Meet Me at the Market!

Where can you find the best local  produce, small-batch prepared foods, freshly baked bread and pastries, colorful flower bouquets, handcrafted gifts, free-range eggs, maybe a food truck or two, and perhaps even a bit of live music? Your local farmers market!

The Umpqua Valley Farmers Market in Roseburg has been serving Douglas County shoppers on Saturdays since 1994. Many of our smaller towns and cities have their own seasonal markets on different days of the week including Canyonville, Lookingglass, Reedsport, Sutherlin and Glide.

As a dedicated farmers market shopper and former vendor, here are my tips for making the most of your experience:

Bring a large tote bag or basket to collect your purchases as you work your way through the market. Reusable grocery store bags are great.
 
If you won’t be heading straight home, especially on hot summer days, put a cooler in your car to keep perishables like eggs or meat safe and prevent delicate produce like lettuce from wilting.
 
Plan to arrive early during the market hours for the best selection.
 
Bring cash if possible. Small bills are always appreciated. You can also use your debit card to get tokens at the market manager’s booth that will be accepted by any vendor.

If you have a SNAP/EBT card, you can use it to get “Double Up Food Bucks” which provide up to $20 toward the purchase of fresh or dried fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, herbs, and plant starts that produce food when you spend $20 from your card. Prepared “hot” food is excluded. You can save up the Double Up Food Bucks to make a large purchase, a case of tomatoes for canning for example, but they must be used by the end of the year. Visit the market manager to get started.

Unless I’m after something that I know will be in short supply I like to walk all the way through the market before buying anything. This gives me a chance to see what’s new, compare quality and check prices. I’m planning menus in my mind during my first stroll past the stalls and then I’m ready to buy.
 
Know the market rules about pets. Animals are discouraged at most markets, though service animals are allowed.
 
Bringing your children to the market can help them make connections between the farm, the farmer, and the food they eat. Often, there are samples, scavenger hunts, or other activities designed just for kids.
 
Don’t overlook the flowers, crafts, artwork. Farmers markets are about more than food!