Tucked away in the Storehouse building along Medical Lake’s main drag is an incredible display of artistry and craftsmanship at the Medical Lake Farmers Market.
Each first and third Saturday of the month, the market springs to life between the historic buildings of Medical Lake and offers attendees fresh produce, locally raised animal products, and sweet and savory creations of all kinds.
Typically, the market only operates between the beginning of June and October, but this year, Market Manager Erin Bishop said the market is experimenting with an indoor concept. After noticing many of the regular outdoor vendors offer products all year long, Bishop said she approached the idea with Geri Johnson, president of nonprofit ReImagine Medical Lake, which oversees the farmers market.
“Farmers markets are a great example of something that is in the heart of our community, within walking distance for a lot of people where they can come and receive food,” Bishop said. “We want to try and make sure that people have an opportunity to purchase food that is…fresh and nutritious.”
The goal for Bishop was to continue providing access to quality local goods that are affordable and also accessible to rural community members that lack access to grocery stores. Multiple vendors at the market also accept assistance programs like WIC and EBT to allow as many people as possible to shop.
“We’re trying to be very intentional…we know that money is very tight for a lot of people and we’re trying to give people ideas and inspiration to help them get excited about eating great food while also supporting our local growers and ranchers,” Bishop said.
Currently, local businesses Cozy Home, which sells all natural cleaning and laundry products, and Johnson Homestead, a local ranch that raises and processes meat products, are on display at the market. Products like jams and biscuits from Bishop’s licensed cottage bakery, The Cannery, can also be found in the space near Farm Salvation.
During the summertime season, shoppers can purchase hydroponic and traditionally grown seasonal fruits and vegetables, farm fresh eggs, and fresh lavender from a nearby flower farm. For this upcoming season, the market expects to expand its offerings with collaborative products between multiple vendors in the hopes that it will inspire shoppers to pair their ingredients together for nutritious meals.
“People are busy and tired, and the last thing they want to do is think about meal planning,” Bishop said when discussing the possibility of the market offering meal kits using market ingredients. “It’s easier to go through the drive-through or have the same thing over and over at home, but we feel that by giving them these ideas, it will inspire them to think about the fresh local ingredients available at their local farmers market.”
Bishop said the market also represents a community interested in investing and sustaining its local producers, farmers and ranchers. Every vendor that chooses to showcase their goods at the Medical Lake Farmers Market is a small business owner crafting and tending to products made with love. Having businesses where things are produced locally provides food security to the West Plains.
“Supporting small businesses is key because truly, it is the backbone of…not just our local economy, but our national economy,” Bishop said. “When we support local farmers, ranchers, and producers, we not only become investors in their businesses, but it helps them keep going and helps them, ideally, keep their costs down if they get good, continuous support.”
Community members who want to participate in the upcoming market season can look forward to extended market hours for Founder’s Day in June and a National Farmers Market Week celebration in August. Playing off the idea of vendors collaborating, the market plans to host a long table dinner in Downtown Medical Lake using ingredients from vendors. The cost of the tickets would go back into the market’s budget to support future activities.
“Customers would enjoy something from most if not all of our food vendors just to showcase the wonderful vendors…and to give people an idea of how much potential there is to be using this local food,” Bishop said. But at its core, the Medical Lake Farmers Market is what every small town is about— community and the act of sharing a meal or a memory with your neighbors.
“We have a clientele ranging from young families and people who are just starting out as parents, bringing their little kids, which has been fun to see them growing up over the last few years that we’ve been open,” Bishop said. “We have senior citizens and people with physical limitations that make a point to come to our market all the time, and they really depend on it.”
Anyone interested in signing up to be a vendor at the Medical Lake Farmers Market or if they want to learn more information about upcoming events, they should look for the market’s social media pages. However, there are some limitations to what can be displayed at the market. “I would emphasize that we’re a maker’s market, so we focus on people that raise and grow and create things; we don’t have any necessarily raw material type things,” Bishop said. “We…highlight the folks that are bringing something that they’ve created.”
