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EMPIRE, Michigan—Vibrant, succulent and exquisitely mature, “no spray” strawberries are transported fresh from a nearby farm to the Lively NeighborFood Market on a recent day in July.
Located along rural M-72 near Sleeping Bear Dunes, in a 4,000-square-foot structure on 20 acres once belonging to the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Jim Lively recognized a chance to establish a year-round farmer’s market for the local populace, which had lost its grocery store several years back. Lively inaugurated the market last summer and has disbursed $60,000 to local farmers already.
“We cherish our farmers. Ultimately, that’s why we are engaging in this initiative, right? We collaborate with about 25 nearby farms that offer diverse products,” Lively remarked. Throughout the seasons, he also acquires unique farm products like chestnuts, Concord grapes, pumpkins, sweet corn, and Christmas trees.
Lively based his establishment on the Argus Farm Stop, launched in Ann Arbor by University of Michigan graduates Kathy Sample and Bill Brinkerhoff.
“Genuinely and honestly, without the assistance of Argus Farm Stop, we would not have been able to kickstart this place as efficiently and effectively as we have,” Lively stated. “There are numerous decisions to make in a startup, and having the ability to reach out to someone or examine a model that says, ‘This is how they implemented it, we can begin here,’ was instrumental in our development.”
Argus Farm Stop commenced operations in 2014 and has allocated over $26 million to local farmers since its inception. In the last few years, it has shared the farm stop blueprint through classes and onsite visits and launched the National Farm Stop Conference in 2024. These initiatives have aided in disseminating the concept to various locations across the state, including Chelsea, Marquette, Empire, Hastings, Benton Harbor, and Jackson.
Significantly, the count of small farms in Washtenaw County is increasing, in part due to the presence of a robust retail outlet like the Farm Stop for consumers.
What is precisely a farm stop?
“A farm stop is a physical retail establishment open every day that markets local products, any farm offerings such as produce, meat, dairy, baked goods, and dry goods, with most of those transactions occurring via consignment so the producer retains ownership,” explained Casey Miller, external training manager for Argus Farm Stop.
Miller indicated that the latest farm stop conference attracted 200 participants from 28 states to Ann Arbor. Additionally, Argus provides guidance on every facet of establishing and managing a farm stop—from site planning, construction, hiring personnel, selecting a point of sale system, and collaborating with farmers.
“It’s incredibly thrilling. I believe people are seeking ways to shift the food paradigm, particularly regarding local food,” Miller mentioned. “Farmers selling through conventional grocery stores receive 15 cents on the dollar for their produce. Here at Argus, they earn 70 cents on the dollar. This has significantly impacted our community over the past 11 years. As a result, the word is spreading.”
The majority of farm stops operate seven days a week, ensuring a consistent supply of local produce for consumers. Argus Farm Stop’s philosophy asserts that if a community has a farmers market filled with locally grown food and consumers eager to purchase that local food, it can sustain a farm stop.
However, unlike traditional farmers markets, Argus Farms offers its producers a comprehensive report twice a month detailing their sales, enabling them to monitor their earnings and use that information for future growth strategies.
“In rural regions throughout Michigan, and across the nation, conventional…
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“Grocery outlets are departing rural areas, and they are being substituted by establishments like dollar stores,” Miller remarked. “A farm stop preserves the link between the community and local individuals cultivating food. Thus, a range of regional produce and fresh, nutritious food remains accessible to their community.”
Earlier this year, the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) announced a funding initiative for farm stops, offering up to $50,000 in assistance to promote the idea’s growth. The state hosts a thriving agricultural community and is recognized as having the second-most varied agricultural economy, following California. The Mitten State, with 47,000 farms, is the top producer of tart cherries, squash, cucumbers, asparagus, and dry beans, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
“We aim for our patrons to prioritize us for their purchases, acquiring everything they can from us before visiting a big box store for items such as lemons or bananas, or other products that Michigan cannot produce. Therefore, we regard it as an enhancement to conventional grocery shopping rather than a complete substitute for it,” Miller stated.
Argus Farm Stop operates three locations in Ann Arbor—Argus Liberty Cafe and Market, Argus Packard Cafe, and Argus Packard Market.
Sample, from Argus Farm Stop, mentioned that establishing training and the conference was logical after receiving inquiries from farmers statewide looking to launch their own farm stops. She recently donated an old refrigerator to Grow Jackson, a nonprofit started by U-M alum Jacob Inosencio that manages a community farm and plans to establish a farm stop. Connections among farm stops nationwide are increasing, which is a significant objective of the conference.
Farm stops in Michigan that have received assistance from Argus include:
These farm stops are currently in development in Michigan:
- Grow Jackson in Jackson. This nonprofit, working on food accessibility, community gardens, and education, plans to open a farm stop by 2026 and has just received a $46,000 grant from MDARD.
- Mill Street Market in Hastings. A multifunctional project, funded by the Barry Community Foundation, comprising mixed-income housing, a daycare, and a farm stop, is expected to launch in late spring 2026.
- Benton Harbor Fruit Market in Benton Harbor, aimed at evolving into a multifunctional farm stop, food center, incubator kitchen, and community education space.
“One distinguishing feature of all farm stops, regardless of location, is that they incorporate a high margin or specialty business aspect that aids in subsidizing the market,” Sample explained. “For Argus, this is in the form of our cafes. For Lakeshore, they brew their own kombucha and offer prepared hot meals as well.”
At Lively NeighborFood Market, which provides food grown by neighbors for neighbors, meals are prepared by Mel & Fell Catering in a commercial kitchen utilizing local ingredients. The Lively family is fully engaged—daughter Marley manages the market, daughter Jane and mother Kelly operate the farm with around four acres of produce and flowers, while another daughter oversees events in the campground.
“I relied significantly on Argus Farm Stop. They were extremely helpful from the outset. They graciously opened their store and shared their operational insights with us,” Lively stated.
However, being situated in a rural setting, he doubted that a coffee shop would attract sufficient foot traffic.
“Nonetheless, the campground opportunity was sensible due to the influx of tourists visiting the Sleeping Bear Dunes,” Lively said. “As a result, we operate the campground akin to an Argus Coffee Shop model, while also incorporating the commercial kitchen, which caters to both locals and visitors. Offering prepared foods significantly boosts return traffic.”
According to him, the neighborhood atmosphere is created by familiarizing with locals on a first-name basis and remaining open after hours upon receiving calls from customers indicating they are en route.
“It has been an absolute delight to build connections with our neighbors,” Lively noted. “Over just a year, I have gathered countless stories of individuals relying on us. They frequently call, ‘Hey, can you stay open a few additional minutes?’ Naturally, we encourage them to reach out since our product stock changes often, and I dislike when someone travels four or five miles only to find that we’re out of something they wanted. I’m always more than willing to take that call.
“We’ve had customers arrive, ‘Hey, it’s winter. Can you assist me in getting some food to my vehicle?’ We’re delighted to help with all that. After all, these are friends. They are our neighbors. They are not merely customers to us.”