Black-owned farmers market in full swing this spring

With the start of springtime, farmers’ markets around Minnesota are popping up like dandelions. Of the 373 farmers markets in the state, only one, Lakeview Terrace Farmers Market in Robbinsdale, is owned by a Black woman.

“There’s a system and purpose behind this,” said Chaz Sandifer, owner of the market. “Lakeview Terrace Farmers Market is a holistic wellness experience.”

Located at the intersection of Bottineau Blvd (CR 81) and Lakeland Avenue, across from the Robbinsdale Hy-Vee, the Lakeview Terrace Farmers Market is open from 9 am to 1 pm every Saturday through September 23.

In addition to locally grown, in-season produce sold by farmers from around the region, vendors at Lakeview Terrace Farmers Market also sell locally produced fresh meat and offer tasty artisan baked goods, jams, juices, and crafts. During the market, patrons can visit food trucks and booths offering meals, coffee, and snacks to eat on-site.

Sandifer, who sponsors and manages the Lakeview Terrace Farmers Market in partnership with the City of Robbinsdale, says the venture fills a crucial need to make better nutrition available to everyone.

“We have a lack of food access. We have a lot of food disparities and health disparities and the root cause is people don’t have the access or the knowledge to healthy food,” Sandifer told Sheletta Brundidge in an interview on The Sheletta Show on WCCO Radio.

This is Sandifer’s second year operating Lakeview Terrace Farmers Market. This summer she promises that visitors will see improvements and additions that will make the weekly event “bigger and better” than ever.

“We have free fitness classes every Saturday at 9:30 a.m. We’ve got music, art classes with the city of Robbinsdale, cooking demonstrations and competitions, and back-to-school events later in the season. We want the whole community to come out,” she said.

Sponsoring and managing the farmers market is a natural extension of Sandifer’s small business, theNEWmpls.

As a fitness instructor and wellness coach, Sandifer founded the business 10 years ago to promote health and healing through community and organization partnerships. Sandifer focuses on serving diverse populations and promoting racial health and equity. She also hosts a weekly podcast, Fitness Revolution with Chaz on the ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com podcasting platform.

Sandifer wants the market to be a place where folks can regularly gather for fun, healthy and educational activities for the whole family. She stresses that everyone is welcome.

“Someone asked me, because it’s Black-owned, can I come? I said of course!“ she said. “I want to change this narrative. Because it’s Black-owned doesn’t mean it’s just for Black people. We are creating access for everyone. We are going to have so much fun this summer!”

The Lakeview Terrace Farmers Market is open every Saturday from May 20 to September 23, 9 am -1 pm, rain or shine. It’s located on the northeast corner of Bottineau Blvd (CR 81) and Lakeland Ave, Robbinsdale, across from Hy-Vee.