Cliffside Orchard is one of the many vendors that participate in the Kootenai County Farmers Market.
The farmers market has been going on since 1986. Starting with only 25 vendors selling out of the back of their trucks, it has now progressed to 100 vendors in Hayden with their own stands every week during the months of May through October.
You can find a variety of vendors at the farmers market, all divided into three categories: producers and growers, artisans and crafters and food vendors.
For many, the farmers market is a place to spend their Saturday morning getting fresh produce, flowers, baked goods and even handmade art, along with so much more.
A majority of vendors make a living off of markets, and it provides a great benefit to them.
“The market is a vital part of our business since it directly connects us to our customer base,” Tatum Spalding from Cliffside Orchards said.
At the farmers market, the customers get to see where their food is coming from, and the vendors can see where their product is going.
“The market is a very important link between Farmers and Consumers . . . it helps build a community,” Spalding said.
Callum Coffey, a student at Lakeland High School, loves going to the farmers market with his family. They used to go often due to them being vendors, but now he goes about once a year.
“My favorite thing at the farmers market is the flowers,” Coffey said.
There are many vendors at the market involved with flowers and other types of plants.
The market also changes its products with the season, cycling from spring to summer and then to fall.
The market also goes on no matter the weather. Rain or shine, you can expect it to be open in Hayden on the corner of Highway 95 and Prairie Ave from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Every detail about the Kootenai County Farmers Market proves it to be a perfect outing for any weekend. The farmers market also counts as a non-profit organization with the sole purpose of fostering local family-operated agriculture, forestry and arts and crafts, which is another great reason to go and support the community of the farmers market.
With the end of September nearing, so is the end of the farmers market for the 2023 year. The market will come to a close on Oct. 21.
Try some food, get your produce for the week, replace the flowers in your kitchen, or get some wood art to hang in your office. Before this season comes to an end, be sure to stop by and see what’s going on at our very own Kootenai County Farmers Market.
