Farmers Market in full swing, despite heat

Despite recent record highs and smoke spilling south from wildfires up north, the Weiser Farmers Market is in full swing.

 Heat and smoke made conditions not exactly ideal, but last week’s low vendor turnout can be attributed to the lack of available produce, according to Farmers Market organizer Jennifer Huff who said it’s typical for this time of year.

 “There isn’t a lot of produce right now, but once we get the tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini and cantaloupe coming, things will really start picking up; there’s nothing like home grown,” she said during last week’s market. “Right now, we have bakers and different artisans and little bit of produce.”

 When asked whether the smoke has affected vendor attendance, Huff said that, aside from the produce not being quite ready for harvest, the heat has been the bigger factor.

 “The first couple of weeks, we had a lot of comments about the heat,” she said. 

 “Right now, sitting down under the trees and this little breeze, it’s not so terrible. But the vendors are moving around, loading up, setting up, breaking it down, loading it all back into the car and then unloading everything at home.”

 The heat has let up in the last week or so, but weather reports indicate temperatures once again spiking to over 100 degrees, with a forecast of 106 degrees Friday, Aug. 2. The Weiser Farmers Market begins the first Thursday in July in Weiser City Park, with vendors making their goods available to the public between 5-7 p.m.

 “It’s every Thursday through the last Thursday in September,” Huff noted. “People tend to come around 5 p.m.”

 She added that of the anticipated produce vendors, people seem to be looking forward to the “mushroom lady,” with her variety of wild mushrooms, and Kelley Orchards with a vast supply of fruits and berries.

 Huff has also been working on advertising the market, placing a banner out on Highway 95 to bring in traffic and large, vertical flags at the perimeter of City Park.

 She added that moving to City Park last year turned out to be a particularly good move.

 “Oh, my gosh. The train depot is a nice place, but it was so hot,” said Huff. “Half the people were in the sun, so this has been a great move for us.”

 For more information, check out Weiser Farmers Market’s Facebook page. You can contact the nonprofit by email at weiserfarmersmarket@gmail.com or you can call (208) 741-1757.