Missoula farmers market evolves for its 52nd year, adding crafts and new vendors
MISSOULA, Mont — With spring in full bloom and summer right around the corner, farmer’s market season is almost here.
NBC Montana met with people from the Missoula farmers market to see the changes in store for this year.
In just a couple of weeks Alder St. will be filled with vendors, music, food, and people shopping at the Missoula Farmers Market.
What many don’t know is that this farmer’s market has been around since the early 1970’s, 52 years to be exact at the X’s on Alder St. in Missoula. You might be wondering after all of these years what could possibly be new with this market?
“The biggest change this year is that we have added agricultural crafts to our vendors, so while we are still trying to keep in line with sourced local and agriculturally sound, so things like beeswax or local wool, we have added crafts for the first time this year,” said Katiee Collins, the Market’s Operations Manager.
In addition to new changes there are also a handful of new vendors that include bakery vendors and retired pastry chefs that will be new to the market this year.
“Our farmer’s market was the original one here in Missoula, and we really pride ourselves on maintaining the history behind it and not making too many tremendous changes and making sure that we are always making decisions that lean in favor of our local farmers and their goods,” said Collins.
NBC Montana asked Collins if there were any hardships this year with vendors because of inflation, and she said not that she is aware of, they keep their booth prices reasonable so that it is not much of a burden for people to keep their booth spots each season.
People with SNAP benefits, food stamps, and WIC are able to purchase goods from the market as well.
This year the farmer’s market also has some new management, and with that comes new goals
“Bring more recognition to our market as the original in town and just for our vendors to feel excited to expand their goods since they do have the opportunity to bring other things that they work on rather than just fruits and vegetables to the market this year,” said Collins.
For more information on the Missoula Farmers Market you can visit this link.
The first Missoula farmers market this season is Saturday, May 4th.
From June through Sept. there will also be a Tuesday market that runs from 5-7pm.
