Fifth-generation farmer David Coveyou sits on a deck curved around the family farm’s former dairy barn, now a thriving farm market. He’s recounting his start as an organic farmer at Coveyou Scenic Farm Market on his family’s 1874 homestead.
“I was an engineer by trade, a Michigan Tech guy. I’d moved off the farm a good 20 years earlier,” David recalled. “But my parents were retiring, and my siblings weren’t interested in farming. I kept asking myself, do I want this farm to go out on my watch or not?”
David and his family—his wife Kathy and their four children: Lillian, Patrick, Andrew, and William—began helping his parents transition from grains to flowers and produce for local consumers in 1999, starting with mums and some seasonal vegetables. They were game to relocate to northern Michigan, and took over the farm full-time in 2007.
Now, their farm market on US-131 S, just minutes from downtown Petoskey, teems with fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. David estimates they grow around 300 different varieties of tomatoes, broccoli, fresh lettuces, summer and winter squashes, and more. With 130 different producers from around the state vending their wares, Coveyou Scenic Farm Market is a one-stop shop for all things Michigan.
“One of our fellow farmers is dropping off chickens this morning. Another is dropping off beef. We’re getting cut flowers and raspberries from a few farms just over the hill. The cherries are from Elk Rapids. We collaborate with all these small artisan food producers, and the more we can do that way, the better it will be,” David said.
The Coveyou family. Courtesy of Coveyou Scenic Farm Market
“A farmers market on steroids”
The farm market is an open, airy space in the former dairy barn, filled with delectable goods. Coolers and freezers in the back are packed with whitefish and other spreads, gourmet cheeses, meats, pesto, hummus, dressings, ice cream, pie, and other products, even some from Zingerman’s Deli in Ann Arbor.
Coveyou offers a huge selection of crackers, chocolatey snacks, chips, granolas, dried fruit, and drinks. Sweet and savory American Spoon products are displayed prominently, some of which incorporate Coveyou produce into their recipes. There are plenty of staple grocery items, like pasta, sauces, and beans. David said that one of the best-selling vendors is bread from The Rustic Baker.
There’s local pottery, herbal salves, soaps, and really too many products to name, prompting David to call Coveyou Market “a farmers market on steroids.”
“We often have people sit out on the porch and make their own charcuterie boards,” he said. “The space can fill up quickly with people taking in the view and enjoying a snack.”
The deck is also available for customers to rent out for private events, and is a favorite spot for viewing fall colors.
Coveyou offers gift boxes for visitors who want to share some of that northern Michigan magic with folks back home. The Taste of Petoskey and Northern Classics gift boxes are visitor favorites. But there are plenty of boxes for lovers of cherries, jam, grilling, mustards, and chocolate. And since Coveyou is a seasonal business, providing gift boxes keeps their staff employed past peak produce season.
Furniture is also a huge draw. Coveyou offers a variety of stylish, long-lasting outdoor furniture from Berlin Gardens. For a test drive, have a seat on the spacious patio and take in the view from one of their customizable pieces.
The Farm Market at Coveyou is packed with goods from local farmers, producers, and artisans. Courtesy of Coveyou Scenic Farm Market
High-quality, organic produce
The back wall is packed with a succession of fresh farm produce each season. Among other items, Coveyou grows plenty of fresh greens, an assortment of peppers, asparagus, bok choy, cucumbers, onions, leeks, arugula, beets, kale, basil, potatoes, garlic, kohlrabi, fennel, cabbage, broccoli, zucchini, cauliflower, and the sweetest, juiciest corn around. Cherries, blueberries, apples, and other fruits are provided by local farms. The aforementioned tomatoes take up an entire table during the height of summer. Another table is swamped with gourds, pumpkins, and winter squash in the fall.
Did I mention they carry the best sweet corn you can get? Not enough good can be said about that corn.
There are lots of options for obtaining Coveyou produce. First, pick what you want, grab some fresh bread and cheese, maybe some snacks and whitefish spread for later, and check out at the registers. If you’re here for the summer months, join the traditional CSA and receive a box packed with freshly harvested produce each week. With the Open Market Membership, you can pay a fee and pick up as much produce as your household can eat in a week, every week until the end of the season.
If you need vegetable starts for you garden, you can also find a selection of those in the spring, with herb transplants available through the summer months.
Coveyou produce is certified organic to support the health of the community and local ecology. David explained that he and his family decided to grow organically after learning that modern pesticides enter a treated plant’s vascular system. There’s no way to wash them off, and consumers end up eating them along with their food.
“The more I thought about it, the more I realized there has to be a better way to grow,” David said. “When the plants have healthy root systems and healthy soil microbiology, you don’t need chemical sprays, synthetic fertilizers, or GMOs. People can taste the difference with our produce.”
When you drive up to Coveyou, vegetables won’t be the first thing you see. That honor goes to flowers. The farm carries an enormous selection of annual and perennial flowers, all the way into fall. David joked that Coveyou probably has the largest selection of mums in northern Michigan, but it might not be a joke. Folks come from far and wide to add color to their lawns. Staff will even custom-design mixed containers for homeowners.
Local, organic vegetables at the height of flavor at Coveyou Scenic Farm Market. Courtesy of Coveyou Scenic Farm Market
Celebrating community ties
More than purveyors of Michigan delights, the Coveyou family wants to be remembered for the commitment to community.
“Last week, we sent out 875 food boxes full of produce from our farm and others’ to McLaren Hospital staff,” said David. “I was on the phone with Manna Food Project just a few minutes ago, and they’re going to get a few pallets of broccoli we just harvested. Boyne Falls Schools staff are coming over to freeze some of our produce for school lunches. Our focus is on growing products that are valued for the local community.”
The Coveyou family has been part of the Petoskey area community since the 1870s, and history buffs will appreciate the farm timeline along the wall across from the registers. Covered with old-timey photographs and news clippings, the timeline demonstrates the farm’s resiliency in the face of economic and ecological transformations.
William Coveyou and his family arrived in the region in 1874 and took possession of an 80-acre property close to the Odawa village that became Petoskey. Coveyou’s farm has specialized in many products over the years: lumber, honey, grains, potatoes, dairy, and vegetables.
David is confident that his children will take over the farm in the future and provide freshly-grown produce and Michigan staples to visitors and residents for many years to come.
“Every generation evolves, and they’re going to be challenged to figure out what’s right for them,” David said. “But we’re confident we have a solid foundation for them to grow on.”
The site of the bustling farm market used to be the family farm’s dairy barn. Courtesy of Coveyou Scenic Farm Market
About the Author: Jen DeMoss is a newcomer to the Petoskey area and loves northern Michigan. You can catch her paddling a canoe, hiking a trail, or swimming in Lake Michigan as often as the weather cooperates. She’d love to help you make the most of your time in this paradise she now calls home.