Market Operations — FAQ
Written Interview to The East Oregonian — Feb. 2006
Eat Local — Shop Local Resolution

Who are We?

Pendleton Farmers Market is a volunteer-run, state and federally-recognized 501(c)(6) non-profit organization.  Our mission is to provide an open-air farmers market and community gathering place that will bring affordable, fresh-picked and hand-produced goods to customers while offering a profitable business opportunity for regional producers.  We encourage vendors from our bio-region, or “foodshed” — the Blue Mountains and Columbia Plateau.  We aim to enhance the vitality of our town and countryside!

And how did this start?  PFM was started in 2002, by a group of citizens who wanted to expand our region’s sustainability by promoting local production for local people. We are blessed by the acceptance and creativity of all who make it possible for this Market to provide this opportunity, and to those who increase local food security and self-reliance.

What can you find at the Market ?

Just about everything you could wish for — at its freshest, most delicious and unique!  Our market motto is "Make it, Bake it, or Grow it" — and sell it at on Main Street! For nearly six full months  (20-24 weeks) of the year you will find high quality seasonal fruits and vegetables, herbs, eggs, meats and baked goods. 

You will also find unique hand-crafted jewelry, kitchen and home furnishings, clothing,  leather, wood, and ceramic wares.  These are crafted by talented artisans from the area bringing their entrepreneurial skills and vitality to downtown and to the regional economy. 

A. The Market was started in 2002 by a dedicated group of Pendleton volunteers who wanted to expand access to fresh, local food. The Pendleton Farmers Market is a nonprofit corporation recognized by the State of Oregon with a mission of enhancing the regional economy, and community "livability" by providing accessible "direct marketing" opportunities to customers and vendors. The Market is a membership organization with an elected Board of Directors. The Market is made up entirely of volunteers except for the Market Manager position which is a paid position.

A. The Farmers Market operates from 4:00 p.m.– 8:00 p.m., or dusk (whichever comes first), Friday evenings through the summer. Dates change annually but will likely be from mid-May through mid-October, depending on weather, crop availability and logistics.

A. Although the Farmers Market starts at 4:00 p.m., volunteers begin closing off the 400 block of Main street between 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in order for farmers to set up and to give customers time to leave the 400 block safely. It takes a minimum of 1 hour for many farmers to set their booths up (although some set up much more quickly and others take longer.) Most markets allow one and one half to two hours for setup, and many farmers seemed surprised that we "only" allow 1 hour. Maximization of market hours is optimal in order to provide value to the farmers, who travel between ½ hour and 2 ½ hours to reach Pendleton.  

Most of the farmers already go to larger, more established Saturday morning markets (Walla Walla, Portland or Pasco) and need to get back home in the evening in time to pick produce and reload their trucks for those markets. They are generally unable to stay later than 8:00 p.m. at our Market.

The Market would not be allowing enough "sales time" if we only operated for less than 3 hours. Remember that round-trip travel takes 1-5 hours for these farmers, and that this does not include setup. Typically, farmers markets operate for four hours (8:00 am to noon is common on a Saturday morning market, for example). Moving the starting time later in the evening would mean losing farmers and shrinking the Market.

A. Friday night is a good fit for "our" farmers. We could not switch to Saturday morning, for example, and expect to have any farmers attend — they are all at either Pasco or Walla Walla farmers markets.

We have considered a Sunday market and may try that out this year on an experimental basis. We are not sure if Pendleton shoppers would support this time or not. Otherwise we would need to go to a weeknight market, and we do not have the volunteers available to staff the market during the week. Many more established farmers markets have two markets a week, often one on a weekend and one during the week, and maybe someday this would be an option for us as well.

A. The Market has evaluated other sites and considered that Main Street provides the best location for the Market at this time. Reasons for this include:

• Access to public restrooms at the Chamber of Commerce
• 400 block buildings provide the best shade of any Main Street block
• Ready access to public parking at the south end of Main Street
• Access to power for scales and other equipment
• Support of the majority of 400 block merchants

Other sites considered include:

• Brownfield Park (too small)
• Vacant city lot located across from Salvation Army (potentially large enough but is farther removed from public restrooms
• City Parking Lot across from Chamber of Commerce (this site is large enough but would be unacceptably hot in the summer as there is no shade; remember that we operate in the hottest part of the day during July and August)
• Roy Raley Park (lack of public parking makes this site difficult)

A.  There is a saying in retail that the best place to locate a restaurant is across from another restaurant. The Farmers Market Board believes that the best way to get people to shop downtown is to offer attractions downtown, and that the competition between a market that is open approximately 20 nights a year and a retail store that is open 200+ days a year is a non-issue.

1. How long has the Farmers Market been in existence?
The Pendleton Farmers Market (PFM) began in May, 2002

3. Where is the furthest you've had a vendor travel this year? How do you attract vendors?
Our professed "service area" is the Blue Mountain bio-region, or "counties of the Blue Mountains" (Baker, Grant, Umatilla, Morrow, Walla Walla, Ashotin and Dayton). In reality, vendors come from as far away as Sequim, Moses Lake, Prosser, Portland, Tri Cities and beyond. Based on this participation rate, our "food shed" appears to be approximately 150 miles in circumference around Pendleton. Our priority is to create a positive rural regional economic impact, providing a space for producers and artisans in the eastern regions of OR and WA. In order to best serve customers, however, if there is a quality product available from elsewhere, and not being offered by regional vendors, we are happy to have the diversity and larger NW represented.

4. How much does it cost for a vendor space?
The fees have held steady for 3 years at $10 per weekly stall space, $20 for the market membership, and $100 for a season reserved space. We anticipate these to change in this upcoming season.
[Editor Note: The 2007 weekly stall fee will be $12; market membership will be $25; and, a season reserved space fee remains at $100.]

5. What do the proceeds pay for?
To date, the fees cover a portion of the basic market expenses. These include insurance, market events, licenses or organizational costs incurred in getting incorporated, tax status, media and other marketing expenses, storage, supplies and equipment, and so forth. With increased participation comes increased management requirements, and so fund-raising and future increases in income will pay for more personnel support to run the market smoothly We depend on many volunteers! We plan to accept food stamps (purchase the electronic transfer equipment), conduct more public education and outreach promoting the "buy local" concepts, and so forth.

6. Are you charged to use the street?
Not at this time.

7. I know you work in conjunction with the Chamber, can you briefly describe that relationship?
The Chamber was very supportive in the beginning, attending meetings, helping us make the appropriate contacts, and so forth. A Chamber staff member was on our Board and made significant contributions of time and expertise in the first several years. We wouldn't have been nearly so successful without their help. We are now members of the Chamber, and beyond that it, is a relationship of mutual respect and appreciation.

8. How many months is the Market open?
This year we were open half a year, 6 months, 26 whole weeks! I think that is about the maximum we could expect out of the current production methods and growing season. Artisans are generally available year-round, but the agricultural producers would have to go to great lengths to extend their market season. But, with increased demand, higher profits, and season-extending technologies, anything might be possible.

9. Do you have any plans to change?
Of course — change is what we must always plan for, it seems. Those changes are mainly in the financial, logistical and technical aspects of market management, however. Our mission is to provide a venue for local/regional artists and producers to sell high quality products, give customers a great shopping experience and add to the life and vitality of downtown Pendleton — those things won't be changing anytime soon. We'd love to stay in or near our current location for as long as they'll have us and that it makes sense for the Pendleton Farmers Market. The ambience of Main Street, as the "heart" of this community and historic business district is a perfect complement for this community driven, open-air adventure!

10. What is the biggest obstacle for the Market?
As with any business, balancing supply and demand is always a challenge especially, (as I now know) when you're working with uncontrollable variables such as the weather, price of gasoline, and so forth. Tied to this, and of great significance in the long-run, is getting customers and decision-makers to understand the enormous value in producing and buying local goods. Educating folks to understand that every dime that is spent helping ourselves in the region to become more self-sufficient in the basics of life — like food — helps us create a higher quality of life that is not dependent on outside forces over which we have such little control. We can't do this alone, but the presence of farmers, manufacturers and artists on the street helps us be more aware of the resources and opportunities right here, waiting to be explored.

Eat Local – Shop Local Resolution

in Pendleton; and encourage residents and businesses to consider during the coming year how goods and foods move from factory and field to family and fork; and to take the *Eat Local-Shop Local Challenge* by supporting businesses that sell and serve locally-grown and produced goods and services at every opportunity.

Signed. Mayor Phil Houk *~SEAL~*