Building a Thriving Community
The Stevenson Farmers’ Market is a seasonal market focusing on supplying regionally-grown produce and farm products sold by the farmer. Farmers’ markets provide a unique opportunity for the consumer to meet the grower who raised the food they eat. Locally grown food is a sustainable approach to agriculture that uses fewer resources to bring the highest quality, freshest food to your table, and provides food security for the community.
If 20% of the fruit, vegetables and meat consumed in the gorge were purchased directly from a local farmer 9.6 Million Dollars would stay in the local economy. For every $100 spent at a farmers market $62 stays in the local economy and $99 stays in the state. Farmers get 72% more money when you buy direct. 3 companies own 50% of the world’s seeds while only 4 retailers sell 50% of the nations groceries and 4 companies process 80% of the meat consumed in the nation. This means 98% of the food consumed in the Columbia Gorge is shipped in from other areas. The average vegetable travels more than 7 days and 1500 miles to sit on a shelf in the grocery store. Eating local requires almost no packaging and tastes more vibrant.