The Gresham Farmers Market is returning to downtown Gresham this weekend, with plans for a full-slate of new and beloved vendors, live music, and a whole bunch of community fun.
The annual market will debut Saturday, May 4, with a layout that surrounds the Gresham Arts Plaza, 401 N.E. Second St. There will be local produce, fruit, flowers, nursery stock, handcrafted food and baked goods, meat, art, booze, oils and honey, soap, jewelry, and so much more.
“It is going to be an exciting year for both our customers and vendors,” said Greg Charland, market manager.
It should be a packed opening day, with all of the spaces filled by nearly 150 vendors. There are more farms and food vendors this year, and Lytebirds will perform in the plaza.
The market also has Double Up Food Bucks — a SNAP customer can run their EBT card for $20 to get a matching $20, allowing them to purchase and enjoy plenty of fresh produce.
“This is such a valuable program, not only for our customers but also our farms,” Charland said.
The primary sponsor for the market is OnPoint Credit Union, which has allowed the nonprofit market to continue growing. An exciting aspect this year will be classes/workshops taught by various vendors. The first will be a class on cooking asparagus on May 18.
On May 25 will also be a first-ever Young Vendor Showcase, with 10 youths helming booths around the (turned off) Splash Pad in the center of the plaza.
“We want to help young entrepreneurs and build the next generation of vendors,” Charland said. “We will do this several times during the season.”
Future markets will include a visit by the Portland Opera. And during the newly branded Festival of Arts in Gresham, the market won’t be shunted off to a distant parking lot like it was last year. Instead it will just be moved a block to the west, situating it right in the middle of the festival.
The Gresham Farmers Market is held from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., every Saturday through October.
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