The farmers market season in Columbia Falls and Kalispell has begun. Whitefish opens the last Tuesday of this month and Bigfork starts the first Saturday in June. West Glacier’s market begins the last Friday of June.
Whitefish and Columbia Falls quickly noticed that downtown markets bring people downtown where shoppers routinely visit other merchants like breweries or pizzerias. Downtown markets serve as big promotional opportunities.
Having participated in hundreds of markets across the valley, it’s great to see a new generation of farmers and eaters gaining better access to local foods and marketplaces.
The downtown Whitefish market has been around for a while. Before the current downtown venue, the original market moved from place to place along the highway corridors or Kay Beller Park.
Farm Hands – Nourish the Flathead again run the SNAP booth at Whitefish and Columbia Falls markets where foodstamp recipients can shop local foods and gain access to double money.
Farm Hands says that through its Double SNAP program it will match up to $10 at either market so consumers have more access to local fruits, vegetables and meats.
The organization distributed a red $5 market-coin to 675 kindergarten through fourth grade students in Muldown Elementary School to redeem for fruits, vegetables or plants at the Whitefish market. That’s over $3,000 that Farm Hands put into local food encouragement for young eaters.
Farm Hands is continuing its Blackfeet-Nourish project making bi-weekly food runs to the Browning Food Bank. The every-other-Friday deliveries are averaging a half-ton of food. The demand is great and there’s more room in the van.
To help out, get informed, or get listed on the ever expanding map of Flathead farms and community gardens, visit Farm Hands website at http://www.nourishtheflathead.org.
Nearly every farmer in the valley will tell you about the foods we grow for market. Most farms offer access to visit the farm, if you ask. From cheese to cherries, the Flathead produces some great foods.
Our Friday on-farm produce stand is open for the season. It’s a season that has all the promise of a best year yet. Some gentle rain and not too much heat or cold would help the veggies, berries and fruits.
The Flathead is full of new growers and young aspiring food entrepreneurs adding value to fresh produce, meats, berries and fruit. Given how Gov. Steve Bullock and the last Montana Legislature enacted the Cottage Food law, I’d expect new non-perishable foods like bread, muffins, jams, and spice mixes at this year’s markets.
Both the U.S. and Montana Department of Agricultures recently updated their farmers market directories across the state and nation. In the last decade, thousands of new markets started nationwide.
More people want to know their farmer and where on our large planet the food we feed our family was grown. Even though Congress recently removed much food transparency when repealing meat-labeling laws, people want to know. Asking your farmer helps answer many questions.
After decades working local markets, its great to see the value locals are putting onto fresh food. From the backyard gardens around town to more farmers and markets sprouting up valley wide, expect more local hands in the soil growing food.
As humans, food matters. Our area has over a dozen farmers markets. Most are quite festive environments where a family can gain access to fresh foods, plants, community, and ready-made eats at some great food trucks.
We are fortunate to live in the Flathead; a community where people are friendly, public water is abundant and mostly clean, and open access to public lands somehow keeps pace with growth.
The farming season is here, I hope you get out there and enjoy the best the Flathead has to offer.