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Harbor Springs council approves farmers market application; market master highlights $1M+ downtown impact
Summary
Council approved the seasonal Harbor Springs Farmers Market permit. Market master Hannah Byaki described nonprofit operations, food-assistance programs, youth entrepreneurship and said rapid-assessment data show about $1.25 million downtown spending tied to the market in 2024 and over $1 million in 2025.
The Harbor Springs City Council approved the seasonal farmers market application after a presentation from the market master, who emphasized the market's nonprofit model, food-assistance work and sizable economic contribution to downtown.
Hannah Byaki, market master for the Harbor Springs Farmers Market, told the council the market is entering its 17th downtown season with more than 30 full-time vendors and more than 20 guest vendors. “We are primarily a food market,” she said, noting that vendors typically prepare products they sell and that the nonprofit runs multiple assistance programs: a market pantry, a LEAF program that awards 15 nominated families a $500 shopping budget, and market bucks that make card payments easier for customers.
Economic findings: Byaki said a rapid market assessment done with the Michigan Farmers Market Association showed a single busy market day drawing roughly 2,500 visitors, average on-site spending of about $33 per person and additional downtown spending tied to market visits. She said the assessment calculated approximately $1.25 million in downtown spending attributable to market activity in 2024 and that 2025 again exceeded $1 million.
Operations and city coordination: Byaki asked for more coordination with the DDA on vendor rules and noted operational requests the market has made to the city—access to a storage-shed area, staging signs and a dedicated van parking spot the night before markets, and consistent trash/recycling placement. She said the market donates food to local pantries (about $15,000 in 2024) and funds musician payments, a youth-entrepreneur program and market-sprouts educational programming.
Council discussion: Council members raised concerns about competition with year-round downtown businesses and asked the DDA to review vendor rules; Byaki said the market tries to minimize direct competition and is open to coordination. The council recorded its approval of the market application and encouraged further staff-level coordination between the market nonprofit and downtown organizations.
Ending: The council approved the application; staff will continue to coordinate logistics and DDA engagement on vendor rules and storage arrangements.
