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eating the coastTo Market!By Elia SeelyNo Excuse to Not Eat Your Veg: Exponential Access to Fresh and Local.Three New Coastal Farmers Markets“Oregon is absolutely the epicenterof this [food systems security]work in the US.” So says SharonThornberry, Community Food SystemsManager of the Oregon FoodBank, and player on the Nationalfood stage. Another progressivestance we can be proud of. Clatsopand Tillamook Counties are leadersin collaborative efforts to createsustainable food webs and accessfor all to fresh and local foods.Nowhere is this more evident than inthe blossoming of three, count ‘em,three new food markets on the NorthCoast.What’s up with all the energyfor fresh and local? “People havebeen asking for a local food farmersmarket for years,” says Merianne Myers,North Coast Food Web (NCFW)and Astoria Co-op board member,“and now the elements have cometogether to meet that demand. It’svery exciting.” Myers refers to theemerging River People FarmersMarket, slated to open Thursday,June 23, in Astoria, in a to-bedetermineddowntown location.The market’s mission is to bring theAstoria community a “true farmersmarket focused on making fresh produceand local food products moreavailable to North Coast residents.”Access for any income level is a keycomponent of this new market, andMyers emphasizes that a downtownlocation allows access by foot, bike,or bus; the market will accept SNAP(food stamp) benefits and also WICand Senior Nutrition coupons. Thebenefits go all the way round, withlocal producers getting access todirect consumers and an opportunityto break into the local food scene.The market will operate Thursdaysfrom June 23 through September,and if product and demand andweather conspire favorably, throughthe end of October. Hours are 3-7pm.Only fresh, farm grown produce andflowers, farm raised and eggs, farmgrownplant starts, locally caughtfish, and producer made valueaddedor ready-to-consume foodproducts will be sold. Music is on tapand opportunities to snack too! RiverPeople Farmers Market is a partnershipbetween the North CoastFood Web,Blue ScorcherBakery, AstoriaCo-op, KMUN,and OSU ExtensionClatsopCounty.Contact MerianneMyers:Tel: 512-964-5949 Email:meriannemyers@gmail.comWeb: www.riverpeoplemarket.org.Meanwhile, across the waters thenew Columbia-Pacific FarmersMarket, a Friday afternoon marketin downtown Long Beach, is scheduledto open on May 6 from 3-7pmand run through September.“The market will be an authentic,regional market featuring food andproduce delivered fresh and directfrom those who farm, ranch, fish,produce packaged food, and growflowers and plants,” remarks JaneHoleman, Market Manager. “Theweekly Friday afternoon market willsupport working food producers,honor their way of life and providea place to gather as a community tohave fun.”Beyond celebrating local food, themarket will offer musical entertainment,education, cooking demonstrationsand nutritional information,and games and amusements for thechildren. Contact Jane Holeman:Tel: 360.244.9155 Email: jane@willapabay.org.Market action continues notonly North but South, with Seasidegetting into the game. A SeasideFarmers Market is in development,a project long in coming forthe Seaside community. The SunsetEmpire Parks & Rec is spearheadingthe effort, which is currently inthe approval process with the Cityof Seaside and local police and firedepartments.Mary Blake, director of SunsetEmpire Parks & Rec, says that a farmersmarket is an obvious initiative forher organization. “We’ve been askedby the County to participate in thegrowing health crises of our community.Food that you eat, exercisethat you choose to do, even yourland stewardship choices impacthealth. The market offers a gorgeouseffort of building community aroundhealthy lives and choices. If youmake eating fun, if you help peopleunderstand how to prepare and eatit, if you really show that diggingin the dirt is incredibly satisfyingand healthy for you, then peoplewill make the changes they need tomake for health.”Like the other emerging markets,the Seaside Market will emphasizelocal food from local producers. Fun,music, and community informationwill also be available. Contact MaryBlake: Tel: 503-738-3311 x 103 Email:maryblake@sunsetempire.com.Got your list? Vayamos al mercado!Fresh and Fun: Astoria Sunday MarketWe’ve weathered another winter here on the North Coast, and folksis itchin’ to get out, connect, and enjoy those glimpses of blue sky.The Astoria Sunday Market (ASM) gears up in May to usher us intothe summer.Market goers will find the usual fantastic transformation ofTwelfth Street, beginning Mother’s Day Weekend. Up to twohundred booths will feature the crafts, foods, baked goods, flowersand produce that we’ve all come to enjoy. Interested in one-stopshopping? In addition to all the great items available at the Market,many of the downtown merchants are open on Sundays becauseof the Market. You can get your groceries, lunch, office supplies,new lamp, and a birthday present for Uncle Bob without headingout to a box store. Local economy thrives and everybody’s happy.“The Market started to revitalizehistoric downtown,” ASM DirectorCyndi Mudge explains. “In thebeginning there were maybe only30 booths, and most downtownmerchants were closed Sundays. TheASM has added vibrancy to the communityand downtown core; we’vesucceeded in bringing $137,000 intodowntown projects.” Recipients ofthis boon include Liberty Theater, theCommercial Fishermen’s Festival, Gardenof Surging Waves, Astoria MusicFestival and Astoria Regatta, amongmany others. In addition, funds fromAstoria Sunday Market have helpedpurchase bicycles for the Astoria PoliceDepartment, repave 12th Street,resurface the downtown public parkinglot, purchase streetscape plantersand benches for the downtown plaza,and help underwrite exterior repairsto Liberty Theater.The growth of the Market is notonly evident by the number ofbooths and foot traffic. ASM hascreated popular programs such asthe Scavenger’s Feast and the YoungEntrepreneur’s Club and Market BizKidz tent. These programs benefit localbusinesses and sellers, and fosterfuture cottage industry vendors byempowering kids to make, grow, andsell their own products. The musicContinued on page 3029 may11 hipfishmonthly.com

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