Like the first sprouts in a vegetable garden, farmers markets are popping up across the state as more and more residents search out local produce and handmade crafts.
One such market recently opened in Riggins, with three determined vendors standing under a tent during a rainstorm several days ago.
"We actually did pretty good," market organizer Maureen Een told the Lewiston Tribune about opening day. "We had a lot of people coming and checking it out. The social thing is important, too, so everybody was there and seemed to have a real good time."
Fresh produce is limited at this time of year, but Een said she and the other vendors sold lettuce, radishes, spinach, homemade tortillas and homemade bread.
In 2003, the state Department of Agriculture listed 23 farmers markets in Idaho. This year, the department lists 35, including markets in the small towns of Bovill, Kendrick, Kooskia/Kamiah and Riggins, as well as in the larger cities of Lewiston, Moscow and Grangeville.
Lacey L. Menasco of the Agriculture Department said there are probably others the department does not have listed.
"We don't have a lot of statistics, but there's just a greater awareness of local food in general and the general public wants to get fresh local produce," Mensaco said of the reasons for the surge in the number of markets. "There's greater demand for fresh, local products that are grown locally by a farmer that they know and they trust."
At a recent market in the Kamiah/Kooskia region, a handful of vendors sold a few greens and bedding plants. Kamiah resident Linda Hunter offered banana bread along with her early plant starts. She said the market is a good way to socialize.
"The air is what I like," Hunter said. "You meet lots of people here and can be friends with everybody."
Mary Ann Gulotta, of Harpster, said getting ready to sell at this year's farmers market influenced how she planned her garden.
"This is our first year," Gulotta said. "We have a large garden, so generally I don't really sell my plants. But I like producing the vegetables and fruit, so that is our plan."
In Washington state, Patrice Barrentine of the state Agriculture Department said 110 farmers markets belong to the state farmers association, compared with 103 last year. But not all markets are part of the state association.
Organizers of the market in Clarkston, Wash., which has been open for five years, chose not to join because of the $300 fee, which allows members to be added to the state association Web site.
"It's not worth $300 to belong because all it is, you're on the Internet," organizer Doug Renggli said. The Clarkston market has its own Web site. Renggli said last year there were 23 vendors at the market "and I've got many more this year."
In Idaho, organizations such as the Kendrick Grange, the Moscow Arts Commission and the University of Idaho-backed Horizons project have helped create once-a-week venues for local growers and crafts producers that are not otherwise easily available in small communities.
"It's great for the community because it's another family event," Menasco said. "There's good food and people can support the local economy. I think it serves a lot in the realm of educating a lot of people who don't know how food is grown or where it comes from.
"It can really give you an opportunity to tell people why agriculture is important and why farm ground should stay farm ground as long as possible."
Source: www.TheOlympian.com