Mountain Matters: Hoodland Farmer’s Market

By Amber Ford

Seven years after it first kicked off in the Rendezvous Plaza, the Hoodland Farmer’s Market has grown, evolved and is now a staple within the Mt. Hood Villages. Beginning in 2017 under former Hoodland Farmer’s Market founder Lauren Weller, the Hoodland Farmer’s Market incorporates vendors of all genres of products for both locals and out-of-town guests.
Averaging 10-12 vendors per market, the Hoodland Farmer’s Market offers a variety of fresh produce, flowers and handcrafted goods. “The market provides a great diversity of local, natural products for the community to purchase,” Hoodland Farmer’s Market Director Kate Brauner said. “From fresh vegetables, fruit, and flowers to handmade goods, to bone broth, herbal teas, eggs, mushrooms, fresh sourdough bread, hot grilled cheese sandwiches, kid’s activities, live music, we have it all,” Brauner added.
Kicking off their season in May and running through October, the Hoodland Farmer’s Market has seen increased sales, foot traffic and vendors since their original kickoff in the Rendezvous Plaza in 2018. “The new location at The Church On The Mountain has been an impactful improvement,” Brauner said. “The church is extremely supportive of the Hoodland Farmer’s Market. The market is extremely grateful for the generosity of the church,” Brauner added.
While the Hoodland Farmer’s Market has vendors who set up weekly throughout the duration of market season, Brauner says they are constantly looking for new vendors to join their mountain crew. “We are always accepting vendors,” Brauner said. “We prioritize farm fresh goods, prepared food, and fresh hot food for our core vendors. We are accepting crafts vendors for pop-in,” Brauner added.
Recognizing the positive impact the Hoodland Farmer’s Market has on the community, this once-a-week event encourages community members to take advantage of fresh products which can also be purchased with Oregon SNAP benefits. “The farmers market accepts SNAP and we participate in the Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) program,” Brauner said. “This allows SNAP customers to double up to $20 of their SNAP money turning $20 into $40 usable dollars at the market,” Brauner added.
Although there are other farmer’s markets within driving distance from Mt. Hood Villages, the Hoodland Farmer’s Market’s charm attracts not just locals, but visitors as well. Adhering to a family-oriented vibe with both customers and vendors, the Hoodland Farmer’s Market’s success revolves around those who support and are dedicated to making it an enduring part of the community. “We are such a tight knit family of vendors,” Brauner said. “We all support one another and celebrate each other’s successes. We also support the reality that most of us have families, and we host an annual Youth Market for our local kids. This allows them to explore being an entrepreneur and creative genius,” Brauner added.
Brauner would also like to extend her gratitude and thanks for the overall success of the market to her team. There’s Christen Prudence, Hoodland Farmer’s Market manager for the implementation of infrastructure changes which have benefited the market’s growth, and she thanks Hoodland Farmer’s Market board members Megan Hoopes, John Fischer and Tenaya Waits for their endless help building market events and policies. The Hoodland Farmer’s ends in October but encourages community members to stay tuned as they begin to plan their annual Night Market this winter.