Damp end for Montavilla Market’s season

It poured like crazy during the last Montavilla Farmers Market day. But, they’ll be back, dried off, for a Thanksgiving Market on November 22. Take a look …

Doing their best to avoid the pelting rainstorm, shoppers rush from stall to stall on the last regular day of the season for the Montavilla Farmers Market.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Ending an unusually long string of dry Sundays this year, it was raining cats-and-dogs on October 25 when the Montavilla Farmers Market held their last regular market day of the season.

“We had a great season in every way,” damply said Market Manager Amanda Cross.

“Our customer counts are up over previous years,” Cross told East Portland News. “More and more people are coming from further and further, to visit our market every Sunday. While we enjoy seeing our ‘regulars’; but it’s good to know that people are willing to travel more than a couple of miles to shop here every week.”

Montavilla Farmers Market vendor Justin Simms of In Town Ag spends a moment with Market Manager Amanda Cross.

One of this year’s vendors, Justin Simms of In Town Ag – a man who farms on spare lots, under-utilized garden plots, and parking medians to produce food via garden share – ended the season a prize winner.

“I won an award: Second place in the International Urban Farming contest,” Simms said. “The competition is sponsored by International Network for Urban Agriculture, and I won in the ‘food availability’ category for providing food to the community.”

The farmers from Simplicity Gardens put out a wide variety of vegetables, even at the end of the season.

Some of the market highlights included starting a “Kids Club” this year with many new children’s’ activities. During regular season, there was a full roster of 60 vendors; with an average of 38 to 40 vendors each Sunday, providing shoppers a good selection.

“Almost all of our vendors have said that they want to come back next year,” Cross noted. “We see that as a good sign.”

Thanksgiving Market on November 22
Cross asked us to point out that they are again holding a four-hour Thanksgiving Market on November 22 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

“And then, we’re bringing back three-hour ‘Winter Stock-up Markets’, from 11:00 a.m. Until 1:00 p.m. on three Sundays: December 20, January 10, and Valentine’s Day – February 14.”

Making music in the rain are Flauren Ricketts and Jason Reichert.

The Montavilla Farmers Market is located in the 7600 Block of SE Stark Street, just west of the Academy Theater, and across the street from Mr. Plywood. For more information, see their website: CLICK HERE.

© 2015 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

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