Lunasa provides one-stop shopping for local products. With an online store-front, a twice-a-month in-person pickup, and a choice of two southeast Michigan locations in Ann Arbor and Garden City, Lunasa makes shopping local easy. Simply by becoming a member of Lunasa, you can be sure that the items you purchase are produced in Michigan by people who live in Michigan.
So, it's a farmer's market, but you reserve your stuff online the week before. Ordering window is Thursday-Saturday for a pickup on the following Tuesday, bi-monthly. You can pay on the site directly with a credit card, or you can use your paypal account.
You do have to buy a $40 membership, but don't let this dissuade you. Think of it a donation for farmers and small producers who can't or don't care to break into a larger venue. It is such a cool opportunity that we have to buy from local sources.
Pick up is on the south side of Jackson Road, between Zeeb and Parker Road. (There's also a Garden City pickup location.) After checking in, you walk around to each vendor picking up the merchandise that you reserved. You also can purchase anything extra that they brought with them. This was helpful for me the first time, because I needed to see some of the products before I bought them. I came away with pasta from Al Dente, tea leaves from Iceni, ice cream from Mooville Dairy, carrots from Ferris Farms, scones from Westwind Milling, cocoa powder from Mondo Chocolates, and brazilian cheese bread (gluten free) from Deer Tracks Farms.
What drew me into this initially was the wide variety of products, fresh foods (veg, fruit, meats, fish...), shelf stable items (flours, cake mixes, tea, coffee...), & beauty. Check out the producers and categories online. You'll be impressed. And please consider joining Lunasa, and meeting me there in two weeks to pick up your produce. Don't miss out on this exciting Ann Arbor marketplace, just because it's a little bit out of the way!
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