13 Dec – 2017 Hood River Farmers Market Season, A Success
The 2017 Hood River Farmers Market season was the most successful year to date! This year, the market supported over 60 local farmers and small business owners, hosted an average of 850 weekly shoppers and brought over $350,000 to our local economy.
Farmers markets are essential to our community and local economy. Farmers markets serve as a business incubator for new and small businesses. This translates directly to more local jobs and a healthier economy.
The Hood River Farmers Market also attracts both local residents and visitors to our vibrant downtown. From surveys conducted, we know that 45% of farmers market customers planned to spend over $50 at downtown stores or restaurants.
Moreover, the market bolsters our food security by growing the number of diversified farms operating in our community. 98% of the food we consume in the Gorge is shipped in from other areas- increasing the amount of food produced here means we’ll be better prepared when highways are closed and grocery store shelves go bare.
Thank you to our dedicated customers that shopped at the market this year. You helped us grow the market by 13% from 2016!
Farmers market fans can still shop locally in the coming winter months. The Hood River Farmers Market will move indoors the first and third Saturday of the month, January – April, from 1pm – 4pm at Springhouse Cellars.