Argus Farm Stop

I wanted to like this place: they pay the farmers a higher percentage, but theres nothing i particularly enjoy about it. Especially annoying are all the mom and dads who think the sitting area is a playground for their kids to bother other customers. Being «kid friendly» is great, in a park NOT a coffeeshop! Stay away!

I love farmer’s markets. Like, a lot. But I’m also a last minute meal planner. So sometimes getting what I need at the market on a Saturday doesn’t help me out for the rest of the week. This is why I love love LOVE Argus. They have a lovely selection of local, seasonal produce along with some wonderful locally made products (Crust breads, eggs and meats from local farmers, butters and cheeses, pastas, snacks like crackers and chips, frozen cookie doughs and ice cream, etc etc) that help me plan a really lovely, seasonal meal at a moment’s notice.
For example – this week I was all about grilling, so I picked up some burgers and steaks (frozen from a local farm) and made burgers, plain old grilled steaks, and steak tacos. Typically I don’t buy that much in advance (as previously mentioned) but the price was right and this particular farm they carry doesn’t always have those ribeyes so I jumped at the opportunity. They were delicious! Over Mother’s Day weekend I went there and picked up eggs, radishes, asparagus, leeks, ramps, tarragon and more for a few wonderful, spring inspired dishes for Mother’s Day brunch (quiche, potato salad, etc). I don’t always find what I’m looking for and often have to supplement with a trip to Kroger or Plum Market but I can usually pull together most of what I need and it does my heart (and health) happy to support these local purveyors.
I also love the coffee stand and without fail get an iced coffee and a snack when I visit. Everyone here is pleasant as punch and incredibly helpful. I’m also SUPER psyched to see that they’re expanding. The space right now is small but wonderfully curated. I can’t wait to see what they do with more elbow room!
Walking in here just puts me in a better mood. It’s hard not to be with all those friendly faces and all that incredible food around you. Stop in sometime this summer and see what they’ve got!

I fell in love with Argus Farm Stop when I went there one afternoon. It wasn’t warm out yet, but I heard in the summertime they grill outside.
I ordered a vanilla latte from their coffee shop area. I purchased a few vegetable salads which were delicious and some of the best vegan mint chocolate chip cookie dough.
I ordered a couple of these amazing kale/​date sweet bars and learned about the best berry bars ever!
I 100% recommend checking it out if you’re in area and buy some local produce :)

Just polished off a Juicy Kitchen quinoa veggie salad from the prepared meal area. Man, it was good! Love that you can swing in for a quick bite to eat. I also tried the gunpowder green tea recommended by one of the workers– very clean taste, I liked it. I’d love to go back for some local produce but also the grass-​fed local meats! (awesome that they carry them here!)
Only downside: tight parking

Argus Farm Stop is part of my week, it is part of my community, it is part of my lifestyle. It is a meeting greeting place, it is a farmers market, it is a fish market, It is a fresh pasta market, it is a meat market with everything local and delicious. Its where I buy my flowers in the summer and my hot chocolate in the winter. There are wonderful treats for my dogs, well made Americanos and other drinks for my spirits. it is a meal spot and on the weekends its got an outdoor smoker addition. They owners are warm friendly and have thought of everything to make your experience as good as it gets.
There is car parking, there is dog leash ties, there is bike parking and there is heated outdoor seating for the winter. Ive been to a concert, a party a book reading. This is a true community.

We are so grateful that Argus Farm Stop is in our neighborhood. Such a wonderful addition to the west side of town. My husband and I now have a routine of walking to Argus for coffee and pastries on the weekends and everything is delicious. It’s very convenient for quality bread and other items last minute. We love that it’s like having the farmer’s market open 7 days a week! Thank you Argus!

I can’t believe I haven’t reviewed Argus yet! This happens to be my favorite place in Ann Arbor. I love to grab a delicious mocha with a fresh pastry every morning. They have a wide variety of locally grown produce and dairy, and several local food companies sell packaged items. You can also find specialty pastas and sauces, jars of jams and pickles, homemade breads, chocolate, just to name few. There’s always something new to discover and the atmosphere is the best!

I saw an article on Argus Farm Stop from the Edible magazine and knew that I had to check it out. The space itself is pretty small and you can be sure to accidentally bump into other customers or stand in their way. However, it is a charming little shop. Everything they carry in the stores from produce to packaged goods (coffee, pasta) is local. They do have a nice selection of vegetables. I am sure it is different every time you go, but I found some amazing finds that I would never be able to find at Whole Foods like tatsoi (Asian type of spinach), Romanesco cauliflower, organic sprouts, etc. I think their vegetable selection is pretty solid. They don’t have quite as large of a selection on fruit but I have found pawpaws and ground cherries!
They also have a good selection on dairy products (local feta cheese, eggs) as well as frozen meats. They do have some grass fed beef. I also saw ground mangalitsa pork which I have never seen being sold before.
For all of the first timers, you will see that some of the produce has bar code stickers next to it. Just bag your produce and stick the bar code on the bag. They do this to ensure that the correct farm gets the money from the purchase.
Support this shop! You will feel good doing your food shopping here because 80% goes back to the farmers. Some specialty items may be a tad more expensive like paw paws, Michigan kiwis, etc but overall the prices are very reasonable. Argus Farm Stop is a gem and I wish there was a shop like this in Royal Oak!

It’s been great to shop at Argus Farm Shop when visiting Ann Arbor. I appreciate their commitment to supporting local farms & I like their vibe in the store. They offer a lot of variety, so it’s possible to get everything you need for dinner… meat, eggs, vegetables, fruit, nuts, cheese, & more!
My biggest suggestion is around the barcodes. I understand the reason for using them, but they’re also a pain to put on the products. I end up with loose carrots in my basket & needing to put a barcode on one of them, so they can ring me up properly & the payment can go to the appropriate farm. Then, when I get home, the barcode sticker is stuck to the tomato, carrot, or whatever vegetable it is, & I have to peel off the sticker, sometimes leaving a residue on the fruit/​vegetable. The experience shopping at a farmers market is much smoother for this reason.
Again, I love the mission, love the products, but wish the system for getting the food was a bit easier.
Keep up the great work Argus!

I am thrilled for this new local market! I met the owners, the Brinkerhoff’s, last week and was very impressed to see how many customers were around! The entire market was full and alive — laughter, kids playing, locals talking — Argus Farm Stop is the place to be! Fresh fruits, vegetables, and they even have an adorable café inside for coffee, lattes, and baked goods! I am recommending this farmers market to all who value fresh produce and quality food!

My partner and I LOVE this place and love supporting local, ethical, etc.
YET
I just I paid OVER SIX BUCKS for a lemon-​blueberry muffin (pretty good) and an earl grey tea (pretty good).
This is just to say that I was a bit astounded when the very nice cashier took my twenty and gave me back two fives, three ones, and some coins.
I do believe you get what you pay for, but Argus, this is a bit excessive: if folks can’t get a pastry and a tea for less than six bucks, the word ‘elitist’ comes to mind. Arg. should have three money signs, not two!
We’ll certainly be back. And next time I’m put off by the price, I promise to politely decline, citing the price.

Went here today because I was in A2 for the day and needed tomatoes, and didn’t feel like stopping by Meijer on the way home.
The produce all looked really nice. I bought some summer tomatoes ($ 3/​lb.) and a pint of cherry tomatoes ($ 3/​pint) which wasn’t too expensive. Some of the stuff is a little overpriced ($ 4.50 for a chocolate turtle, for example) but the other prices are fair considering it’s all homegrown stuff.
My friend got a coffee at their coffee shop, too (all one store), and there are outside places to sit for when the weather is nice.

One of the friendliest and highest quality local cafes/​micro grocery places that I have frequented in my travels to over 70 countries and innumerable cities.
Terrific coffee, fruit and veggies, dairy, salads, eggs and such. All sourced from local family farms. Visit just for the coffee. It is outstanding!
You are sure to meet the locals there. Come rain, shine, snow or ice :) Remember to greet the owner, Kathy, and her children who run the place.

I’ve been here twice and both times I’ve come home with delicious produce. During strawberry season I bought some of the best berries that I’ve had in a long time (better than the sour ones that I got at Produce Station). The next trip I bought tomatoes, head of lettuce, a bag of mixed salad greens ($ 6 for about 6 large salads), and fantastic cherries.
They also have frozen meat, fresh eggs (duck, quail, and chicken), and some packaged food.

This place is so rare! The owner told me they have only found 1 other of its kind in the US! If you see the owner, shake there hand, because they’re REALLY doing good. I spent a lot of time in CA and its a trend now to shop local and you see all kinds of ‘farmers markets’ or artisan market type «malls» popping up all over. But they’re not really catering to the farmers and trying to help them or really appreciate the craftsmanship they do. They’re in it for the money.
Argus really cater to the farmer… not there pocket book. Yet they’re a business because they have an amazingly good coffee bar. What a unique ‘big picture’ idea! They can REALLY help our small farmers and artisans because they are sustainable. If you REALLY want to shop local and REALLY want to appreciate your small farmers… GO HERE! They carry great products and keep adding more and more. What makes going here even better is that I know I’m also supporting people that are supporting the greater good.

Literally my new #1 spot in Ann Arbor !! It is like every local persons dream to have a Farm Stop like this — its the coolest invention ever! You know the produce is as fresh as it comes, its like an indoor farmers market !
You’ll have to be into whats in season to eat here — you can see all the farms where the food comes from — theres a sign near each product.
It is like an educational journey in food when you are here there are different signs ie: these are the 10 different types of Radishs — and you can literally LEARN and EAT FRESH.
They have great treats and breads from Crust & Tasty Bakery ! also in the café section — freshest local coffee, espresso, teas etc !
My favorite item right now is the Kalamata Olive Twistlets !
the other night there was a FIRE PIT outside !! I LOVED IT ! enjoyed my nice fresh pepermint tea sitting out there: D :D
there is free parking !

I am very excited for this new addition to the neighborhood. A year-​round farm stand! Tiny place with an amazing selection of locally sourced produce, dairy, baked goods, meats and other neat edibles. The coffee bar takes up a lot of space but who doesn’t love a coffee bar in Ann Arbor. I just hope they will be able to keep heated and open in the winter, without freezing the staff.
Small parking area, but close enough to downtown you can easily walk. Foot traffic should increase with the new creamery on the corner too.
I bought a small french bread loaf to go with dinner, and a half gallon of Calder milk. $ 1.50 deposit on the milk bottle, but I don’t mind if it means I don’t have to recycle the plastic jugs from the grocery store. Trying something new.
This is the corner store moms wish for, to pick up wholesome ingredients for dinner, so we don’t HAVE to trek through the big stores. Love it.

Nice little farmers market near downtown Ann Arbor. And when I say little, I mean LITTLE. Someone with a walker or wheelchair may have a difficult time making the way through.
It’s a great place if you are looking for organic produce, meat, cheese, bakery, etc. From breakfast to late night snacks, you can find anything you may need here. But be prepared to pay for it. Tomatoes are about $ 4 a pint. Chicken is $ 7 a pound. Maple syrup is $ 9 for a small jug…
They have a great little coffee shop in the market (Roos Roast) which has great coffee to enjoy there (inside or out) or to go. They also have great bakery items.
I’m glad I stopped by. If you live or are going to be in downtown AA, it’s a great stop, but there are plenty of gourmet, local markets as well.

For months i’ve been hearing murmurs of a new market that will revolutionize how we approach local produce. I’d heard «it’s down town» and «it’s over at this cool building on Liberty» never quite knowing what the heck people were talking about. Then I took a lazy summer drive on the west side of town, and I found Argus Farm Stop.
The space is beautiful — a reclaimed mechanics shop is definitely iconic for the food revolution that is trying to produce heathy local food out of the relics of a failed modern past.
There’s good coffee — I think they’ve teamed up with local favorite Roos Roast, and you can get a really nice macchiato, latte, or plain ‘ol drip coffee.
The produce is good — I found a diversity of locally grown organic produce being sold at what I feel is a very competitive price. Yes, some things like the meat and the garlic seemed a bit pricey, but perhaps they should be — they take a lot of time, energy, and effort. Other itms we’re only slightly more expensive, like the peaches, which we’re only .30 more than conventionally grown peaches from Hillers, but had far more flavor than any peaches i’ve been able to find in the area. I mean, WOW! They’ve also got all of your other local favorites like Calder Dairy, and Seeley Farms. I think if you’re into food, I don’t know how you could love what Argus has to offer.
And the people are lovely. This market is about providing the community with local food, for the benefit of the community, and they do it with love and care.
Produce station, Plums, and Whole Foods are off the list — I’ll be seeing my new friends at Argus from now on.

Great fruits and veggies, plus an impressive organic meat selection. This place feels like a tiny indoor farmer’s market, complete with coffee stand.
Great mushrooms, a wide range of tomatoes (from tiny currant tomatoes to giant heirloom varieties), and the biggest fennel bulb I’ve ever seen — all spectacular.
Each bin has a sheet of bar-​code stickers — grab one to show which particular type of potato you selected.
A week after opening, they don’t have the checkout working to match the produce — only one of the two registers was functioning at all, and a bag of groceries took more than five minutes (while the line grew behind me). I’m sure that’ll get ironed out.
The coffee bar was well-​adorned with Roos Roast stickers and a few others; definitely an emphasis on espresso, rather than caramel syrup, as the main ingredient.
Once they get the register figured out, Argus Farm Stop will be one of my local grocery runs.