Local Roots Re-opens!

Local Roots reopened today -- but not as a farmers' market, as an honest-to-goodness store that features local foods. We received our Retail Food Establishment license from the Wayne County Health Department this week, thanks to all the hard work from our volunteers, so we're now ready to be a year-round store!

Producers didn't have to be on-site (though a handful were at least part of the time), and items for sale were arranged by general category (with shelves or tables for producers to display their products):

The new freezer and coolers housed locally-produced meats, cider, milk, butter, cheeses, and LOTS of eggs.

One row of display units featured racks of assorted baked goods...

...while the produce growers had the tilted tables in the middle of the floor loaded with potatoes, onions, squash, apples, and high tunnel roots and greens.

The new coffee bar does not yet have all the equipment needed for brewing freshly-ground locally-roasted coffee, but volunteers offered samples of these coffees throughout the day.

At the other end of the coffee bar, a glass pastry case allowed local bakers to show off their specialty items: muffins, bagels, German lye rolls, cupcakes, French pains au chocolat, and more.

While we didn't have as many people stop in to shop as we did at the holiday farmers' markets, the crowd provided a steady stream of activity throughout the day, and most people seemed impressed with the store design.


The new checkout area still needs some work, and volunteers are still getting used to the new checkout system, so lines were slow, but we are grateful that shoppers were patient with us! (It will get better, we promise!)

We also had a modest but enthusiastic turnout for our community garden discussion in the meeting room at 1 PM. Representatives from local gardens shared their experiences and answered questions, and others expressed their interest in starting other gardens or helping out where possible.

Local Roots Market will now be open on Saturdays from 9 AM to 3 PM. The online order system is now live, with the first pickup date scheduled for next Saturday, February 6. (The online system is open to members only.)

So what are you waiting for? Stop by Local Roots for your shopping, and become a member to make your shopping even more convenient by going online!

We're definitely taking Roots in the community!