Hoover Family Invites Visitors to Their Farmstead & Seasonal Marketplace
Photographer / Tony Straw
Autumn in northern Indiana is truly a breathtaking spectacle to behold. It’s a season of bounty and blessings, with bold and blazing colors of the earth — gold and bronze, crimson and copper — all brushed against the backdrop of a milky blue sky. It’s a scene that beckons travelers all around Elkhart County, and it’s definitely worth a second look to take in the beauty.
It most certainly describes the home and farmstead of the Michael Hoover family, just northwest of Syracuse. And not only would they be delighted for folks to stop, they invite visitors to shop as well.
Michael and Jacquie Hoover are the proprietors and partnership of Market 52, a rural showcase of locally grown produce, sourdough breads, chrysanthemums and other fall-themed treasures. Their home-based enterprise is a perfect venture for their family, set against a panorama of well-manicured rolling lawns, meticulous rows of gardens and magnificent shade trees.
On any given day, it’s a hub of activity, as the Hoovers run roadside stands, tend to their plantings and spend time educating their six daughters and two sons. Market 52 is truly a family business.
This season marks the second year for Market 52, and right now is the perfect time to take advantage of the Hoover family’s finest. Seasonal produce includes pumpkins and gourds, local honey and savory jerky meats. They also have a wide selection of mums in robust fall shades.
One aspect of Market 52 has risen in popularity — much like the sourdough bread Jacquie expertly crafts. Her varieties have rapidly turned into customer favorites, such as whole wheat, jalapeño cheddar and cinnamon raisin. She also offers bagels on occasion, as well as a special creation of sourdough bread known as a boule, which she describes as “a rustic white” created in a more flattened, freeform style.
When asked why she chose to specialize in sourdough breads, Jacquie explains that sourdough is a preferred choice for customers with dietary concerns, particularly those with sensitivities to gluten or who need a sugar-free option.
“The fermentation process breaks down the gluten and eats up the sugar, so it’s safe for people who are gluten intolerant or for diabetics,” she says.
Jacquie takes orders three days in advance and presents the orders on Tuesdays. The Hoovers also bring in produce from other local resources, and they have been consistently busy thus far, averaging around a dozen shoppers a day, almost every day of the week. They are faithful proponents of the honor system, allowing customers to drop by outside of their customary 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. business hours.
Once the winter season settles in, they begin making plans for the upcoming growing season and forming connections to offer more seasonal items. In the summer, Market 52 features sweet corn, melons, tomatoes and other favorites.
Eventually, Michael says, they hope to expand their business to include a separate building and storefront, which would allow them more space to grow their inventory. For now, it’s a vision “that’s still in the dreaming stage,” he says. The Hoover family remains thankful for the customers they currently serve — and for the ones they have yet to meet.
To place orders at Market 52, call Jacquie at 574-325-0987. Market 52 is located at 16407 County Road 52 in rural Syracuse.
