Wednesday's Farmer's Market Has a Little of Everything

Watch the streaming video news report by Bonnie King.

Photo By: Tim King

(Salem) - Spring has sprung. And in Salem, that means the beginning of the Wednesday Farmer`s Market. The event takes place along Chemeketa Street in downtown Salem. Vendors draw visitors from throughout the Willamette Valley who want to experience this traditional marketplace. Be careful, some describe the experience as habit-forming.

The Willamette Valley is rich with agricultural products, and throughout history, this is where farmers sell their goods. You might be in the market for some flowers, or maybe a handmade gift. For some, the food is a natural reason to stop in. The location allows most of Salem`s downtown business populace to drop in even if just for a quick bite.

Some use the Farmer`s Market to speak their minds. Anti-war protestors occupy a corner at Chemeketa and Commercial each Wednesday sporting signs.

One group, the Community Action Agency, used the event to show the creativity of local school children. A miniature golf course with each hole designed by a different local middle school kept everyone entertained, according to the group`s Cyndi Astley.

`Today we`re putting on the power putt putt. Which is a middle school after school program. Kids from each school designed and built their own miniature golf hole. We have 12 schools in the Salem-Keizer School District; we`ve brought them all together today to create the course."

One of the kids, Josh Dolar, says waiting till the last minute didn`t hurt their end effort; a pirate ship complete with a blow hole that would send a hole in one flying back up in the air, complete with a steam whistle sound, `We figured that we weren`t going to get it done, so we had a Sunday to finish it all."

Colorful products by local vendors like `Mr. Tie Dye" accentuated the food and flowers on Chemeketa Street. Carl McClellan says some things just never go out of style, "This is my second year here in Salem at the Wednesday market and the Saturday market. And it`s just going great for me."

He says tie-dye shirts and products are cheerful and while they work all year, they are particularly fun in better weather, `You put them on and I mean, you wear a rainbow, and how could you not smile, when you`re wearing a rainbow?"

Vendors say that with the sunshine came the people, and numbers at the farmers market were very good. Alan Gibson sells Kettle Korn at Wednesday`s Farmer`s Market. `People were very friendly, and in a good mood and very upbeat. And so yes, everybody was on their best behavior I think today."