Springfield Farmers Market starts June 7

Visitors to Springfield’s new farmers market will see some familiar Eugene market vendors as well as a few different ones. 

That’s according to Lane County Farmers Market, which is launching its Springfield Farmers Market this Sunday, June 7. 

“It’s just been a big need that’s been communicated from Springfield and also more rural parts of Lane County,” Orion Lawrenz, Lane County Farmers Market program & marketing manager, told Lookout Eugene-Springfield. “So we felt it important to increase local food access for people who don’t necessarily live in Eugene or aren’t able to make that commute regularly.”

The weekly market will run 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday through the end of October. It will be in the library parking lot at Springfield CIty Hall, 225 Fifth St.

The vendor roster is full and the market is set to have nearly 50 vendors, with a rotating lineup of local farms, prepared food vendors, food artisans and community organizations. Visitors will find fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, baked goods, meat, eggs, plants, flowers, honey and ready-to-eat food. 

Lane County Farmers Market, which hosts Saturday and Tuesday markets in downtown Eugene, requires all vendors to grow their own product or use at least 25% locally grown ingredients in their final products. 

All markets accept EBT cards, and Lane County Farmers Market matches up to $20 per day in Double Up Food Bucks. EBT users can visit the information booth to swipe their card and receive EBT tokens, which can be used for fruits and vegetables, mushrooms, dried beans, fresh herbs and veggie starts.

Partnerships 

Lane County Farmers Market is partnering with Lane Transit District to offer free rides on any route to Springfield Station, which is two blocks from the new market. The market will post weekly digital benefit codes on its website and social media, which can be redeemed through LTD’s Ump app. Printed QR codes will also be available at the info booth.

Last fall, the Springfield Economic Development Agency board, which consists of the Springfield City Council and the Lane County Commissioner for Springfield, voted to enter into an agreement with Lane County Farmers Market and commit $35,000 in funding for market operations during the first three years. 

Voters in Springfield established a Downtown Urban Renewal District in 2008. The market supports the Downtown Urban Renewal goal of promoting public and private improvements, while improving access to fresh, local food for community members, according to city records.

“I think it’s an opportunity to bring more people downtown on a Sunday and access plenty of local food,” Mayor Sean VanGordon told Lookout. “It’s a pretty cool opportunity for downtown Springfield, and I think people are pretty excited about it.”

Christopher Randall, owner of Chuck and Alice gift shop on Main Street, is excited for the market. 

“I think it’ll bring some energy down here,” Randall said. “People of Springfield are starving for something to do, something new and fun, and something that’s local.”

He also thinks the market will bring more Sunday business to downtown, which can be a slower day. 

“We love the Eugene Saturday market and the farmers market over there, but I’m glad we have our own now,” Randall said.

Sarah Adler, who owns Lovely Cafe with her husband, Josh Matthews, sees the market as a good indicator of Springfield’s direction.

“I think the core values of a town like Springfield are community and agriculture and working together, and regardless of your political viewpoints, that community is very important, and that absolutely has to do with the food you put in your body and where it comes from,” Adler said, noting that Lovely works with local farms to source produce for its menu.

If you go:

What: Springfield Farmers Market

Where: Library parking lot at Springfield City Hall, 225 Fifth St.

When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sundays, June through October