Philip Smith describes it as a “super-duper” to go back to the original home of the Lane County Farmers Market.
About a year and a half after moving to East Fifth Avenue, the market returned to its Eighth Avenue and Oak Street locations on Saturday and moved to its new permanent home – the Farmers Market Pavilion and Plaza.
Smith, who first began selling to the market with Blessed Bee in 1992, has seen the farmers market expand, gaining sellers and a greater selection of products.
The completed suite “seems to be an excellent improvement,” he said, not missing the horns of passing trains as it did when the market was on East Fifth Avenue.
Saturday and Tuesday farmers markets will be the stand and arena from now on.
Alexis Molinari, market manager, said the time behind Fifth Street Market was “positive and welcoming” as a temporary location.
“We are grateful to Fifth Street Market and all surrounding businesses for not only welcoming us, but for working together to create a bustling environment that has positively impacted the experience of vendors and customers, as well as the Fifth Street Market District,” Molinari said in a statement.
Although the market was a success on Fifth Avenue, vendors and staff were looking forward to returning, Eighth Street and Oak Street, where the city’s first farmers’ market took root more than 100 years ago, according to a press release.
Dan Schuller has been selling in the market for a few years with Moondog’s Farm and said the space is different and similar to previous markets.
“It feels a lot like it did in the past, but it also feels pretty good,” Schuller said.
He said there are some obvious differences, such as shelter from the rain. Schuller also noticed an increase in traffic and excitement and said it was nice to have some ambient lighting – he was one of the few vendors inside the pavilion who didn’t set up a tent.
Antonina Kuznetsov, who has been selling on the market for 15 years with Northwest Berries, was also optimistic about the permanent home.
She said it was a big change to move to Fifth Avenue, and she likes to have it all in one building while returning to the original location.
“I hope it’s great,” said Kuznetsov. “It feels really good and open, and it feels so amazing.”
Construction of the pavilion began in August 2021 after the exchange of land and planning for a new town square including the pavilion and the plaza.
Mike Sullivan, who has been a farmer’s market board member for nearly 10 years and has seen much of the process, said the move to the permanent home has been “many years in the making” and that support from the city and county has been key.
progress:Lane County Farmers Market Pavilion is formed year-round in downtown Eugene Park in blocks
“The new market house can help us achieve a lot: support local farmers, support market expansion, extend market season, enhance community access to fresh, healthy local produce, and support the vitality of downtown Eugene,” Sullivan said in the New Market House. a permit. “We are so grateful for the vision and leadership that made the new home to the market a reality.”
Molinari said market staff are excited to be at the booth and again to be next to Eugene Market Saturday.
“Bringing the two markets together, side by side, is a strong part of Eugene’s identity, and a collaboration that has been missed by a lot of the community,” she said in a statement.
It’s a microcosm of the city.Eugene Saturday market is back with more makers
Molinari said the pavilion would also serve as a space to host community-oriented events and allow the market to actively promote health and possibly create a space dedicated to raising awareness about agriculture, the environment and the environment. The organization also hopes that the space will serve as a place where people can feel safe when visiting and gather even on non-market days, she said.
There will be a grand opening celebration from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 26 at the Farmers Market Pavilion and Plaza. The free event will feature live music, food trucks, speakers, information from partner organizations, and family-friendly activities.
Register-Guard photographer Ben Lonergan contributed to this article. Contact city government oversight Megan Banta in mbanta@registerguard.com Follow her on Twitter @MeganBanta_1.