From Field to Market

A Conversation with Farmer Megan Lowlor Korovesis

For many of us, a farmers market is where we stop on a Saturday morning, pick up fresh produce, and maybe chat with a vendor or two. But for small farmers, getting to market is the culmination of months of planning, planting, and hard work. As the Ypsilanti Farmers Market prepares to move downtown this season, we sat down with Megan Lowlor Korovesis of Field & Forest Farm to talk about what it means to grow food, build community, and why this market is such a special place to sell.

The First Market: "A Huge Triumph"

Julius Buzzard: Megan, I want to start with your very first day at the Ypsilanti Farmers Market. Can you take me back to that moment? What did it feel like to step behind the table as a vendor for the first time?

Megan Lowlor Korovesis: Oh, it was a huge triumph. I remember looking at our stand, filled with fresh produce, and thinking, Wow, we actually did it. There’s so much work that goes into growing food, and that first market was the moment where it all came together. Seeing people stop, buy our food, and even come back week after week—it was incredible. It made all the effort feel so worth it.

JB: What was that effort like? I think a lot of people don’t realize just how much goes into getting food to market.

MLK: Oh, absolutely. The work starts long before market day. In February—sometimes even earlier—we’re already sowing seeds. Every step after that is a hurdle: making sure the seedlings survive, preparing the fields, keeping pests away, harvesting, washing, packing. And then there’s the unpredictability of it all—maybe the weather doesn’t cooperate, or a crop doesn’t grow the way you planned. By the time you get to market, you’ve already put in months of work.

And most of what we do is by hand. Small-scale farming is physically demanding, labor-intensive work, but it’s a labor of love. When someone comes to our stand and tells us how much they enjoyed the food, it makes every bit of effort feel worthwhile.

Beyond Buying Food: Farmers Markets as Community Spaces

JB: One of the things I love about farmers markets is how they bring people together—it’s not just about buying food, it’s about connecting with the people who grow it. Has being a vendor changed the way you think about food and community?

MLK: Absolutely. When you sell at a farmers market, you’re not just putting food on a shelf and hoping people buy it—you’re talking to people, hearing their stories, answering their questions.

I love when customers come back and tell me what they made with what they bought. Maybe they tried a new recipe or discovered that a fresh, local carrot tastes completely different from what they’re used to at the grocery store. It’s also great when people ask about the farming process—why certain crops taste sweeter at certain times of the year, or how to cook a vegetable they’ve never used before. Those conversations create a deeper connection to food.

And it goes both ways. I’ve had people tell me what they’re growing in their home gardens, and we swap ideas about what’s working and what’s not. It’s this wonderful exchange of knowledge and experience that you just don’t get anywhere else.

The Market Moves Downtown: What Changes & What Stays the Same

JB: This year, the Ypsilanti Farmers Market is moving downtown to Washington Street. As a farmer, what does that shift mean for you?

MLK: I’m really excited about it. The Freight House was a great space, but downtown has so much to offer. The new location puts the market closer to other small businesses, which means people can shop at the market and then explore the area—maybe grab a coffee, check out a local shop, make a whole morning of it.

JB: Do you think it will change the feel of the market?

MLK: I think it will bring more people in, but what makes this market special will still be the same. There’s a real sense of community here. The vendors are supportive of each other, the customers are curious and engaged, and it’s a space where everyone feels welcome.

One thing I really appreciate about the Ypsi Market is that it’s intimate. Some bigger markets, like Ann Arbor’s, can be overwhelming—parking is tough, and it’s so crowded that you don’t always get the chance to talk with the farmers. Ypsi’s market is different. It’s slower-paced in the best way—you can take your time, ask questions, and really connect with the people behind the food.

Why Shopping at a Farmers Market Matters

JB: If someone has never been to the Ypsilanti Farmers Market before, how would you describe what makes it special? Why should they come out and see it for themselves?

MLK: I’d say come for the food, but stay for the experience. Yes, you’re getting fresh, local produce, but you’re also getting a chance to meet the people who grew it, to ask questions, to learn about where your food comes from. There’s a warmth to this market—people chat with each other, they linger, they share recipes. It’s not just shopping, it’s a way to be part of something bigger.

And when you buy from a local farmer, you’re not just supporting that one person—you’re investing in your community. Every dollar spent at the market stays local, helps a small farm keep going, and contributes to a food system that values sustainability, health, and connection.

What’s Next for Field & Forest Farm

JB: Before we wrap up, what’s ahead for you this season?

MLK: We’re expanding! This will be our second full growing season, and we’re adding a CSA program where people can get a weekly share of fresh produce. The Ypsilanti Farmers Market will be one of our pickup locations, which is really exciting.

We’re also continuing to experiment with new crops, moving closer to reaching our goals of being no-till, and just growing in every sense of the word. I’m looking forward to seeing familiar faces at the market, meeting new customers, and sharing the food we love to grow.

JB: It sounds like an exciting season ahead. Megan, thanks so much for taking the time to talk today—I can’t wait to visit your stand at the new downtown market.

MLK: Thank you! I’m really looking forward to it.

Visit the Ypsilanti Farmers Market

📍 New Location: 16 S. Washington Street

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

Want to support local farmers like Megan? Become a Friend of the Market today and invest in a thriving, just food system.

👉 Become a Friend of the Market Today!

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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.

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