Sayde Walker
Tillamook Farmers Market Manager
If you’re dreaming of sunnier days and fresh, locally-grown produce you buy directly from the farmer, well, you’re not alone. And you’re in luck, because the Tillamook Farmers Market is returning three weeks earlier this year; our opening day is May 23 – Memorial Day Weekend.
While it’s still a little early to get all your produce in May, you will be able to purchase plant starts for your own garden as well as peruse our many other talented vendors. So far you can expect to find Brickyard Farms; Bewley Creek Woodworking; Pacific Roots Coffee; Pitch n Plow Farm; Bea Shea’s natural skin care products and many more on opening day!
And, if you’d like to join us as a vendor this year, we are now accepting applications from both new and returning vendors. You can fill out the form on our website, tillamookfarmersmarket.com. If you have a secret hobby, a crafty passion or grow something in your back yard you’d like to share with the world the Farmers Market is a great place to start.
We do have a list of requirements you have to meet in order to be eligible (sorry, no multi-level marking products). The items for sale must be hand-made, produced or grown by you the vendor. Some exceptions do apply, but our first priority is always to vendors who are also producing what they sell. We would especially love to have more farmers apply and more prepared food vendors. (I have it under pretty good authority there will be waffles made to order this year.) Our Market averages more than 1,500 visitors on any given Saturday, and that number is much higher during the warmer months of summer, holiday weekends, or special events.
If you have any questions or would just like to talk over your options, feel free to reach out to me via email at sayde@tillamookchamber.org. Food vendors also have to apply through the health department, which can take up to two weeks to be approved, so if you’re on the fence just be sure to give yourself enough time to get through the application and approval process.
As always we will have live music each day from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., hands-on kids activities and games, and are putting together some fun and educational demonstrations for market-goers. The Tillamook County Master Gardeners will be on hand again throughout the season to help answer your gardening questions.
If you are involved with a community organization that would like to participate in our Community Table, please reach out to me and I will get you scheduled. This table is offered to local non-profit organizations free of charge and is a great way to get in front of thousands of people to spread awareness about your mission, recruit volunteers, or fundraise.
I hope everyone will come down this summer and support the Tillamook Farmers Market and its 50 plus vendors!