I love farmers’ markets! This lifelong love has taken me to some wonderful markets around the country. Whenever we have moved to a new area or we have traveled, if there’s a farmers’ market, I’m there.
The Eugene Farmers’ Market is one of the most beautiful and heartfelt markets I’ve had the pleasure to walk through. The colors of the market are vibrant and the energy emanating from the vendors is positive and upbeat. I feel like I have stepped back in time every visit I make there.
Another inspiring market in the area is the South Lane Farmers’ Market in Cottage Grove. The market is quite large for the size of the town. Again, the feeling of the market and the supporting nature of the food producers and crafters is warm and inspiring to be around. The variety of food, bread, veggies, meat and plants is large for a smaller market.
The market is located in downtown Cottage Grove and is open on Thursdays at 4 p.m.
Spending money on local food, beverages and crafts has always made me feel good about how I was using my money as I have always understood the importance of supporting your village. When I first came to the area I was thrilled when I found out that Creswell hosted its own farmers’ market. In fact, we feature two markets in Creswell: The Creswell Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays from 4 to 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Creswell Library, located at 64 W.Oregon Ave., and the Saturday Market at Creswell Bakery, with produce from Good Food Easy. The Bakery is located at 182 S. 2nd St. in Creswell and the market is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tuesday’s Creswell Farmers’ Market is small but is ready and willing to grow in size and number of vendors! The only way that will happen is if our community goes to the market and buys from the vendors.
Yes, we actually have to drive to the market, get out of the car, and spend dollars with the food producers who are spending their time and money to be part of the market.
I hear complaining and rumblings from folks, especially via social media, about how small our market it. My blood boils just a bit as I bite my tongue and hold back a sharp response when I see such posts. If everyone who lived in our area supported local food producers, our local economy would be growing and solid, our farmers’ markets would be full of locally produced food and local people would have fresh, nutritious food on their plates.
My husband and I personally purchase two CSA boxes each week. We buy local meat, cheese, milk, eggs, honey, wine, cider, beer and more. Truly, most of our food comes from local producers, if we can find it.
And I tell you, it’s some of the best food we have had the opportunity to enjoy! The lettuce, the veggies, the fruit… Oh my gosh, the fruit this area grows is spectacular – which is why Oregon produces some of the finest beer, cider and wine.
My husband or I picks up our CSA boxes, our raw milk, our locally grown chicken and lamb. We drive around the area and select our food. It’s beyond cool to have such a breadbasket of healthy, organic, delicious food at your fingertips.
Did you know that most markets even take SNAP (food assistance) and honestly, it is not more expensive to shop with your local food producers if you really look at the bigger picture. It is certainly much more healthy!
My hope in writing this little article is to motivate you to shop at the Tuesday and Saturday markets in Creswell and on Thursday travel to the Cottage Grove market! I ask that you do a bit of research into other local food producers as well and buy other food from the people in your local community who are growing and producing it.
”Local Supporting Local” will change the world for the better, allowing us to go back to a simpler, healthier style of eating and local economies. Supporting local food producers will strengthen our economy and help to strengthen your health as well.
