This week Melissa Streng of Sun Love Farm is sharing her reasons WHY folks should donate to our market.
“My name is Melissa, and I am the owner of Sun Love Farm, an Oregon City Farmer’s Market vendor. If you have ever purchased Sun Love Farm veggies before, you have likely met me! I am also an Oregon City community member, a parent of two kiddos, ages 7 and 4, and a volunteer board member of the Oregon City Farmer’s Market.”
Why is the Oregon City Farmer’s Market important to me as a farmer?
“Farming is a challenging profession to be in. There are so many variables (weather!!) that are out of my control as a farmer and will affect whether I have an abundant crop or none at all.
Even if I grow an incredible crop, if I can’t sell it, it’s a total loss. The Oregon City Farmer’s Market community helps to make sure that I can sell my crops. Customers show up and purchase our produce, rain or shine. In fact, we make about ⅓ of our income through the Oregon City Farmer’s Market.”
“The support of the OC Farmer’s Market Community has given us a relatively predictable income that has allowed the farm to not only keep going but to thrive. I can’t underrate how huge this is for our farm! In 2023, high sales at the OC market meant that we were able to give our farm crew a 10% bonus.”
“At the market, farmers make connections with other farmers and other community members, creating opportunities for collaborations that have enriched our community (like farm to table dinners, mushroom, eggs and sourdough bread add-ons to our CSA offerings).”
Why is the Oregon City Farmer’s Market important to me as a community member and parent?
“Whether or not I am selling at my booth at the Farmer’s Market, I regularly visit the market as a customer with my kiddos, age 4 and 7. We love the market for the POP club activities, the music, getting a tasty hot lunch, and for running into friends and acquaintances. We love getting delicious food that we aren’t already growing on our farm- hazelnuts, honey, fruit, bread, meat, and treats- and seeing the faces of the people that actually helped to produce that food.”
Why should you donate to the market?
“In order to continue cultivating a thriving market that supports farmers like me in making a living farming, we need extra resources. The truth is the only way that the Oregon City Farmers Market can meet its financial needs each year is through donations. Vendor booth revenue pays for the basic operating costs of market, but it doesn’t leave enough for the POP club program or for bringing in additional staff to help run the market during busy summer season”
“The market certainly does not just run itself! As a board member, I have seen all the work and thought that has gone into making the OC Farmer’s Market a success week after week. Our incredible market manager, Jess Land, works full time to make sure that we have a full roster of vendors, music scheduled, POP activities planned, grants written to ensure we have ample funding for SNAP produce matches, and communicating regularly with Clackamas Community College (our market home!) so that all the ins and outs of setting up the market go smoothly. She has a team of support staff and volunteers who help set up the market, run the POP club activities, and work in our Information Booth, connecting both with our customers and handling all of our SNAP transactions.
One of the most important assets that we have as a farmer’s market is our market staff and one of our greatest goals is to be able to pay a living wage to each one of these folks.”
This is why the market is important to me – every vendor, volunteer, and customer has their own reasons. The market is vital for our community, and well worth supporting.
Consider making a one-time donation or become a ‘FRIEND of the MARKET’ and make a monthly donation to support Oregon City Farmers Market. Click the link below to get started. All donations are 100% tax deductible.
Support Your Market – Oregon City Farmers Market (orcityfarmersmarket.com)
|