Farmers markets are opening soon for the 2023 season.
The Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District is proud to support local farmers markets with Farmers Markets Support Grants. Clackamas County farmers markets are well represented in both rural and urban parts of our District. They 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 21, 2023, the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors unanimously approved farmers market partnership support grants totaling $13,000. These grants will be distributed to eight farmers markets within the District’s boundaries.
Food items and veggie starts are featured at the 2023 farmers markets.
This year, the District’s support funding will be used by markets to:
- Support programs for children. Some funding provides free, weekly tokens to children who participate in Power of Produce (POP) Clubs. This money goes directly to producers who sell fruits and vegetables or plants that produce fruits and vegetables. Many markets feature similar programs that support children’s agricultural education.
- Enhance other support programs that benefit market customers and agricultural vendors at the market. This includes matching or bonus funds for 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 local farmers.
- Offer sustainability education and new business incubator programs for youth.
- Create signage and other promotional materials to advertise and promote individual markets.
The District provides informational handouts for the markets to share with their cutomers. We also promotes the markets on social media. Each market is visited during the season to talk directly with customers and farmers about conservation issues. These include topics like soil health, pesticide reduction, water usage, invasive weeds, and pollinators.
Market visitors learn about pollinators, native plants, soil health, and more from the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District.
Why Does the District Support Farmers Markets?
Farmers markets provide a valuable point of sale for local agricultural producers. Financially successful farmers are more likely, and able, to care for their farms. By conserving water and soil resources and maintaining healthy habitat, they are investing in their future. Being financially successful also helps farmers keep their land in agricultural production. That’s good for the farm, native wildlife, water quality, and you!
Additionally, farmers markets are popular gathering places in the community. They are a great place for food, farm, and natural resource education for adults and children. Learning about the value of nutritious, fresh, and healthy whole foods is good for public health,. It’s also good for our agricultural producers, and our environment.
Power of Produce (POP) Clubs can be found at several local markets.
2023 Farmers Market Grants
Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District will provide partnership grant awards to the following markets for the 2023 season.
- Hoodland Farmers Market
- Lake Oswego Farmers Market
- Milwaukie Sunday Farmers Market
- Molalla Farmers Market
- Mount Hood Farmers Market
- Oregon City Year-Round Farmers Market
- Redland Grange Farmers Market
- West Linn Farmers Market
Not all farmers markets in Clackamas County choose to participate in our partnership support grant program. Additional markets in our district include these noted below.
For more information about the Clackamas SWCD Farmers Market Support Grant Program, please contact Cathy McQueeney at 503-998-9952.
