Vendor Profile

Published on April 1, 2009 - 5:46 pm

Holtz Farms
Mel and Norm Holtz
Ida, MI
Shed 4

The brothers Mel and Norm Holtz have been selling at Eastern Market since 1968. Their father was also a farmer, and the family has a long history of selling at farmers markets long before their arrival at Eastern Market. Their farm of approximately 60 acres is located in Ida, Michigan - about 10 miles west of Monroe. In late March of this year we visited the Holtz brothers in Eastern Market. Amongst their product offering were 4 types of sweet potatoes, fingerling potatoes, cipollini onions, shallots, garlic, carrots, cabbage, beets, horseradish root, several other varieties of potatoes, and eggs. All of these items were cultivated on their property in Ida.

What's unique about Holtz Farm is the sheer variety of crops they plant. Their strategy is to plant many different crops on a relatively small portion of their total land; about ½-acre on average per item. The brothers are willing to give any crop its fair shake. If something doesn't grow well during its first run, they retool their approach a bit and try it again the following year.

This spring and summer you can expect to see broccoli rabe, 4 beet varieties (white, bulls blood, golden beets, and red ace), 10-12 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, 8-10 types of peppers (mainly of the sweet variety), strawberries, and more. In the fall you will begin to see scorzonera (edible black salsify), 4 types of shallots, cauliflower, cabbage, rutabaga, many types of pumpkins, and parsley root, "if we can get it to grow," Mel says.

In addition to seeing the Holtz brothers it's common to spot Mel's son-in-law Brian on Saturdays at their market stall. They are very knowledgeable about their crops and are happy to answer any questions shoppers may have about their products. But don't assume that because something isn't listed above that they don't have it. When we asked Mel how many different items they planted this year he said plainly, "I don't know."