The Verde Valley Farmers Market opened for the season on Saturday, May 13. The market will be held each Saturday through Oct. 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Town Ramada, located at 75 E. Hollamon Street in Camp Verde.
The market was started in 1993 through the efforts of Denise Gould and Diane Scantlebury and is now celebrating its 20th year. It is the longest continuously running farmers market in the Verde Valley.
There will be 26 vendors participating, a few of which will be appearing biweekly, so attendees can expect around 22 vendors each Saturday.
The market’s offerings include fresh vegetables, local beef, baked goods, live plants, soaps, candles, lotions, honey, crafts and many other local products, all accompanied by live music. The organizers prioritize local food over crafts, with no more than 30% of the market’s space allotted to craft vendors. Master gardeners will make appearances every other weekend and will provide free seeds as well as general planting and growing information.
The market will be implementing the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program this year, which allows qualified seniors and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children participants to get $80 in coupons per participating member to be spent at the market during the season.
The market is also working with Wingfield Bakery and Local First Arizona to create a commercial shared kitchen. They recently applied for a grant for the kitchen’s construction, which will allow local food producers to use it at a subsidized price.
“A lot of people who want to produce food cannot because there’s not a commercial kitchen within the area for rent and in order to get your own is too cost-preventative,” market manager Don Kovacovich said. “We’re hoping that clears some obstacles and allows more producers to get started. They can sell those products in the market and create a full-circle system.”
Kovacovich started as a vendor in 2019. He has a degree in recreation and tourism management, but during the pandemic he made a career change into farming and growing microgreens. “I set out as a goal to start trying to improve local food infrastructures as well as supply chain resiliency, so I fell right into the market manager position,” Kovacovich said.
The market benefits the local economy not only by giving growers a place to sell their goods and provide income but also by acting as an incubator for businesses. Two local businesses, Wingfield Bakery and Udderly Divine, both started out at the farmers’ market and are now brick-and-mortar businesses. The potential commercial kitchen will enhance this incubator effect.
Upcoming events at the market include:
- May 27: Plant Sale
- June 17: Kids’ Day
- July: Corn Fest
Residents are encouraged to bring their own bags or purchase a bag at the market in an effort to be plastic-free.
