A victory for business and for the local community – That’s the consensus across much of Woodland this week, following news that the farmers market is coming back to the city this summer.
Woodland’s farmers market originally opened in 2009, but was unable to get off the ground last year due to a lack of volunteers and the inability to partner with a local non-profit organization. Earlier this month, however, the market was given new life after the Woodland City Council unanimously voted to approve the Woodland Chamber of Commerce’s special event application to conduct a farmers market at Horseshoe Lake Park, off of Interstate 5.
Tammie Howard, executive director at the Chamber of Commerce, undertook the challenge to coordinate leadership and to get the market reopened.
“The chamber is the facilitating organization,” explained Howard. “We want to make sure it’s successful so we’ve committed to a minimum of two years of being the umbrella organization.”
Also making a commitment to the market is the former manager of the Vancouver Farmers Market, Dawn Blankenship. Blankenship will serve as the Woodland Farmers Market manager, something that Howard called “the final piece to make a perfect fit.”
Howard said local farmers are also on board with the market’s return, especially given the success they had in 2009.
“I was hearing vendors tell me they did more business in four hours at Woodland’s [farmers market] than in eight hours in larger communities,” said Howard. “That kind of success tells me the citizens here want this kind of event and are willing to come out and support it.”
Woodland’s farmers market aims to support local businesses, especially those providing locally resourced goods. Howard said all of the market proceeds stay in the local economy, making it “a huge win for community.”
The return of the farmers market, coupled with community events like Planters Day Festival and Hot Summer Nights Concerts, has leaders in Woodland optimistic about a summer of strong economic activity.
“Those events will definitely increase the traffic and the dollars coming in to Woodland,” said Howard.
The Woodland Farmers Market will start June 24 and continue through September 30, operating on Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m.
