On May 3, the Chelsea Farmers’ Market kicks off its 2014 season Saturdays from 8 a.m.- noon.

Chelsea Farmers Market: Saturdays from 8am til 12pm

New location in Palmer Lot on Main St.

The biggest change customers can expect is a new location, on the other side of Main Street in the Palmer parking lot. The address is 222 South Main St., and a new site will mean a new layout.

“We’ve been growing the last few years, and expanding to the Palmer lot will give us bigger public space,” said Ashley Miller-Helmholdt, coordinator for the Chelsea Farmers’ Market. “We’ll be adding amenities throughout the season, like places to sit and listen to live music, a kiosk for healthy food demos, and a storage space for market materials.”

The hope is that the visibility of the new location will bring in more customers. It also opens up more parking in the former space, located on Park Street east of Main St.

This year, the markets will offer more greens early thanks to the participation of new vendors with hoop houses.

The farmers’ market is one stop not just for shopping but also entertainment and exercise, too. It’s good for overall well-being.

The Saturday market will also serve as a starting point for a community walking program that Miller-Helmholdt heads. “We’re really focused on healthy social activities and education,” she said.

Beginning in June, there will be entertainment at the Saturday market and a kids’ tent once a month.

Visit Chelsea Farmers Market online

Bushel Basket Market: Wednesdays from 2:30pm til 6pm

Chelsea Community Hospital

Chelsea Community Kitchen will offer monthly food education classes at both the Saturday market and the Wednesday Bushel Basket Market, located at the University of Michigan Family Practice lot near the Chelsea Community Hospital. That farmers’ market will start May 7 and will be on Wednesdays from 2:30-6 p.m.

Visit Bushel Basket Farmers Market online

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program available at both markets

Both of the Chelsea Farmers’ Markets will offer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Double Up Food Bucks, which doubles customers’ purchasing power. They will also offer Prescription for Health, a program to help people with chronic illnesses to afford more fruits and vegetables.

Source: Thanks to Lisa Carolin from Chelsea Update for the information in this article! Check out the Chelsea Update website for more local news.