Let’s conduct a little experiment: first, step outside and close your eyes. Now, try to imagine life 5,000 years ago. It might be a bit of a stretch as most of our modern conveniences have yet to be invented; absent would be the constant rush of traffic, blaring electronic music, airplanes rumbling overhead. Yet, if you lived in ancient Egypt, you would be able to recognize some of the sounds. It would start with the clamor of human voices. Perhaps, a heated exchange or discussion between people, voices tinged with excitable inflections. There might be the distant twang of stringed instruments, of clanging chimes or thudding drumbeats. At a further distance, one might detect the occasional grunt or groan of some domesticated animal. With eyes still closed, another sense could be subtly awakened by inhaling the sweet scent of fresh fruits; ripened melons and dried figs, a warm waft of pungent spices and fragrant blossoms. And after opening your eyes, a rather familiar sight would be revealed; that of a vibrant and bustling farmer’s market.
Though Egypt is credited for having some of the earliest known open-air markets, farmer’s markets have been greatly adopted into modern American culture as well. And though local farmer’s markets might have initially supplied food for the masses, by the 1970’s they had lost their charm, becoming passe and nearly extinct due to the advent of accessible grocery and convenient stores. Thankfully, enough local consumers became disenchanted with the commercial aspect of shopping and desired the idea of reconnecting to what nourishes us in a more intimate and healthy way. The result was a reappearance of the quaint village marketplace, a scene filled with numerous vendors selling their wares and produce, of customers wandering curiously with baskets in hand, sampling freshly picked, locally-sourced food. A thriving nexus of community, commerce, and connection.
Here in the Treasure Valley, we are fortunate to have a strong and vital presence with our local farmer’s markets. Come spring and summer, Saturday mornings are generally busy affairs for local farmers, artisans, craftsmen, and merchants selling fresh food and produce, as well as crafts and apparel. Many residents of Boise, Eagle, and Meridian mark the start of their weekend with a visit to the hub of the city; a place filled with colorful canopies, flags, and tables filled with all types of delectable items. Yet, our local farmer’s markets have also felt the brunt of the recent Covid crisis. And the need to support our local farmers and vendors is stronger than ever.
Says Tamara Cameron, Market Manager of Boise Farmers Market, “We are still the source of Boise’s local and food-centric farmer’s market.”
Cameron continues, “We were established in 2013 by a group of local farmers. And in our bylaws, anyone who sells food at Boise’s local farmers market has to have local food in it. We are 51% farmers – always. At least more than half of our vendors are farmers. We are kind of a traditional farmer’s market.”
Though Boise Farmers Market is maintaining its traditional market concept, it has changed its traditional structure to fit with the ongoing public health and safety concerns.
Says Cameron, “In a normal summer we would have about 85 vendors participating, all summer long. Right now we’re at about 42 – and that is with the drive-thru market.”
The drive-thru market has become an alternative option for purchasing locally grown food and produce. Created to adapt to changing consumer conditions, customers can now shop at their leisure online, and then pick up freshly-picked, locally-sourced food at their prescheduled appointment time.
Says Cameron, “The first thing you do is reserve a time on our website. And then you shop online Tuesday and Wednesday for Saturday pickup, and then you show up for the fifteen-minute window that you reserved. We put your groceries directly in your car. It is pretty much a contactless opportunity to get food.”
For those concerned about health and safety precautions, Cameron is very reassuring,
Says Cameron, “All of our volunteers are masked. We have handwashing stations. Everyone is required to wash hands and wear gloves when people arrive. All vendors are masked when they are onsite. We are following social distancing protocols and are constantly re-sanitizing tables all day. We want our customers safe but we also really want our farmers to stay safe.”
And stressing the importance of keeping farmers healthy and the markets opened is paramount to the overall community.
Says Cameron “We are the place to get local food. In a normal situation, we would be the only place where you could talk to the farmer about their food. Grocery stores keep food isolated from its producer. Right now, it is super important for those people who want to eat local food can still get it through us. In a way that is safe and convenient.”
Program Coordinator, Denise Dixon of the Idaho Farmer’s Market Association (IFMA,) echoes this sentiment.
“We (the IFMA) do a state-wide webinar every year. When Covid broke, we put together a webinar on best practices, and recommendations for all farmer’s markets throughout the state.”
And with health and safety concerns addressed and put at ease, consumers can continue the very-much needed support for local farmers. After all, it is the community at large that these farmers serve so that they in turn can provide the freshest and most nutritious food source for local families.
Says Dixon, “The IFMA is an association that oversees all farmer’s markets in the state of Idaho. There are currently 47 markets in the state, we have funding and have opportunities to help families with things like double-up food bucks. We have a four-year grant through Health & Welfare for EBT which has been a huge blessing for all of our markets because they do not have the funding to print tokens or to have to apply for being a food-stamp friendly market. We have about 20 of these markets out of the 47 that honor this program.”
While consumers can choose where they purchase their food, farmer’s markets offer an opportunity to not only support local farmers and vendors, but to provide the freshest available options. Fruits and vegetables that are often picked straight from the earth, mere hours before they are consumed. It is a way to ensure that special connection between sustenance and nature, to provide for those who intimately nurtured this food source by selecting locally-grown food for your own family’s table. Farmer’s markets help sustain our local economy but also feed our souls.
For more information on the IFMA and Boise Farmers Market, go to theboisefarmersmarket.com/.