Last Saturday, the Idaho Falls Farmers’ Market attracted visitors and vendors from across Eastern Idaho to purchase and sell a varied selection of goods.
Beginning in May and ending in October, the Farmers’ Market is held weekly, regardless of weather conditions, on the Snake River Walkway in downtown Idaho Falls. The market serves as a community gathering for vendors to provide a wide variety of greenery and produce for customers to purchase. These products range from home-cooked breads and pastries, to even freshly grown apples and tomatoes.
Although the self-grown goods serve as one of the main incentives for patrons to attend every weekend, there is also a variety of hand-crafted arts for individuals to purchase. Some of these include hand crafted home décor and hand-sewn fabrics.
Sept. 29 marked one of the final weekends that the market was held before the season concludes at the end of October. However, the impending closure has not stopped customers and vendors from piling onto the Idaho Falls Greenbelt in droves.
According to Idaho Falls native and weekly attendee Kirstin Hicks, the Farmers’ Market gives her the opportunity to help support local producers. “The market allows me to help local families and support their business and dedication to helping others,” stated Hicks. “These people grow their produce and greenery solely for us, so the least I can do is support them in return.” Hicks also stated that the home-made breads and home-grown fresh produce tastes better than packaged goods sold at grocery stores. “Everything sold here is grown or made with passion and the taste reflects that,” stated Hicks.
Hicks’ notion of the thought and care put into everything sold at the Farmers’ Market is held true amongst the producers themselves. According to Noel Soto, whose family has provided tamales at the market on a bi-weekly basis for the last two years. “Not only does it help support our family, it helps us support other families as well,” stated Soto. “Everything we make during the days leading up to the market is made with the customer in mind, never the profits we receive.” Soto stated that his family plans to continue to provide tamales for the community for years to come.
According to the market’s website, 2018 marks the 30th season that the Farmers’ Market has been opened to the public. Since its opening season, the market has allowed customers to meet many vendors and put a face to the product their purchasing, giving the items a sense of authenticity. The market describes itself as a “non-profit cooperative” that places vendors and customers above the needs of the organization itself. This has allowed the market to help producers put their goods on display without taking a portion of the profit, showing their dedication to supporting families and communities across Eastern Idaho.
After 30 seasons of giving producers a platform to sell their goods, the Farmers’ Market hopes to continue to serve the community for many years to come.