- The Saturday Market - December 6, 2017
By Duane Megyesi
One of the communities in the area with the deepest roots, the Grants Pass Growers Market is the heartbeat of the home-grown movement in Southern Oregon. Saturday mornings are quite the event in town, regardless of season.
“When I think of the Saturday Market, I think of the names I like. Rise Up, the bread company, Pennington jams are the best! And that little donut booth on the corner. I know a lot of these guys work super hard to sell all year, and it shows. I come back for the stuff I love, and knowing they’re always here is awesome.’ said Victoria Sanchez, a frequenter of the “Saturday Market’ as it’s known by locals.
The Rogue Valley is renowned for its varied and constantly changing climate, flowing with the same reliable unpredictability as the river from which it takes its name. Exceptional conditions for growin
g anything from produce and garden fare, recently legalized commercial marijuana. The Grants Pass Growers Market is one of the primary movers of the agricultural products in the region. It serves as the critical hub between growers and buyers year-round, and has a significant financial effect on the downtown area as a whole.
“For a lot of people here, this is the economy.’
said Kathy Pennington of Pennington Farms, one of the Saturday Market’s more successful vendors at the market every weekend. “Whether you grow carrots or make pottery, being able to bring it for sale keeps a lot of us going, no matter how big your booth is.’
As soon as the weather warms up enough to support outside wandering, the market heads outdoors. After the winter months of using the Josephine County Fairgrounds building for shelter from the elements, vendors shift to booths in central Grants Pass, in the heart of historic downtown, returning to the familiar marketplace the townspeople love. Much more than just growers, the market has unique food trucks, artisan foods, crafts, and entertainment- making the area seem more like a fair than a typical farmers market, with plenty to do every Saturday.
Summertime brings the most attention, as the tourism industry is expanding for the peak season. Street performers and seasonal based food booths bring an extra element of cheer to the square. In mid-August, temperatures reach their highest, and fires are not far behind. The smoke can carry through early September, and does noticeable damage to the numbers of people out and about. Luckily, the end of September comes with the smell of pumpkin spice lattes and scarves.
The harvest season began in early October, and has peaked for those with grown goods. Vendors are now preparing for the last push before Thanksgiving from the warmth of the Fairgrounds. Without the constant flow of foot traffic, the market does seem to see a decline in sales and overall attendance, which has an effect on the members, particularly the smaller ones who can’t rely on the decreased population.
“Of course we lose some people when we move.’ said Alex Apland, an artisan specializing in pottery. “Ya know, some people just don’t have stuff to sell at this time of year. But there are some who think that not being downtown isn’t worth the trouble’. No longer having the central location in the city, it becomes harder for these growers to rely on business- leading some to close up shop until the next spring, for one reason or another.
There are still plenty who make the market a committed event, and come back every year to sell their goods to the people who want them. While some booths offer seasonal products, and have to make other arrangements in the off-season, there are a recent batch of growers selling specific winter crops, and their presence helps the Market feel just as strong- and fresh as the summer months. Kia, from Kia’s kitchen maintains a strong optimism, “No, we do fine in the winter. Sure, we lose some people, but it’s not as many as you may think. We’ve built a good following, and we have a good handful of people who still come find us. We’ve seen a lot of new winter crops that are really popular.’ Their presence is able to be counted on, a fact the townspeople show every weekend- no matter where they are.
