Since its inception, the market has maintained a strict "farmer must grow" rule. Some family members from the original producer vendors still sell at the market.
On its first day of business, more than 300 consumers purchased from 75 producers. The roof was made with cement tile, with two rows of lights, and the floor was concrete to allow cars to drive in for unloading. In 1927, a permanent brick building, 12-feet high with 23,000 square feet was constructed to enclose the farmers market. Potatoes, apples, cabbage, carrots, onions, farm fresh butter, and poultry were among items sold. The early market drew farmers from 25 to 30 miles. Noting the need for fresh produce for the growing community, the city of Royal Oak and Oakland County jointly decided to rent the corner of Fourth and Troy streets, to establish a municipal open-air farmers or community market in 1925. So much rhubarb was shipped through the city that Royal Oak was once considered the Rhubarb Capital of the world. The market, which is located a few blocks from Detroit's main thoroughfares: Woodward Avenue, I-696 and I-75, serves three counties.ĭuring the '30's, Michigan was a major truck garden state. The city's location just outside Detroit helped spur its growth, especially when train tracks were laid in 1934 for the Grand Trunk Railroad.
By 1930, the population had grown to 23,000. It became a city in 1921 with a population of 6,000. Royal Oak was incorporated as a village in 1891. What began as a community farmers market in 1925 to serve the produce needs of a growing town has become a city institution, reflective of the development and heritage of Royal Oak, Michigan.
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