Welcome to the new IncrEDIBLE Farmers Market
By Valerie Rossi
Come fill your basket with a unique mix of local agricultural products and handmade artisanal items readily available at the growing IncrEDIBLE Farmers Market this season.
Trail and Fruitvale’s farmers markets have officially amalgamated into a unified market family after an organization rebrand. With a fresh logo and revamped website that streamlines IncrEDIBLE Farmers Market information and updates, this collaboration invites regional shoppers to contribute to the local economy in a meaningful way. Best yet, there will be more market days when the season starts this spring!
Trail’s IncrEDIBLE Farmers Market (TIFM) has been a bustling, vibrant gathering space for vendors and shoppers alike for the past seven years. The well-established market has taken Fruitvale — which celebrated its first market season in 2022 — under its wing and the IncrEDIBLE banner in hopes of establishing a flourishing collaboration built on mutual support.
Now working together under the Lower Columbia Community Development Team Society (LCCDTS), the regional approach offers expanded geographical reach and economic opportunity for existing vendors, as well as a low-cost incubator for new vendors looking for spaces to grow their business. TIFM manager Gina Ironmonger is excited about what this new partnership will bring to the region.
“Bringing the Trail and Fruitvale markets together under one umbrella supports our community in a variety of ways,” says Ironmonger. “Markets are a great meeting place. This partnership provides yet another opportunity for connection between producers and residents. It also gives local vendors the opportunity to participate in more than one market, and provides a turn-key solution to our newer sister market in Fruitvale.”
Situated in the Lower Columbia region, the IncrEDIBLE Farmers Market in Trail and Fruitvale offers affordable access to a variety of unique makers, bakers, and growers while fostering a welcoming, inclusive community space. Amalgamating under a society opens up more grant opportunities for the markets to grow. Working together bodes well financially as well as from a branding and marketing perspective. Each market will continue to have their own committee, collaborating to ensure cooperation, support, and cross-promotion while also celebrating their distinctive community character. This amalgamation is only the beginning, as Ironmonger hopes for the possibility of adding more markets and establishing internal staff to help propel the volunteer-run markets into the future.
“I’m currently in the process of applying for funding to hire a market manager and IT specialist,” she adds. “This will help ensure sustainability so we can continue to grow. If other communities or organizations are interested in creating markets or doing things around food strategy, we’d love to support and promote them. Get in touch!”
The Trail market started out with 10–15 vendors and has grown to over 188 rotating vendors, some of which are now selling their products in local grocery stores, liquor stores, and restaurants. The rapid growth and success of TIFM is a strong indicator of the economic value this amalgamation can bring not only to the Fruitvale IncrEDIBLE Farmers Market, but also the small business community within the village.
“Our goal is to always promote vendors while supporting local business, and to bring our community together in a diverse, family-friendly environment,” says Ironmonger. “By joining forces last year, we closed our first market season averaging around 20 vendors per market. The cooperation and support has been phenomenal.”
The IncrEDIBE Farmers Market will kick off with a special Easter market this Saturday April 8th, with the regular market season in full swing by May 20th. On May 6th and 7th, The Modern Living Show will host a two-day market at Waneta Plaza where you can learn about sustainable products and services, eco-friendly household cleaners, locally grown food and plants, renewable energy solutions, and enjoy a full lineup of inspiring talks by leading experts. For a full market schedule and vendor info, check out incrediblefarmersmarket.com.
