MUSKEGON, Mich. — The Muskegon Farmer's Market and Golden Hart Fruit Farms can officially celebrate a century of partnership.
Established in the late 1890s by Weaver Gebhart in Hart, the 500-acre farm has been bringing its produce to the market for 100 years.
The farm specializes in growing asparagus, sweet and tart cherries, peaches and apples.
"We are very proud, of course, to have them there with us and that they have stuck it out with the Muskegon Farmer's Market for as long as they have," said Lisa Potter, manager of the Muskegon Farmer's Market.
In order for the partnership to last, it has continued through generations of family.
Weaver and his wife, Nellie, began selling at the market in 1924.
Their son, John, and his wife Beatrice carried on the tradition. The market said John lived past 100 years old and continued to come to the market until his health eventually stopped him.
John's daughter Shirley (Gebhart) Oles and her husband, Bob, lived in Kalamazoo but moved back to help manage the farm in the 1970s, along with her brother Robert and his wife Marilyn.
Shirley spent many years as an advocate for the market through farming and eating locally-sourced food.
She passed away in 2023 and her husband, Bob, now owns the farm and has continued to support the market.
While Golden Hart Fruit Farms wholesales products to packers and processors, they keep their partnership with the Muskegon Farmer's Market, the only market they attend.
“It has been a privilege to witness and contribute to the growth of the Muskegon Farmer's Market and to see the positive impact it has on our community," Bob told the market.
Just as the market positively impacts the community, the farm positively impacts the market.
"There are some emotional ties there. They're great people to work with. They support the market. They are involved with programs there," said Potter. "Anytime we need anything for something that's going on, they they're the first to step up. So it's been really wonderful working with them. And I certainly hope that we get to work with them for a long, long time yet to come."
To celebrate the partnership, there will be a formal presentation given at the Muskegon Farmer's Market on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 1 p.m.
There will also be Cherry Crisps made with cherries from Golden Hart Fruit Farms for guests to enjoy.
The farm said they'll be at the market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and to celebrate 100 years they'll be giving out a small honey bear or small syrup bottle with a purchase of $20 or more.