Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home Farmer’s Market is getting set to kick off its summer season, but it doesn’t have funding to pay musicians this year.
Last year, the Sweet Home Active Revitalization Effort provided funding, said Jan Nielson, who organizes the market. The Farmer’s Market paid performers $50 per week, $800 per year.
This year, the Farmer’s Market is looking for help, Nielson said.
“If people want to donate money for music, we can do it that way.”
Musicians also can volunteer to play, she said. Typically, performers play for two hours.
Music is a common feature of farmer’s markets, Nielson said.
“It keeps things going, and it keeps the vendors happy,” Nielson said. “And it brings in customers.”
When that happens, Thriftway, which hosts the market, gets more customers too, she noted.
The Farmer’s Market hosts a fund-raising dinner each year, but those funds are already tapped for another purpose.
The market also spends money to take advantage of a feature of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) Program, which allows customers with Oregon Trail cards to spend $24 more on food at the Farmer’s Market. That costs the market $6 per transaction.
The Sweet Home Farmer’s Market will open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 6 in the Thriftway parking lot, 621 Main St. and will run through October.
In addition to music, the Farmer’s Market could also use volunteers to help set up, Nielson said.
The market has been in Sweet Home for nine years, she said. Each week, it features 10 to 12 vendors selling locally produced goods and produce.
“We’re always looking for more vendors,” Nielson said. Specifically, the market could use a baker and a cheese vendor this year. “We’re going to have eggs, beef, soap, produce.”
For more information, visit sweethomefarmersmarket.org, visit the organization’s Facebook page or contact Nielson at (541) 401-2678.