Jamie Inglis manages the Lake Oswego Farmers Market.
Farmers market season is upon us! Another wonderful summer filled with fresh, local produce and hand-crafted agricultural products guarantees something for everyone. The Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District is proud to be an ongoing supporter of our local markets, farmers, foresters, and ranchers and all of the many people who make Clackamas County markets a success.
How Does the District Support Farmers Markets?
District funding help support POP Clubs.
On Tuesday, March 20, 2018, the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors unanimously approved farmers market partnership support grants totaling $40,127. These grants were distributed to eight farmers markets within the District’s boundaries. This support funding allows markets to:
- Provide free, weekly tokens to children who participate in Power of Produce (POP) Clubs or other programs that support children’s agricultural education at six of our local markets. This money goes directly to producers who sell fruits and vegetables or plants that produce fruits and vegetables.
- Enable markets to offer matching or bonus funds for participants in Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Farm Direct Nutrition Program. These matching funds can only be used to purchase local produce, which in turn helps farmers be more profitable.
- Offer sustainability education and new business incubator programs.
- Create signage and other promotional materials to advertise and promote individual markets.
Additionally, the District provides informational brochures for the markets to share with their patrons, promotes the markets via social media, and visits each market to talk directly with customers and vendors about a wide variety of conservation issues.
Why Does the District Support Farmers Markets?
Brendan Eisworth manages the Milwaukie Sunday Farmers Market.
Farmers markets provide valuable points of sale for local agricultural producers, increasing their economic success. Financially successful farmers have an increased ability to conserve water and soil resources and to maintain healthy habitat. Success also helps them keep their land in agricultural production now and into the future. That’s good for the farm, native wildlife, water quality, and you!
Additionally, farmers markets are well-positioned to provide food, farm, and natural resource education to adults and children. Learning about the value of nutritious, fresh, and healthy whole foods is good for public health, our agricultural producers, and our environment.
2018 Farmers Market Grants
Chris Perry manages the Wilsonville Thursday and Sunday Farmers Market.
Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District provided partnership grant awards to the following markets:
- Canby Farmers Market
- Lake Oswego Farmers Market
- Milwaukie Sunday Farmers Market
- Molalla Farmers Market
- Mt. Hood Farmers Market
- Oregon City Year-Round Farmers Market
- West Linn Farmers Market
- Wilsonville Farmers Market
Other farmers markets in Clackamas County which did not choose to participate in our partnership support grant include:
- Estacada Farmers Market
- Damascus Farmers Market
- Happy Valley Farmers Market
- Hoodland Farmers Market – NEW!!
Look For Us at Your Next Market Visit!
Tom and Marian Sawtell manage the Molalla Farmers Market.
District staff is looking forward to visiting our farmers market partners this summer. Outreach topics will include pollinators, invasive weeds, urban and rural land stewardship practices, and, of course, information about our newly expanded Backyard Habitat Certification Program.
Be sure to come by and look for our booth on these upcoming dates:
- West Linn Farmers Market – Wednesday, June 13, 2018
- Molalla Farmers Market – Thursday, June 14, 2018
- Mount Hood Farmers Market – Friday, June 15, 2018
- Estacada Farmers Market – Saturday, June 16, 2018
- Miwaukie Sunday Farmers Market – Sunday, June 17, 2018
Check back for additional market outreach dates.
