By David Hayes, Polk County Itemizer-Observer
What a difference a year makes for the Dallas Farmers Market. Last year, it debuted during a downpour of rain and blustery winds. This year, the sun was out with only a hint of cool breeze to greet a wider selection of vendors stretched down the courthouse square.
“It’s so exciting. There’s sunshine. You can actually see shadows. I’m very much looking forward to having to wash our produce in the sink rather than before we get it back in the car,” said Mikayla Slawosky, Dallas community development coordinator. She was decked out in a sugar pea costume, because “Pretty Peas, we want people to come to the market.”
For the kickoff on May 3, there were 17 vendors, six new, which Slawosky plans to keep consistent throughout the season. She said they’re keeping the application process open throughout the season as there’s plenty of space to expand for more vendors.
Overall, the Dallas Farmers Market will have 12 new vendors joining as the season progresses, including some local farms.
“Last year, people were really excited, they were just hoping to see some more veggies,” Slawosky said. “We heard that, and today we have about five vendors selling produce.
Eden Olsen of Lucky Grow Farm, out of Monmouth, was one of the local farmers to answer to call for more veggie options.
“I had heard there was a need for vegetables. So, I joined to provide that to our county,” Olsen said. Her specialty? “You name one, I’ve got it.”
She expects her salad mix, heirloom tomatoes and carrots to go the fastest.
Other vendors were back, including Oregon Cream Honey, Norris Bread Company, which features sourdough bread and cookies, Double E Ranch with edible plant starts and Frankie Farm Goat Milk Soap, to name a few.
“Most of our vendors are local to Polk County. We have Tapestry Hills Nursery based out of Canby. But for the most part, it is Rickreall, Independence, Monmouth and Dallas here filing up,” she said.
Tiffany Unverdruss wanted to open a stall last season, but being “very pregnant” upset the timing of the hope baking venture going public at the market. But that didn’t stop her from attending.
“It was great. I loved being able to get the honey, get the bread, flowers. It was a lot of fun,” Unverdruss said.
For her business, Simply Joyful Cookies, she specializes in custom sugar cookies. But for the market’s debut, she featured drop cookies, including larger snickerdoodles, peanut butter and butter cream sugar and lemon drop.
Returning for his second year is Rick Ogle’s Oregon Cream Honey who’s home churned, unique blend of honey is processed just 10 miles outside Dallas. He said Dallas quickly became one of their favorite markets.
“This is one of our favorite markets, to be honest. It’s one of the smallest markets we do, but we really enjoy it. I mean the town is so, I mean, you’re right outside the historic courthouse. It’s beautiful,” Ogle said, adding they also attend farmers markets in McMinnville, Independence during the summer and the casino’s Health and Wellness fair once a year. “And people in Dallas, if you’re from around here, you know they’re all good folks.”
The farmers market runs through Oct. 18 every first and third Saturday of the month.
For those shoppers looking for alternative shopping methods, Slawosky said there are vendors who accept SNAP and Double Up Food Buck and accept Farm Direct Nutrition Food Vouchers.
“We’re open for ideas. We really hope that people see their requests reflected in the market. We are hoping it’s a good community event that continues to grow,” Slawosky said.
The city of Dallas runs the farmers market for now with the aid of the Dallas Downtown Association and Chamber of Commerce. Slawosky said the DDA and the CoC have reached an agreement to team up to take over running it next year.
To keep track of the market, go to the Dallas Oregon Farmers Market Facebook or go to www.dallasdowntownassociation.org/dallasfarmersmarket.
This article appeared in the Polk County Itemizer-Observer and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
This work is being led by RARE AmeriCorps member Mikayla Slawosky.