By Justin Andress, The Mountain Times
On May 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Hoodland Farmer’s Market will return for another season outside Welches’ Church on the Mountain. After eight years of connecting tourists and locals with Mt. Hood’s farmers and craftspeople, the market is set to have its biggest year yet.
The market’s considerable growth has been due in no small part to the efforts of two women, the Market’s Executive Director Kate Brauner and Manager Christen Prudence. Since Brauner took over in 2022, the duo have bonded over their shared goal of expanding the visibility and the impact of the market on nearly every front. They’ve improved the market’s signage, built a website, launched a social media campaign, and extended the market’s operating schedule by a month, effectively adding 5 more market days.
Every trip to the Hoodland Farmer’s Market is a winning experience, thanks to the emphasis on safety and community. “I imagine this circle of light around the market,” says Brauner fondly. “Once you cross that barrier, you are us, and you are safe.”
That spirit of inclusion pervades every corner of the market. The location at the Church on the Mountain provides enough parking space for both parents with kids and the elderly without sacrificing any of the space required to host the growing number of weekly vendors.
Increasing participation from vendors (both local and visiting) is just one facet of the exceptional growth the market is experiencing. Since 2022, the market has added 27 new vendors and witnessed a 155% increase in sales. That list includes fresh, delectable produce, crafts from local artisans, live music, and ready-to-eat food. With everything on offer, it’s no wonder the market sees an average of 500 visitors each week.
Those who take the time to stop by the Hoodland Farmer’s Market are in for a real treat. The market is tucked back off the road in a loose horseshoe of vendor tables. There’s plenty of seating for those who want to grab a quick bite.
In one corner sits the Sprouts Spot, a kid-only activity center hosted by Dawn Hardy, whom Prudence emphatically describes as a “magical volunteer.”
Brauner nods enthusiastically, adding that Hardy “pulls together unique artistic crafts for the kids every week, and provides building blocks, a ball toss pit, and books to keep the kids occupied while their parents shop the booths.”
As visitors peruse the goods on display, a live musician plays a mixture of original music and mountain-inspired covers. On the last Saturday of each month, 10:30 a.m. marks the moment a Hoodland Library employee starts reading to the assembled kiddos.
Without fail, the atmosphere at the Hoodland Farmer’s Market is upbeat and inclusive. That sentiment is echoed by third-year vendor and co-owner of Wander Free and Queer, Danella Demarry. “Hoodland Farmer’s Market feels like coming home,” she says. “We look forward to seeing familiar faces, meeting new locals, and showcasing our rich, diverse community to tourists passing through.”
The goal of the market goes beyond providing a local shopping experience and a few fun hours for the kids. Brauner and Prudence are committed to ensuring that the Hoodland Farmer’s Market serves the community it represents.
One method used to achieve this goal is Double Up Food Bucks. This innovative program allows those who rely on SNAP funding to get twice the value for their purchase. In other words, someone at the market buying items approved by the program sees one dollar get the buying power of two dollars.
The market has also teamed with the local senior center to provide shuttles to and from the market so interested seniors can take “field trips” to the site.
After several years of work, the Hoodland Farmer’s Market is truly beginning to come into its own. As Prudence explains, “Every year, we’ve had to hustle to get the vendors, to get the musicians, and this year, they’re coming to us.”
Want to get involved? The Hoodland Farmer’s Market always needs volunteers to set up and take down the various tents. To get the specifics, email Christen Prudence at hoodlandmarketmanager@gmail.com.
Once the market opens on May 10, you can visit every Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. until closing day, October 18. Don’t miss out.