Beyond Buying

Councilmember Desiraé Simmons on the Power of the Farmers Market

Farmers markets exist at the intersection of economy, food justice, and community. They are spaces where fresh food meets real relationships, where small businesses take root, and where local purchasing power turns into collective impact. But beyond that, they are spaces where time slows down, where neighbors reconnect, and where a local economy is built—not through policy alone, but through people showing up, week after week.

Councilmember Desiraé Simmons, who represents Ward 3 in Ypsilanti, has seen firsthand how markets like this shape the way a city moves forward. We sat down with her to talk about the economic, social, and cultural power of farmers markets, and what it means for Ypsilanti as the market moves downtown this season.

"A Farmers Market is an Economic Engine"

Julius Buzzard: We hear a lot about supporting local economies, but often that conversation is focused on big development projects. From your perspective, how does a farmers market serve as an economic engine for Ypsilanti?

Desiraé Simmons: There are so many ways! One of the biggest is that it allows small, home-based businesses—cottage food makers, bakers, growers—to sell their products directly to the people who live here. It’s accessible entrepreneurship in action.

It also builds consumer confidence. People know exactly where their food is coming from, who grew it, how it was made. When people have that level of trust, they’re more likely to shop in a way that aligns with their values.

Access, Choice, and Food Justice

JB: The Ypsilanti Farmers Market has been a leader in making fresh, local food accessible. What’s the broader impact of that work?

DS: One of the most powerful things about this market is that food assistance doesn’t limit choice. If you’re using SNAP, WIC, or Double Up Food Bucks, you’re not just taking what’s given to you—you’re choosing the food that’s right for you and your family.

That choice is huge. It means people are getting fresh, high-quality food, even on assistance. And it creates this incredible mixed-income space where everyone, regardless of how they pay, is shopping side by side, interacting, and being in community together.

A Market That Moves With the City

JB: This year, the market moves downtown—a big shift. From a city planning perspective, what does this move mean for Ypsilanti?

DS: We’ll miss having the market in Depot Town—Ward 3 has loved hosting it. But moving downtown means the market becomes more central, more accessible, and more visible.

It’s part of the bigger picture of making downtown Ypsi vibrant and full. With the market here, people won’t just shop for food—they’ll explore other local businesses. I’m really excited to see how those connections grow.

Farmers Markets as a Gathering Place

JB: Sometimes, government work can feel removed from the day-to-day lives of residents. But markets like this are a place where policy meets people. How do you see that playing out?

DS: Farmers markets are spaces of assembly. They bring people together in ways that influence how we think about community needs and solutions.

It’s hard to imagine Ypsi before the market—it’s such an integral part of the city now. And when you look at how it started, it’s a great example of a community-driven solution to food access and economic development. That’s why it’s still here, growing, expanding, evolving.

On a personal level, I love how the market breaks isolation. I know people who come just to see a specific vendor, or to reconnect with folks they might not see otherwise. That’s a powerful thing.

What to Notice at the Market

JB: If someone were visiting the market for the first time—not just to shop, but to understand its role in the community—what would you tell them to look for?

DS: I’d tell them to just watch.

Watch how people move through the space. Notice the rhythm of it—the ritual of showing up, chatting with vendors, seeing what’s in season. Notice the conversations, the small moments of connection.

The market changes how we relate to food, but it also changes how we relate to time. It slows us down, even just for a moment. That’s something I want people to see.

Join Us in Growing This Market

This season, the market is evolving—a new location, new opportunities, and a growing community.

📍 NEW LOCATION: 16 S. Washington Street

🛍️ Opening Day: May 3, 2025 | ⏰ 9 AM – 1 PM

💛 Want to help keep this space thriving? Become a Friend of the Market today. Your support keeps this market accessible, equitable, and deeply rooted in Ypsilanti.

👉 Join Here

< Older Post

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By Julius Buzzard • April 4, 2025

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Honoring the Earth, Honoring Our Farmers

By Julius Buzzard • April 1, 2025

Happy Earth Month! Spring arrives with a quiet urgency. The thawing ground reminds us of the resilience of our land, of the ancestors who tilled it, and of the communities who still gather to nurture its abundance. But this year, as we step into Earth Month, I carry a deep and growing concern for the future of our food system—one that has been shaken by policy decisions that threaten the very foundation of food sovereignty in Ypsilanti and beyond. The recent funding freezes and budget cuts—from the loss of the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program to the closure of USDA offices—are not just bureaucratic shifts; they are existential threats to our farmers, our food access programs, and the families who rely on them. I have sat across the table from our legislators, pressing them on these cuts and their real-life consequences. Time and time again, I have asked them: How will our small farmers recover from the sudden disappearance of revenue they had come to rely on? How will low-income communities access fresh, local produce when the programs designed to bridge that gap are gutted? The answers, when they come at all, ring hollow. And the weight of these decisions falls heaviest on Black farmers. Over the past few months, I have spoken to Black farmers across the state who have lost tens, even hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding. Each has asked to remain anonymous, fearing retaliation if they speak out. We’ve spent years investing in trust—through policy change, the Washtenaw County Black Farmers Fund, and steadfast community advocacy—and now, that trust has been shattered. The jar that held every marble of faith and progress has been smashed to the ground. I am deeply concerned about the long-term implications of these actions—not just for our farmers but for the fight for equity in our food system as a whole. If we continue down this path, we will see more land lost, more livelihoods destroyed, and more barriers to sovereignty erected. But let me be clear: while these attacks are meant to dishearten us, they will not stop us. Hope is not lost. We are building and investing in a local food system that ensures the right to food for all. We are planting, growing, and sharing. We are organizing, advocating, and refusing to be silenced. Our programs at Growing Hope continue to provide fresh, local produce to our neighbors, even as the environment shifts around us. We continue to uplift local growers, ensuring they have the resources they need to weather this storm as they have weathered past storms and will weather future storms. We demand that our legislators listen—not just to us but to the land itself, which has long whispered the truth of what justice looks like. This Earth Month, as we honor and commune with Mother Earth and the ancestors who fought for our right to grow, we reaffirm our commitment to a just and sovereign food system. We will not let short-sighted policies or political indifference derail the work of generations. And we ask you to join us—whether by growing, sharing, advocating, or simply refusing to look away. In solidarity, Julius P.S. If you’re looking for a practical way to participate and support our local food system, visit and become a friend of the market , where we’re reimagining how we invest in and support growers, eaters, and everything in between.