Missoula Farmers Market

I was just going to put up a friendly reminder that the Farmers Market its only a couple months away.  It begin on May 2nd and continues ever Saturday until October 17th.  The Farmers Market has local baked goods, coffee, and locally grown vegetables and fruits.  There are two locations in downtown Missoula, the first at the end of Higgins (By the red XXX), and the other one down below Higgins bridge.  There is also a peoples market which is located by the end of Higgins, which has handmade items from local artists.  I have been going to the Farmers Market for the last 10 years and every year it seems like there are more and more vendors.  The highlight of the trip for me, getting cheese curds from Lifeline Farms.

Their is a new market opening in Arlee this year too.
We will have a listing for all Western Montana farmers' markets in our spring issue as well as on our web site.

and how do I modify my posts (I hate misspellings)??

There is a little button at the top of each post you write that says "modify"

Caitlin Elder wrote:
There are two locations in downtown Missoula, the first at the end of Higgins (By the red XXX), and the other one down below Higgins bridge. 

When I was at MRA, we built the Farmers Market (and the X's, which technically speaking are named "Crossings", a piece of public art created by artist Taag Petersen). I love the Farmers Market and the vitality it imparts to Downtown and the community. That said, it still bothers me to think that hundreds of people get in their cars and drive to this jewel of a market to get fresh local produce.  My goal is to see a new market on the south west part of Missoula. At the proper location, there would be hundreds of households within a fifteen or twenty minute walk.  It would take some time to build the affection and traditions that the Downtown Farmers Market has, but when it started over 30 years ago, it wasn't much to look at, either.  Missoula, its people and its farmers/gardeners could benefit from having another Farmers Market.  Not to cut the pie into smaller pieces, but to make a bigger or more pies. Paul loves pie so I know he agrees with me in principle.

Does anyone know if the little green 'trolley' still run downtown during the Farmers Market? 

Geoff -

When you say south west Missoula - where exactly are you envisioning?

I also failed to mention the Orchard Homes market at Reserve & 3rd.

Caitlin Elder wrote:
Does anyone know if the little green 'trolley' still run downtown during the Farmers Market?   

Yes, the trolley still runs during the Saturday Farmers Market. It is free and runs from the UM housing on the south end of Higgins to the market with stops along the way.

When it was put in service, its route was called "The Emerald Line"

edibleMISSOULA wrote:
Geoff -

When you say south west Missoula - where exactly are you envisioning?

I am thinking of the area South of Brooks, west of Russell.  Maybe near KMART or some other place that had lots of existing parking for vendors and such.

This is a great idea, I am sure there is a market for a southwest Missoula market considering the residential expansion that is taking place in that area. (My opinion of that expansion later...) Many residents would probably still drive in from the South Hills, but at least it would be a shorter distance, and Mountain Line might be able to set up another free shuttle to cut down on the number of cars driven. Is this an option you've heard other people express interest in?

Destini wrote:
Is this an option you've heard other people express interest in?

I can't remember how this idea first occurred to me.  Most people I share it with think it's an idea that makes sense, though.  We already have a set of by-laws and structure we can use from the Missoula Farmers Market and the Riverfront Market.  The Health Department already has a set of regulations in place for food safety.  Once the spot is figured out, not much has to be invented--just a committed board and a person to serve as Market Master. A person won't get rich being Market Master, but for a retired person or someone who was willing to take on seasonal part-time work it could be a great job!

Wow. Sounds like you are on your way. Any plans to begin this Summer? This answers some of the questions I had about the winter market. Very smart idea to ask the people who organized the markets that are already in place. haha! That should have been the first thought for my friends and I. Good luck with your plans. I would be very excited to see your idea come to fruition. It would be just another reason to love Missoula I think. 

Wait!  Was it yesterday?  Did I miss the first market?

Yes you did. 

Geoff and I went to the market a coupla weeks back and took a bit of video:

1400 views in just a few days - not bad ...

Hey, Paul. How did you do that? I have some pictures of the market and other Missoula events. How would I post them on here?

I was looking at the stats for the video and noticed that there was a bunch of traffic from a blog.  So I went and looked and somebody said

THIS is what a Saturday market might look like in every town if we had the foresight of Missoula, MT, residents.

HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/PAULWHEATON12#P/U/0/BM_NW-V-PVA

My GOD, I'm jealous...

The blog is here:  http://kunstler.com/blog/2010/09/in-the-headlights.html#more

Destini Vaile wrote:
Hey, Paul. How did you do that? I have some pictures of the market and other Missoula events. How would I post them on here?

To play youtube vids, I sorta hacked the software a bit - but there are instructions on how you can do it in the tinkering forum.

To upload pictures, click on "additional options"

Whoa, talk about a community ego boost! Of course, we all knew Missoula deserved such praise.

The clark fork market opens on April 30.

The farmers market opens the first saturday in May.

Went these past couple of weeks, and have really been enjoying it. There have been a couple of musicians that have made it all the better too!

I always forget when each market section starts, ends, and when the Tuesdays start and end, etc. If you're like me, here's a reminder, right here on handy permies.com!

2017 Farmers Market Hours (the original market up by the XXX's) - http://www.missoulafarmersmarket.com/

Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., May 6 through October 28, 2017.

Tuesdays 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., July 4 through September 26, 2017.

Performers will be scheduled on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Then there are the other two markets:

2017 Clark Fork Market Hours (down at Caras Park) - http://www.clarkforkmarket.com/

Saturdays May 6 through October 28, 2017.

May-September 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

October 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

2017 Missoula People's Market Hours (at Higgins and Pine) - https://www.missoulapeoplesmarket.org/

Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., May through September 2017.

Target Range Community Farmers Market is going this year too.  It is held on Sundays, May 21-Sept. 24, 2017.  It is in the East parking lot of Target Range School, on the 4000 block of South Avenue, just west of Missoula.   Hours are  10 am untill 2 pm.  It is a small market, so you have the opportunity to talk to the vendors, if you are a customer.   Vendors and customers are always welcome.  

If you are in missoula, mt on a Saturday check out our Farms Market!

The Missoula Farmers Market, a gathering of food and friends since 1972.
Market Hours:
Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., May 4 through October 26, 2019.
Tuesdays 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., June 4 through September 24, 2019.
Performers will be scheduled on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Market opens with fresh local produce, flowers, baked goods and coffee provided by over 100 vendors.  
Located in Circle Square (at the north end of Higgins Avenue - by the XXX's) the market will feature early spring vegetables, bedding plants and a wonderful social atmosphere.

Clark Fork Market - Missoula, Montana
Saturday Farmers' Market
The 2019 Clark Fork Market season starts on Saturday, May 4th, and continues every Saturday thru October 26th.
Hours of operation are 8am-1pm,
May-September and 9am-1pm for the month of October.
The Clark Fork Market is located in the Riverside Parking Lot, just east of Caras Park in Downtown Missoula.  We are open every Saturday, May thru October-- rain or shine!
The Clark Fork Market provides a lively and scenic setting for buying locally-produced fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, dairy products, fresh baked bread, pastries, honey, salsa, jam, wool goods, nursery plants, flowers, and other wares from area farmers, ranchers and food artisans.  Also find, breakfast and lunch items, coffee, tea, and cold drinks. Seating for customers provided. Live music 10:00am- 12:30pm!

I know folks in Missoula are likely up to speed on this, but I thought I'd post here about it, too, just in case it helps.

The markets were supposed to open on Saturday, May 2nd this year (2020) but were shut down by the health department due to virus transmission concerns.

Now, the markets are attempting to set up online ordering, and a way to open soon, but there are not any decisions yet.

The Missoula Farmer's Market (at the red XXX's) is taking email addresses for their online ordering or updates at their FB page:  https://www.facebook.com/MissoulaFarmersMarket/ (as far as I can tell, their website is down or defunct).



The Clark Fork Market (at Caras Park) has posted about the closure on its website, too:  https://www.clarkforkmarket.com/.

In the mean time, other CSA's and farms are finding ways to do phone, text, or online ordering and contact-free delivery or pickup.

I recently had a great delivery from Turner Farms here in Missoula - https://www.facebook.com/turnerfarms406/ - all via text message and contact-free delivery within hours, with beautiful spinach and green garlic!