Shortly before its 9 a.m. opening on Saturday, Oct. 18, Fred Block of Block’s Stand and Greenhouse stood behind a yellow chain across the open-air market and gave the crowd of anxious customers an update on its crop of a specific red pepper.

The market in Romulus, at the corner of Eureka and Middle Belt, had bins of the red peppers on Saturday, with more expected to be available on Sunday, but Block told the crowd to “Call at around 5 p.m. today to check.” Block also said the fall crop of these beloved peppers will likely last only a few more days.

Customers from all over metro Detroit lined up behind the yellow chain, eager for the peppers. Once Block unhooks the chain, customers rush to the bins for the market’s prized red peppers.

It happens every fall, Block told the Free Press, as

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