Press Releases

Woodland Farmers Market won't be held this year By Leila Summers / The Daily News Wednesday, May 12, 2010   Woodland Farmers Market will not be opening produce and crafts stands this year.   Despite a successful first season last year, market master Melissa Steckel said a lack of volunteers and the market's inability to partner with a local nonprofit organization killed off this year's event, scheduled to start Friday.   Steckel, however, is hopeful the market will happen next year. "We hate to see it dissipate. It's wonderful for city, the community enjoyed it," she said. "Everything was really good about it."   Last year, the market attracted about 20 vendors from Vancouver to Chehalis, who sold fresh produce, jewelry, artwork, pastries, flowers and crafts. The weekly market ran Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. at Hoffman Plaza, across from City Hall, and segued into Woodland's Hot Summer Night concerts, which started at 7 p.m. on Fridays.   This year, organizers planned to move the market to an alley between the back of Woodland Moose Lodge and scenic Horseshoe Lake. Downtown business owners complained last year that the market blocked off Davidson Avenue from their customers.   Steckel said the market's governing body fell apart in March, mostly due to people's personal time constraints and, Steckel couldn't find a local nonprofit agency to help her sponsor the event. The market needed a nonprofit to handle the market's money and help provide event insurance.   "I tried and tried to keep it going. It was really disappointing," she said.   Woodland Mayor Chuck Blum said the farmers market was a great thing for downtown. He recently attempted to help Steckel partner the market with the Woodland Chamber of Commerce, but the chamber declined due to the short notice, Blum said. "It brought people to the downtown area, exposed it to people," he said.     New Woodland farmers market debuts Friday Thursday, June 25, 2009 7:56 PM PDT By Leila Summers, The Daily News   WOODLAND — A new farmers market is kicking off Friday afternoon in downtown Woodland. More than 20 vendors from an area ranging from Vancouver to Chehalis will set up booths to sell fresh produce, jewelry, artwork, pastries, flowers and crafts.   The market runs weekly on Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. at Hoffman Plaza, located near Woodland City Hall on Davidson Avenue. Parts of Davidson Avenue and Goerig Street will be closed during the market, said market master Melissa Steckel.   Organizers decided to hold their market on Fridays “so it wouldn’t compete with other markets” on weekends, Steckel said. Also, the farmers market will segue into Woodland’s Hot Summer Night concerts, which take place at 7 p.m. Friday’s starting July 10.   “That will be a draw for more people to come down,” Steckel said. This Friday’s opening will feature free paper market bags to the first 200 customers, live music, face-painting for children and other children activities sponsored by Woodland Public Library.   For adults, representatives from the Urban Farm School and Washington State University Master Gardeners will be available for advice, Steckel said. “We’re trying to make it fun and festive,” Steckel said.   The idea to start a farmers market in Woodland originated last September as a downtown revitalization project, said Port of Woodland Director Erica Rainford, also a volunteer organizer for the market.   Rainford said the committee wanted an event to draw people downtown and represent Woodland, which has a farming community in the Woodland Bottoms, she said. “I’ve never understood why we don’t (have a farmers market) because our farmers go out of town to sell at other markets,” she said.   Tuesday, June 30, 2009 10:18 AM Free composting workshops show how to turn yard waste into healthy soil!   The Master Composter/Recycler Program invites Clark County residents to get inspired to turn organic yard and kitchen waste into a rich soil amendment for their gardens.   Two free composting workshops will be held in July.   Also, Here is a resource for South County on canning and farming. I met them at the grand opening of the Woodland Farmers Market. Gayle Reid Cowlitz County Health Department     June 2 2, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   CONTACT: Melissa Steckel, Market Master Woodland Farmers Market (360) 904-0115 info@woodlandfarmersmarket.org www.woodlandfarmersmarket.org   Woodland Farmers Market Begins This Friday!   Woodland, WA – The Woodland Farmers Market, robust with fresh, farm-grown produce and products, will make its debut this Friday June 26 at Hoffman Plaza in downtown Woodland.   Modeled after open-air markets across the state and country, the Woodland Farmers Market will be open June 26-Oct. 2 on Fridays from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. The market will feature a diverse selection of local foods and products in an inviting, friendly atmosphere, with live music, kids activities put on by our own local library, face painting, featuring WSU Master Gardeners and more.   “Our intent is to enhance community life in Woodland by bringing residents, local growers and producers together in a market setting that is friendly, fun and full of quality local foods,” said market master Melissa Steckel. “We hope community members throughout the region will take a break from the bustle of their busy weeks to come check us out on Fridays this coming summer and fall.”   Vendors for the 2009 season include a range of local farmers, jewelry, pastries, flowers and much more.“We are excited to participate in the Woodland Farmers Market debut season,” said George Thoeny of Thoeny Farms. “We hope community members will take this opportunity to support local families and farms by buying local food.”   The Woodland Farmers Market Committee participated in the Planters Day Parade where they won the Mayors Award for their float. “We thought it would be a great way to introduce the community to the market since Planters Day is so well attended.” said committee member Erica Rainford.   Community members are encouraged to visit www.woodlandfarmersmarket.org to find more information and the latest updates.   Farmers Market Volunteer Opportunities: The farmer’s market is currently seeking volunteers and volunteer groups for the 2009 season. Contact market master Melissa Steckel at (360) 904-0115 or info@woodlandfarmersmarket.org for more information.     - END -
The Lewis River Review April 2009 issue Copyright © 2009 Reprinted with permission The Time is Ripe for a Friday Market By Cheryl K. Spaulding Think carrots, onions and apples and you have the typical items usually found for sale at most farmers markets. Woodland’s Friday Market will have those and more. But artists, crafters and musicians are also on the list of merchants the founding committee hopes to attract.	It's a picture of summer to come, now that we have endured our big winter. Woodland's new 'Friday Market' will open on June 26, 2009 on Friday afternoon's only from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Mmmm! I can just taste a yummy, healthy veggie stir-fry coming up!
Scheduled to open June 26, 2009, all that remains is to tie up a few loose ends with the city and Woodland’s Friday Market is ready to launch. And to make things more interesting, the committee has put a rather unique spin on the farmer’s market concept. Woodland’s Friday Market will be an afternoon market instead of an all day market. It is scheduled to open from 3 pm to 7 pm each Friday through October. The market will be located at Hoffman Plaza, at the corners of Goerig and Davidson, across the street from the Woodland Police and Fire Departments. As originally proposed, vendor booths will continue along the lake edge and spill into the public parking lot located behind Swanson Plaza and the Woodland Moose Hall. The committee is placing a high emphasis on good quality and locally produced items for the Friday Market. And local growers will provide just that. Woodland is known for sweet succulent carrots, lovely red ripe strawberries and raspberries and glorious apples, just to name a few. However, growers and other vendors from outside the Woodland area will be considered providing the quality of their wares meets the high standards set down by the committee.   So while locally grown corn is what draws people into a market, sweet luscious tomatoes are what keep them coming back for more. That’s what the Woodland Friday Market intends to have; all that is delicious and much more. The founding committee is using guidelines set in place by the Washington State Farmers Market Association to develop the Woodland Friday Market. They are also looking for volunteers to help during the market season For more information, please call Melisa Steckel, Market Master, at 360 904-0115.
To view photos from the March 18th Community Meeting please click one of the photo thumbnails below
March 2, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   CONTACT: Melissa Steckel, Market Master Woodland Farmers Market (360) 904-0115 info@woodlandfarmersmarket.org www.woodlandfarmersmarket.org   Woodland Farmers Market Community Meeting, Calling All Farmers, Artisans, Community Members   With so many talented farmers and artisans in our local communities, what better place to show off your stuff than 'at the Woodland Fanners Market?   The Woodland Farmers Market Committee, brought to you by the Downtown Revitalization Group, has facilitated the creation of the Woodland Fanners Market and would like to share with you what our plans are and also seek your input.   The first community meeting for the Woodland Farmers Market will be held on March 18th at 6:30 PM at the Woodland Grange Hall. The general purpose of the meeting is to discuss mission, vision and benefits of the market, answer questions about what market plans are, and to brainstorm and get feedback from all of you.   Delicious refreshments will be provided at the meeting by one of our community members. The first day the market will be open to the public is Friday June 26th from 3-7 PM at Hoffman Plaza in downtown Woodland. The market plans to continue every Friday after through October at the same time and place.   A few of the benefits of the Woodland Farmers Market are: . Increase traffic into Woodland's downtown core area . Awareness and support of local fanners artisans/vendors . Availability of local produce and artisan products (compliments "green" and sustainable efforts that citizens and city alike are trying to achieve) . Increase cash flow into downtown Woodland . Quality community event There is a recognized need in our community to provide local conventionally and organically grown fresh fruits and vegetables to the local community and its neighbors.   In other words, make healthy locally produced foods accessible to all. The Woodland Farmers Market Committee is working closely with the Washington State Fanner's Market Association (WSFMA). We wish our efforts to be fruitful for Woodland and are taking all necessary steps to make the Woodland Farmer's Market a success.   The Woodland Fanners Market can't happen without community support and volunteer participation, so we will also have a sign-up sheet for anyone interested in volunteering. We are dedicated to this effort and sincerely look forward to everyone's attendance and participation at the meeting.   For more information regarding the upcoming meeting please visit our website www.woodlandfarmersmarket.org or contact, Market Master Melissa Steckel Phone: (360) 904-0115, info@woodlandfarmersmarket.or   - END -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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