Kalamazoo Farmers Market Kzoo Parks

Kalamazoo Farmers Market

A photo of people walking near the North Shed entrance to the farmers market.

The Kalamazoo Farmers Market connects our community with more than 100 vendors including local Growers, Producers, Artisans and Retailers every week. A wide variety of produce, products, and prepared food and drink are available, and the Market often hosts live entertainment and special events, such as the Night Market.

The Kalamazoo Farmers Market is open Saturdays from 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. from May through November. From June through October, the Market is also open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The Kalamazoo Farmers Market will be operated by Gamsho Group, which is comprised of Kiar Gamsho and Marcus Collins of Parks Street Market and Midtown Fresh, along with Deb Droppers with Kalamazoo Experiential Learning Center assisting with events, rentals, and programming.

2026 Market FAQ

In 2026, the Kalamazoo Farmers Market will have a new operator, Gamsho Group LLC. We understand this change has raised questions for vendors and shoppers. We’ll be sharing more information soon. In the meantime, here are answers to some of the most common questions we’ve received so far.

When will the market open?

The Farmer’s Market will open for the 2026 season on Saturday, May 2.

Who is the new operator?

The new group is Gamsho Group LLC, which is comprised of Kiar Gamsho and Marcus Collins of Parks Street Market and Midtown Fresh, along with Deb Droppers with Kalamazoo Experiential Learning Center who will assist with events, rentals, and programming.

Why are we changing operators?

PFC has run the market since 2013. There was an initial 3 year contract with options to renew after that yearly. Due to the length of time they have run the market it was suggested to open up a Request for Proposals (RFP) to be transparent and see if there were any other entities that were interested in bidding on the contract.

The new contract is for 3 years with an option to renew after those initial 3 years with the option to extend for 3 additional one-year periods.

How was the new operator selected?

The new operator was selected based on a scoring committee and presentations to that committee. The proposals were scored based on Experience and Qualifications, Plans for Management and Operations of the Market, Financial Stability of the bidders in the submitted documentation, and Business Inclusion and Development Plans.

What will change at the market with a new operator?

There should not be any noticeable changes to the shopper. They still plan to offer the state supplied benefits (SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, and those sort of amenities). They will also be offering an added benefit to Veterans shopping at the market.

What is the application process for vendors now that there is a new operator?

The new operator will have the application process ready to take applications once the contract has been signed and a notice to proceed has been issued. This is currently in process and working on being completed.

What are the prices to be a vendor?

Rental rates for vendors will be the same this year as they were last year.

How can I contact the new operating group if I want to be a vendor?

Gamsho Group LLC has an email address created for reaching out regarding the Farmer’s Market information. The address is kzoofarmersmarket@gmail.com

Will there be a meeting with vendors hosted by the new operators?

Yes, there will be a meeting / open house for vendors to speak to the new group on Wednesday, April 22. Details on that will come from Gamsho Group.