," she said. "There is a really positive family atmosphere in Dexter. The people are great to work with."

Rhoads' business, Three Sisters Crafting Jewlry & More features jewlry made from semiprecious stones and swarovski crystals.

"Everything is handmade. My daughter, Melanie, does all of the metal work," she said. "We try to use as much recycled material as we can."

The Dexter Farmers' Market is open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Tuesdays from 3-7 p.m. on Alpine Street next to the Dexter District Library.

“We really want to emphasize that also have a market on Tuesdays.  We are always looking to increase participation in Tuesday’s market by both vendors and customers,” Nicholls said.


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