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The La Grande Farmers Market’s 48 Year History!!!
The following article was written in 2020 and was created by Moira Madden, researched by Suzanne Madden and Louise Squire- our friends and valued market supporters. (As reported in The Observer in August of 2020!)
"La Grande residents Sally Snyder and Sandy Roth started the La Grande Farmers Market in 1980. In its beginnings, it was the Blue Mountain Producers, operating in a vacant lot at the northwest corner of North Fir Street and Monroe Avenue. Over the next 40 years, the style, location and managers of the market have changed, but what remains the same is the commitment to providing fresh, locally sourced products and produce Saturday mornings (and now Tuesday afternoons) from May to October.
The early years
It wasn’t until the summer of 2003 that the La Grande Farmers Market found its home at Max Square downtown. Its first location was the vacant lot at 1215 Adams Ave. Then, the co-founders of Sunflower Books, Anne Stephens and Lani Schroeder, volunteered the side yard at the now-closed bookstore at 1114 Washington St., where the market operated until 2002.
“It started quite small with lots of mothers with children,” Stephens said. “We had an old apple tree in the backyard and an old plum tree that produced profusely. There was a wooden picnic table under the apple tree where people sat to visit. We enjoyed having the market.”
When the market began, Snyder and Roth had little knowledge about running a farmers market. Snyder said it was something they thought the area needed, and they brought people together to help set it up.
“It was homegrown as an idea,” Snyder said. “We didn’t do any research on farmers markets, we just thought it was important to have produce from small growers available in La Grande.”
Finding its home
The La Grande Farmers Market established its home in Max Square in 2003. Under manager Julie Keniry, the market became a nonprofit entity with help from Oregon Rural Action. Under this new management, the market’s produce became eligible for EBT/SNAP benefits and WIC vouchers. “This work helped grow the market’s attendance and make shopping affordable”, Keniry said.
Keniry also established the Tuesday market, giving residents a second day during the week to shop for fresh produce.
Leaders expand scope.
Beth Wasley took on the position of market manager from 2010-2018. Wasley brought more variety of items to the market through inviting new vendors, and with the market’s growth, it expanded onto a portion of Fourth Street.
Wasley also established several special shopping days, such as Salsa Day, Pie Day and Kids Day, a day where children could sell what they grew or created. She also worked with local restaurants, such as Side A Brewing, Yia Yia Nikki’s and Hines Meat Co. to provide food and drinks during a monthly beer garden.
Today’s market
The La Grande Farmers Market’s 2020 season saw multiple changes.
Shaletta Baldwin stepped in as the new market manager in June of that year, and due to the pandemic, the market adjusted its layout and required shoppers to wear masks and social distance. Artists and craftspeople sold items in previous years at the market, but for the 2020 season, the market allowed only the sale of consumables.
Baldwin brought with her more than a decade of marketing and event planning experience and was involved with a Seattle area farmers market before coming to La Grande. She also managed the Baker City Farmers Market at the time. (update: Ms. Baldwin has moved on to other ventures and LGFM is under new management)
“There is a unique energy at the La Grande Farmers Market,” Baldwin said at the time. “Customers, vendors and market staff alike are so supportive of one another and they truly care about this market. They take such pride in what they do and rightfully so. It is the people — the La Grande Farmers Market community — that make me so proud to be the market manager.”
Posted in The Observer August 2020
Mission Statement
The mission of the La Grande Farmers’ Market is to enhance the economic sustainability of our region’s farms by providing a venue for the exchange of quality locally grown goods while creating a vibrant community gathering place.
We could not make this happen without the continued support of our sponsors and the support of our community members. Thank you for making the La Grande Farmers Market a success!
