Outdoor Farmers’ Market Returns

Fresh, local goods will once again line the streets of downtown Corvallis on April 20, when the Corvallis Farmers’ Market returns to First and Jackson each Wednesday and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Corvallis-Albany Farmers’ Market (CAFM) website shows over 90 different booths and vendors scheduled for this year, including some new faces.

Corvallisites will be met with the usual plethora of fresh and local fruits, vegetables, artisan breads and cheeses, jams and jellies, raw honey, houseplants, and all kinds of hand-made items. Gathering Together Farms returns this year, and is adding hemp salves and tinctures to their menu of organic vegetables and baked goods. Other vendors include Norton Creek Farm with eggs and poultry; Alsea Sunrise Nursery with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and aloe vera plants; The Bread Board and Alpine Sourdough Bakery with delicious, fresh loaves; and The Mushroomery with certified organic, wild and cultivated mushrooms, home-grow kits, and medicinal products. Wine Fauve will be there with all kinds of wine for sipping while the smell of popcorn permeates the air from Lonesome Whistle, selling freshly milled flour and popcorn. Of course, that’s not all – there are scores of other vendors and goodies to be had at this year’s market.

Let’s not forget the music. John Twist will open up the first Saturday market, with a long list of local acts following throughout the season. A Planet Palooza Parade will pass through the April 20 market at noon in celebration of Earth Day, to be followed by art, activities, music, and environmental booths at the nearby Eric Scott McKinley Skate Park. Oregon State University will also make an appearance on April 20, with students from the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences present as well as OSU Vet Med students offering free nail trims to accompanying pups. Kids’ activities will start the following month, with a birdhouse building workshop on May 18.

This year, the Farmers’ Market will also be participating in Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon’s SNAP match. With help from Fresh & Local, First!, there is enough funding to start the season off matching SNAP – i.e., ten dollars of food for five spent – every week. They will have to scale back at some point, but this awesome program is sure to make buying fresh, local produce accessible to just about everyone. 

Be sure to bring a reusable bag or basket. While plastic bags are ok for produce and meats, reducing waste while supporting local agriculture is a goal shared among organizers and vendors of the Corvallis Farmers’ Market.  

The outdoor Farmers’ Market runs until November 27. For more info, visit locallygrown.org and the Corvallis Farmers’ Market Facebook page.

 

By Laine Aswad

Do you have a story for The Advocate? Email editor@corvallisadvocate.com