The Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District is proud to support to our local farmers markets. Clackamas County farmers markets are well represented in both rural and urban parts of our District and provide their communities with locally grown, produced, and crafted agricultural and forestry products. Visit your local market soon!
How Does the District Support Farmers Markets?
On Tuesday, March 19, 2019, the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors unanimously approved farmers market partnership support grants totaling $32,000. 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. 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?
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.
2019 Farmers Market Grants
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
- Redland Grange Farmers Market – NEW!
- West Linn Farmers Market
Other farmers markets in Clackamas County which did not choose to participate in our partnership support grant program this year include:
- Estacada Farmers Market
- Happy Valley Farmers Market
- Hoodland Farmers Market
- Wilsonville Farmers Market
For more information about the Clackamas SWCD Farmers Market Support Grant Program, please contact Cathy McQueeney at 503-210-6012.