If you go
The Vancouver Farmers Market will host a couple of holiday markets later this year. The first is Nov. 22 at Esther and Eighth streets. The other is Nov. 29-30 inside the Hilton Vancouver Washington, 301 W. Sixth St. For more information, visit www.vancouverfarmersmarket.com
The box of gourds Mark Haller toted from the Vancouver Farmers Market on Sunday would be used for decoration around the house, but that’s not all.
“These you can eat after you use them for decoration,” his wife, Anne Haller, said of the funky-shaped squash. “Aren’t they cool?”
Not only that, but the smaller gourds were four for a dollar. The couple also bought cilantro, kale and some Bloody Mary mix. Not a bad haul for their first time at the Vancouver market.
The two moved about a month ago to east Vancouver from Olympia, where they frequented a farmers market there. On Sunday there were exploring downtown Vancouver and came upon the market.
Anne Haller said she was impressed by the variety of products and the prices but said she was sorry to hear it was the market’s final day of the season.
Looking back on the market’s 25th season, its executive director, Jordan Boldt, said there was a lot to be grateful for.
Construction on Sixth Street concluded, opening it back up to vendors. Sunny weather also attracted large crowds, he said.
“We just had so many awesome, sunny weekends, even late into the year,” Boldt said.
Saturday was the exception.
That’s when rain and wind whipped through Clark County, and about a dozen vendor tents at the Vancouver Farmers Market broke, Boldt said. Because of the storm, some of the vendors decided to pack up Saturday and not return Sunday.
Art Schaefer was still there Sunday to sell produce from his farm, including sweet peppers, cabbage, cherry tomatoes and carving pumpkins. He said he’s enjoyed the farmers market season but is looking forward to a bit of a break.
“You kind of hate to see it end, but I’d like to sleep in on a Sunday one of these days,” Schaefer said.
Although the Vancouver market is ending, he said he still plans to sell chicken eggs and winter produce for a while longer at a farmers market in Oregon City.
Sunday afternoon, visitors at the market enjoyed dry weather and some sun breaks.
Not many attended the last day of the market, though, Boldt said. He estimated about 1,000 people were there. Overall this season, the market saw more than 600,000 visitors, or an average of more than 10,000 a day, he said. The market also had up to 150 vendors on a busy weekend.
Vancouver residents April Kirk and Tabatha Williamson were planning their dinner Sunday afternoon while walking through the market. On the menu was chicken, corn on the cob and salad.
The two said they visited the market nearly every weekend this year to buy fresh produce and to let their children expend some energy on the nearby playground equipment in Esther Short Park.
Kirk said the last day of the season was “kind of sad.”
“It’s something to do on the weekend with the kids,” Kirk said. “We always look forward to next year, too.”
The Vancouver Farmers Market’s 26th season begins March 21.
In recent years, Boldt said, the market has been able to attract vendors who sell items beyond produce and flowers. There’s a chorizo sausage stand and a gluten-free bakery, for example.
Boldt said he hopes to have an even wider variety of vendors at the market next year so that it becomes a place where people can satisfy much of their grocery-shopping needs.
“We love to see people who are weekly shopping and supporting small businesses,” he said.
