Weiser’s farmers market is gearing up for 2020 season

By: 
Steve Lyon

Anyone who wants to sell at the 2020 Weiser farmer market, or just wants to learn more about the weekly event, is invited to attend a vendor meeting on Thursday, June 25, at 6 p.m. the historic train depot in downtown Weiser.
 Organizers are finalizing the details in advance of the first farmers market next month, while also following guidelines on social distancing and safety precautions related to the coronavirus. The weekly market will be held on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. starting on July 16 and running through Sept. 10.
 Members of the farmers market committee will go over the basics of the farmers market and help vendors fill out applications and sales tax forms at the June 25 meeting. Vendor booth locations have changed slightly in an effort to move vendors from the east side of the depot out of the hot evening sun.
 The space in front of the depot and the grassy area on the west side can accommodate a maximum of 27 vendors, plus a food truck and seating while eating. Smokin’ Franny’s barbecue truck has tentatively committed to serve food this season. The farmers market committee is hoping to line up musical entertainment each week at the market.
 Jim Felton, a member of the farmers market committee, said rental prices for vendor spaces will stay the same as last year. The cost is a highly reasonable $5 per week and the depot charges another $5 for electricity, if needed. Vendors who prepay for the entire season will be given first choice of locations and a $5 discount. The cost to vendors who choose to prepay will be $40 for the nine weeks.
 The farmers market will continue to accept SNAP benefits to purchase qualifying food items. A grant from the Idaho Farmers Market Association will allow the Weiser farmers market to participate in the Double Up Food Bucks program this summer. Customers with SNAP benefits cards will receive double tokens to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables.
 Customers scan their SNAP card at the market manager’s booth EBT machine and receive double the value in tokens. For example, when a SNAP cardholder scans for $10 they will receive $20 in SNAP tokens.
 The tokens can be used at any produce or other allowable food vendor. The vendor will accept the tokens as the dollar value and at the end of the evening the vendor turns those into the market manager booth for reimbursement.
 “That is a pretty good deal,” Felton said.
 Weiser’s farmers market was established by the nonprofit Weiser River Resource Council nine years ago to give local growers a place to sell their fruits and vegetables. The weekly markets have become wildly popular across the country and in the Treasure Valley as consumers seek out locally sourced food.
 Vendors at Weiser’s farmers market sell lots of homemade items, such as baked goodies, popsicles and shaved ice, jams and jellies, local honey, along with prepared food and crafts and other products, such as handcrafted soaps.
 The variety of veggies and fruit gets better each week during the summer and typically includes onions, tomatoes, sweet corn, squash, peppers, green beans and much more straight from the field to the market. There is also the sweetest fresh fruit around from local orchards, with local growers bringing plums, nectarines, peaches and more.
 Weiser’s farmers market is listed in the Idaho Farmers Market Guide, a handy reference to all the farmers markets in Idaho published by Idaho Preferred.
 Anyone interested in becoming a vendor at the farmers market, or know someone that would be interested in vending should attend the June 25 meeting or contact Jim Felton at (208) 549-1050 or at jimfeltonwrrc@outlook.com.

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Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

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