The Develop Iosco (DI) Winter Market was launched in November of 2022 with much enthusiasm from our local communities. The Sand Lake Community Center is located in the center of Iosco and allows summer market vendors to continue to sell their products year around. In addition to some farm fresh items, vendors can also sell their specialty gifts and crafts.
The market takes place every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon (early November thru April) at the Sand Lake Community Center located at 4059 Indian Lake Rd., National City.
Please reach us at diwintermarket@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
$10.00 per table (you can reserve more than one table if space allows)
You will need to reserve a table by 4pm Thursday of the week you wish to participate. You can do so by emailing the Winter Market Manager at diwintermarket@gmail.com You will be asked to sign a Vendor Agreement (available for download below) before you start selling on Saturday. That form will be available for you to sign at the market (no need to print out).
Develop Iosco is a 501-c-3 nonprofit volunteer organization promoting economic development in Iosco County. Our goal is to support small businesses as they serve both year-round residents and seasonal visitors to our community.
Tourism is an important aspect of economic development in Iosco County; therefore, we have a Tourism Committee and this is one of their new initiatives. The Winter Market generates revenue for small business owners and the local economy.
The market is held at the Sand Lake Community Center located at 4059 Indian Lake Road, National City MI 48748.
We recognize that your GPS will likely not be that helpful in actually locating the market. We're sorry about that. We are working on that issue. In the meanwhile, here is a map if you need it. As you look at the map, Tawas City would be to your right (East) and Hale would be located up off the upper left corner of the map, coming in on 65 (unless you're using the backroads).
Meet Laurie Hunter of Frontier Farms and the Community Food Co-op. In part one of this two-part profile, we will be featuring Frontier Farms. In part two, we will be featuring the Community Food Co-op.
Laurie has hustle in her blood. From helping mom and dad with their bed & breakfast as a kid to becoming a busy mom herself, all the while building successful tree and landscaping businesses. She’s worked hard, worn a lot of hats, and always seems to have multiple projects in the works.
Right now Laurie has her sights set on 3 ventures: 1) growing her family’s shiny new, certified organic Frontier Farms Stand and CSA (Community Supported Agriculture/food subscription business) in Whittemore (www.michiganfrontierfarms.com), 2) launching the Community Hub Food Co-op in Tawas City (www.micommunityhub.org) AND 3) running their Michigan tree and landscaping businesses.
We’re proud to have Laurie at the Winter Market every other Saturday (March 4thfor her next time), selling her beautiful produce, tasty goodies, and healthy dry goods while spreading the word about this much-needed food co-op. All produce (heirloom cherry tomatoes, garlic, and more) and microgreens are certified organic. You might be interested to know that Frontier has a plant sale in May, close to Mother’s Day. You can find the details on their website, in the near future.
Laurie originally grew up in Michigan, then moved West as a teen. A dramatic climate shift in Colorado was ultimately the catalyst for her return. “We knew we wanted to be growing, both sustainably and organically. It broke our hearts to watch our Colorado gardens and landscaping die in the summer of 2017 during the drought/watering bans. But that inspired us to buy Michigan farm property in 2018 and fully commit to the difficult, year-long transition back home.” They are glad to be back and so close to extended family again while pursuing their true life’s passion.
The Hunters employ regenerative farming practices to keep both the food and the land healthy. Ducks and chickens roam the farm and keep the pests down. The chickens and other animals are rotated to help provide natural fertilizer and all the planting and harvesting is done by hand, versus tractor, to preserve the natural structure of the soil. Pesticides are not used at the farm. Rather, they employ nets and hand picking for the really tough critters that the birds miss. The prior owner bought the property in 1927 and ran a conventional apple orchard for over 90 years while raising 9 kids. Laurie says it’s really nice to have land with such a rich history and with a previous owner who put so much love and care into his land stewardship.
In keeping with the family on the farm tradition, Laurie is grateful for the help of her very energetic, now 8-year-old son and her daughter, Chandra, to whom she wanted to send a very special thank you for being such an integral and valuable asset to all of their businesses. “We couldn’t do it without them!” Her son spends a lot of time running around with the animals and the dogs. Farm kids have great immune systems!
All of Laurie’s hard work, along with that of her family and partners, yields healthy food that you can buy at the Develop Iosco Winter Market.
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