More Good News about Acorn Farmers’ Market & Café

Acorn Farmers’ Market and Cafe will be coming to Manchester later this year.

Submitted by Ruth VanBogelen, Acorn Board of Directors

The Winter Farmers Market has been open three days a week since November 1, 2019 and work continues to transition the store to Acorn Farmers’ Market & Café which will be open 70-90 hours a week.

On Thursdays, the winter market is full of a wide selection of produce, meat, honey, maple syrup, etc., but if you have come to the market on Saturday about closing time, the tables and refrigerators are looking bare. Once Acorn is open, the store will be full every day!

The two questions being asked most frequently are: 1) when will Acorn open and 2) how is the winter market doing?

First, good progress is being made on plans to make a few building changes and to obtain more equipment to transition to Acorn. A key step was to obtain site and zoning approval from the Village Council, which was completed on January 6th. As many long term Manchester residents know, the building at 327 W. Main St has always been a commercial building within a residential village block. Acorn needs to add a couple structures to the property. One is to house additional inventory so we don’t run out of items (like the winter market does now), and the second is an atrium/greenhouse structure which is not designed to grow plants, but instead to provide community space for people to gather. This is space to have coffee with friends, for small groups to meet, for classes, etc.

Landscaping is also important, including outdoor seating area. A big Thank You to John Hinkley for serving as the architect (and just overall great adviser) to Acorn’s Board of Directors!!

Next steps are:

1. How much are the changes and equipment going to cost? John Hinkley has also finished the interior and exterior plans; contractors are now working on developing bids. Acorn’s Board is getting quotes for equipment.
2. Has enough fund-raising been done? The Michigan Economic Development Corp (MEDC) offers up to $50,000 to organizations to finish non-profit projects like Acorn. These funds have two conditions–first, the funds have to be the last funds the organization needs and second, the organization needs to raise matching dollars via a crowdfunding campaign. Acorn has received two big grants ($25,000 each) from 5 Healthy Towns Foundation and St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea and also donations from many individuals. Once the construction bids are in, Acorn’s Board will find out if there is still a funding gap or if they are ready to start the process to do crowdfunding for the MEDC funds.
3. When will Acorn open? That is the question that can’t be answered yet; but once the two questions above are answered, we’ll be able to estimate when the expanded hours and food offerings will happen.

Now to the question of how is the winter market doing. One thing is clear–many people are finding they can purchase much of their food items for meals at the winter market, others find the market is a stop for that day’s meal. Based on our loyal customer card file, we have almost 200 people who come to the market regularly. Financial projections for Acorn were to have 50 grocery transactions per day with an average of $15 per transaction. Well, the winter market is very close to hitting those projections being open only four hours a day (which is wonderful!!). The second thing that is clear is that the winter market is helping local farmers and producers (their share of the sales have totaled $25,000 already). We are also pleased that we are helping others with their food needs by donating over $1,500 worth of food to CRC’s food pantry!

Acorn’s Board of Directors continues to volunteer many, many hours to develop this food store in Manchester, plus we have several people volunteering at the store (thanks to Sue Allen, Sue Fielder, Angela Zahner, Andi Hathaway, Robin Scully, Laura Wohlgemuth and Kari Wilson). The Board is very appreciative for all the area professionals who are helping with the development and, of course, grateful to all the customers!

Acorn Farmers’ Market & Café is a 501c3 organization located at 327 W. Main St. Mailing address is PO Box 432, Manchester, MI 48158. Website is acornfarmersmarketcafe.org, or find us on Facebook at Acorn Farmers’ Market & Café as well as at Manchester Michigan Farmers Market. Contact us by email at acornfarmersmarket@gmail.com.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.