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Best Places For Fresh Fruit In Detroit

By Liz Parker

Detroit has a lot of nice chain grocery stores, like Meijer and Whole Foods, but if you want to get the freshest fruit, it's best to check the smaller markets and also farmers markets. Check out this list for the best markets in the Detroit and metro Detroit area.

Eastern Market
2934 Russell St.
Detroit, MI 48207
www.easternmarket.com

It's been said that Saturday mornings at Eastern Market are the best time to get fresh fruit - or really, any produce that you're looking for. The market opens year-round at 6 a.m. on Saturdays, and closes at 4 p.m.; it is also open on Sundays, June through September, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you're a wholesaler, there's a wholesale market open Mondays through Fridays, April through November, from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.; although this is open to the public, you must buy in bulk. Free parking can be found around the market, too, and there is both a parking garage as well as a few individual parking lots.

Vince & Joe's Gourmet Market
55178 Van Dyke Ave.
Shelby Twp., MI 48316
(586) 786-9230
www.vinceandjoes.com

Vince & Joe's has two locations, the Shelby Township one listed above and a Clinton Township location, located on Garfield. The Shelby Township location is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Produce is picked fresh daily, and from all over the world, including Michigan. If you're looking for hard to find varieties of fruit, like Moscato grapes, Vince & Joe's is a good bet, as well.

Westborn Market
860 Penniman Ave.
Plymouth, MI 48170
(734) 233-3000
www.westbornmarket.com

Westborn Market has four locations: Berkley, Dearborn, Livonia, and the above location, in Plymouth. This location can be found in downtown Plymouth, and is easily walkable to/from adjacent street parking, or from their own lot. Westborn sends its fruit and produce buyers to markets early every day, and the selection that the buyers chose are then on Westborn's shelves by noon. Westborn also buys from large growers as well as small farms, and from spring through fall it carries local fruit such as peaches from Grand Haven, blueberries from New Buffalo, apples from Romeo, and Traverse City cherries.

Related:  Best Places to Pick Summer Fruit in Metro Detroit

Cantoro Italian Market
19710 Middlebelt Road
Livonia, MI 48152
(248) 478-2345
www.cantoromarket.com

Cantoro Italian Market can be found on Middlebelt between 7 and 8 Mile Road, in Livonia, and they also have a Plymouth location, on Haggerty Rd., as well as a trattoria. The market was founded by Mario Fallone, who was born in San Elia, Italy during World War II; he came to the U.S. in the early 1950s. In 1968, he purchased Cantoro Italian Market, and in 1974, the lot where the market now stands was purchased. Mario and his wife Pat's sons, John and Michael, now oversee daily operations, and his son-in-law Edie oversees the Livonia store. Cantoro is another good place to shop for hard to find fruits, such as "cotton candy grapes," and it has a large selection of deli meats and cheeses, as well.

Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace
6835 Rochester Road
Troy, MI 48085
(248) 879-9222
www.ninosalvaggio.com

Nino Salvaggio has three locations (Troy, listed above; Harper Ave., in St. Clair Shores; and Hall Rd., in Clinton Twp.), and carries a diverse selection of fruits and produce. Nino Salvaggio's buyers actually shop at Eastern Market to get Nino's selection, and when the stores first opened in 1979, they only sold fruits and vegetables. Nino's also supports Michigan farmers when possible, and much of the produce is local. If you're a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan member, make sure to show your BCBS card on Wednesdays, and you will get 5% off your purchases.

Related: Best Places to Pick Fresh Fruit in Metro Detroit

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