Eastern Market: Feeding Detroit's Bodies and Hearts

Eastern Market is best known as a Saturday tradition and Flower Day selfie spot. But it's also one of the beating hearts of Michigan's food system.

In this episode, I sit down with Eastern Market Partnership president and CEO Katy Trudeau at TechTown to unpack how this 120-year-old market is adapting for 2026 and beyond.

Katy explains how the historic sheds anchor a 24/7 neighborhood where live animal processing, wholesale distribution, breweries, restaurants, and nightlife all coexist — and why keeping the core of the district focused on food is key to its future.

You'll hear about Shed 7, a new 40,000-square-foot indoor wholesale facility opening this year, and plans for an indoor, two-story Shed 4 with teaching kitchens and community space.

We talk about Detroit's urban farming movement, including a program with a cooperative of Detroit growers to distribute thousands of free produce boxes.

Katy also shares how Eastern Market connects rural Michigan farmers and generations‑old family farms to Detroiters, and why Flower Day, Tuesday wellness markets, Sunday artisan markets, and Eastern Market After Dark matter for both residents and small businesses.

If you care about Detroit's future, local food, or how cities can connect urban and rural communities, this episode will give you a deeper appreciation for what's really happening behind the scenes at Eastern Market, and why it's still worth getting up early on a Saturday to experience it yourself.

More info: https://easternmarket.org/

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