The Farmers Market was established in 2020, with a one-day Inkster Harvest Market Day on Wednesday, Oct 7, with the goal to introduce the market to the Inkster community. The first full season opened in 2021, with 2022 being the second full year of the ITF Farmers Market.

With funding from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (CDC DNPAO), the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan (NKFM) is part of a national effort to improve health, prevent chronic disease, and reduce health disparities through culturally appropriate programming in Southeast Michigan, including Inkster.

Part of the REACH grant’s initiative is assisting the City of Inkster to create the Inkster Farmers Market. The Inkster Task Force Farmers Market provides fresh vegetables and fruits to the community to provide healthy living food options.

Inkster Task Force Farmer’s Market was originally established as a way to bring fresh, local fruits and vegetables into the community. While it certainly did just that, it became much more for Inkster residents this summer. It’s a place of civic engagement; a place where people can socialize and hang out.

Project FRESH (Farm Resources Expanding and Supporting Health), is Michigan’s Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. This program expands the awareness and use of farmers’ markets as well as increasing sales at the markets.

The Inkster Task Force Farmer’s Market is proud to meet the demand for healthy, fresh, and locally produced foods at an affordable price through SNAP, and will only continue to grow in the capacity to do this as more farmers become available.

The Inkster Task Force (ITF) was established in 2001 by the Inkster City Council to consolidate many of the community organizations providing services to the residents of Inkster. Through this relationship, the ITF has provided a multitude of programs which included partnerships with Inkster Public Schools for after school mentoring, general mentoring throughout the community and alcohol and tobacco prevention/awareness programs.

In 2013, the ITF was restructured and is no longer under the direct leadership of Inkster’s city government.  Despite this change, today’s ITF continues as a mechanism to foster effective communication and collaboration across public, private and nonprofit sectors; aiming to improve the quality of life of Inkster’s nearly 25,000 residents.  Additionally, the current ITF functions as an independent 501c3 non-profit. Along with this designation, the ITF envisions a strong, healthy and safe community of opportunity where multiple generations live, learn and work.

As a 501c3, the ITF’s vision/mission is moved forward through Community Engagement groups that provide direct services to Inkster residents. These engagement groups target specialized areas such as Health and Prevention, Employment, Education, Safety, Outreach and Communication, Cross-Generational and Sustainable Communities. Charters guide these community groups which are supported by residents and various organizations serving Inkster. These collaborative volunteer engagement groups are what have strengthened the current ITF; while providing focus to the long-term impact of making quality of life improvements and reducing obvious disparities within the engagement groups specified areas.