News:

Harvest Dinner Writeup and Photos

A local blogger did a nice write-up with photos of the Harvest Dinner fundraiser held on the market site on Saturday August 28: Dining Al Fresco In Montavilla

There are more photos here by Studio 3024 (link).

Thank you for making the Harvest Dinner a success!

We would like to thank the community for making our Aug 28 Harvest Dinner Gala Fundraiser such a success. Thanks to Country Cat, Kitchen Dances, The Observatory Lounge, Pastry Girl, Bangkok Bites, Bipartisan Cafe, Immortal Pie and Larder and Red White Green Biodynamic Wines. Thanks also to the many volunteers who helped prepare the site, put on the METBA silent auction, serve and clean up. Thanks to Michael Herrman for the music. A more complete list of individuals will be coming. Most of all, though, thank you to the community for supporting our market!

Durable Dish wins award

Our Durable Dish program is the recipient of a 2010 Recycler of the Year award from the Association of Oregon Recyclers! The award is the Alice Soderwall Reuse and Waste Prevention Award. Link.

Opening Day 2010: Great weather and a record number of people

Opening day of the Montavilla Farmers Market, Sunday June 13, surpassed the expectations of the market staff, volunteers and vendors. We had about 2200 visitors according to our counting method. This is about 40% more than our highest day of attendance last year. It seems that the mixture of sunny yet mild weather, which followed many days of rain, combined with opening day really brought out market shoppers. We also had a great culinary chef Demonstration by Adam Sappington, chef and owner of the Country Cat Dinnerhouse, and music by the wonderful Quartette Barbette. We regret that the high number of customers meant that some of our 26 vendors ran out by 1:30 or even 12:30. Our vendors took notice, and will try to have more on hand on future Sundays. Also over the next few weeks look for the number of vendors to increase. We hope you were able to attend and will again. We are very happy to provide the market to the Montavilla and Mt. Tabor neighborhoods and the greater Portland area, and we and our vendors that you for your support!

New Seasons Grant Awarded To Montavilla Farmers Market

The Montavilla Farmers Market was awarded a $1,250 grant from New Seasons Market to support a program that matches dollars spent at markets by Oregon Trail cardholders. New Seasons has long been instrumental in developing a sustainable and equitable food system, which includes encouraging customers to shop at local farmers markets. The Montavilla Farmers Market extends their thanks to New Seasons Markets in their efforts to ensure food access and resiliency in our community.

We Accept Debit and Oregon Trail

We will exchange market tokens for debit card transactions and Oregon Trail. Our vendors accept market tokens for food. So if you are short on cash but have a debit card, you can get what you need without having to make a trip to an ATM.

Montavilla Farmers Market
Mission Statement

To create a vital, high quality farmers market that promotes our local farms, producers and artisans in a community-centered gathering place.

Market Values

Market History
Within the last many years, the Montavilla neighborhood experienced a resurgence of locally-owned businesses along SE Stark Street between 75th and 82nd. Montavilla residents now enjoy a coffee shop, movie theater, many restaurants and other small shops which are creating a vibrancy on our little “main street”. This revival of the historic Montavilla neighborhood helped to launch of the Montavilla Farmers Market.

The Market was founded in 2007 by a grassroots group of neighbors inspired by visions of a fresh, local food market in a shared community space within the growing SE Stark Street business district. This dedicated group opened the market in 10 short months with a small amount of grant funds and a generous outpouring of donations from local businesses, friends and neighbors. The tireless energy of these un-paid visionaries and countless other volunteers allowed the MFM to open its’ first market on Sunday July 22, 2007 with 17 vendors and over 2000 visitors! The inaugural season was 11 weeks long, continuing thru September with an estimated 16,000 customer visits, an average of 1450 customers each week and 24 total vendors. In subsequent years, the market started in June and ended in the fall, and improvements were added such as our storage shed, debit card services, recycling and reusable dishes

We are delighted with our successes. We look forward to continuing to draw a wide variety of local farmers and merchants. In Montavilla we see the importance of providing a venue for our local food sources as a means to a healthy lifestyle and better neighborhood livability, while supporting local farmers and artisans of the region.

Dog Guidelines
We respect and appreciate that shoppers bring their canine companions to our market. If you are bringing your four-legged companion, please read our dog guidelines (link) , to help you have a safe and enjoyable market experience.

       
        The markets first day, July 22, 2007 -- months of planning come to fruition.

"The Montavilla Farmers Market is truly a specialmarket. The sense of community at the market is wonderful. It's not thebiggest market we vend at, but we tend to have the most fun here."

- Aaron Harmon, Sol Pops

"Montavilla is a farmers' market the way they use to be before markets became big business. A place where vendors and customers interact, kids smile, and you can often find the perfect moment that life doesn't show you that often. We love it!"

- Greg Mistell, Fleur de Lis Bakery & Cafe