Salt Lake City - The Downtown Alliance presents the 18th annual Downtown Farmers Market and Art & Craft Market in historic Pioneer Park. The 2010 marketplace is open Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 12-Oct. 18 and Tuesday evenings Aug. 3-Oct. 14. The market—with over 250 vendors—offers a unique variety of farmers, growers, bakeries, prepared food and beverages, packaged foods and local artisans.
"Spend some time strolling the aisles at Utah's largest farmers market,” said Kim Angeli-Selin, Market Manager. “In addition to seasonal offerings, the Market offers the most eclectic brunch in town as well as a juried art and craft market with more than 80 booths displaying local, handmade treasures. We have a full season of programming to complement the market including cooking demonstrations and tastings, live music, kids' activities and more."
Weekly attendance is nearly 10,000 and many patrons are drawn to the market by their favorite vendors. Other shoppers visit to see what’s new, and this year there will be plenty of fresh attractions including a new and spacious layout in the park.
"This year's cooler spring weather supports early crops that include assorted lettuces, fresh garlic, spring onions, turnips, beet, radishes, scapes, watercress, peas and more, said Kim Angeli-Selin, Market Manager. “Seasonal produce takes center stage at the market."
New VendorsNew vendors include:
Creminelli Fine Meats: artisan sausage
Tulie Bakery: cakes and pastries
Nu Nooz: hand-cut, fresh pasta
Steven Oliver: bison from Richfield
Heritage Valley Organics: poultry
SureFire Pizza: wood-fired pizza
Naturol Fuels: bicycle-powered smoothies
The Farmers Market is a business incubator. Many vendors who began selling their products at the market (Rico Brand, Bruges Waffles and Frites, Bubble and Bee to name a few) now have brick and mortar businesses, contributing year-round to the local economy.
Rocky Mountain PowerRocky Mountain Power will help make the Farmers Market more eco-friendly by providing Blue Sky renewable energy to offset the environmental impacts of the market’s anticipated electricity use. This support for the 2010 market provides environmental benefits equivalent to planting 29 trees or not driving 2,500 miles.
Waste Wise Program
Utilizing Salt Lake City’s established recycling program, the Downtown Farmers Market will implement a new Waste Wise program. In order to reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill each week, vendors will use recyclable materials whenever possible and no Styrofoam is allowed. Farmers Market organizers encourage patrons to bring their own plates and mugs for food and beverages to further reduce waste. On each corner of the park there will be monitored Waste Wise stations, teaching market visitors what can be recycled and what is sent to the landfill.
Special Events
Weekly special events offer entertainment for all. Highlights include: “Independents Day” with Local First Utah, The Downtown Dine O’ Round Chef Showdown and more. Music at the Market, presented by City Weekly returns with an exciting roster of local musicians for Saturday serenades, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The Viking Cooking School of Salt Lake City will offer instructive and innovative cooking demonstrations throughout the season—all on a Viking range.
The Market will continue to accept food stamps through the EBT Alternative Purchasing Program with the goals to improve accessibility to fresh food for lower and fixed-income consumers, and to increase revenue for farmers and food producers at the Market.
Organizers of the Farmers Market encourage a ‘green attitude’ while visiting and shopping; ride public transportation or pedal your own wheels (secure parking for bikes is available at the Bike Valet.) Live green and take your own re-useable bag for convenient shopping…help eliminate plastic bags at the market.
For a complete listing of special events, crop schedule and detailed information visit
www.slcfarmersmarket.org.
The Downtown Alliance is dedicated to building a dynamic and diverse community that is the regional center for culture, commerce and entertainment. For more information, visit
downtownslc.org.
