Yelm Farmers Market

Come join us in kicking off this next market season and make this a huge success.

 

Visit our dedicated website:

yelmfarmersmarket.com/

A little about the farmers market

Helps preserve farmland

Farmers, ranchers and other growers are able to stay viable on their family farms. A Farmers Market like the Yelm Farmers Market offers a low barrier set up for small family farms to sell directly to the buying shoppers and can offer a greater opportunity for business development than any other marketing outlet.  And the farmers come to sell, gladly, because they see you every week during the market season, ready to buy their hard-earned harvests!

Stimulates the local economy

More than $131,000 in sales were generated in 2015 (doubling from 2013).The impact of a dollar spent locally — can go around seven times in this Yelm community — much better than being spent here and then exiting the county for investment in other states. You as shoppers contribute totally to the local sales and local economic growth!

Helps preserve farmland

Farmers, ranchers and other growers are able to stay viable on their family farms. A Farmers Market like the Yelm Farmers Market offers a low barrier set up for small family farms to sell directly to the buying shoppers and can offer a greater opportunity for business development than any other marketing outlet.  And the farmers come to sell, gladly, because they see you every week during the market season, ready to buy their hard-earned harvests!

Stimulates the local economy

More than $131,000 in sales were generated in 2015 (doubling from 2013).The impact of a dollar spent locally — can go around seven times in this Yelm community — much better than being spent here and then exiting the county for investment in other states. You as shoppers contribute totally to the local sales and local economic growth!

Increases Access

Farmers’ vibrant, tasty and nutritious produce and specialty crafted wholesome food goods can be purchased by everyone! The Yelm Farmers Market accepts SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons. Tell everyone you know and help a senior or young family get to the market.

Supports healthy communities

Especially the young ones growing up! Through our Power of Produce (PoP) Kid’s Club, children ages 5-12 can gain power in becoming great shoppers and eaters of good food! When children first sign up, they receive a passport, a PoP shopping bag, a PoP button and $2 in PoP tokens. Each time they come to the market, they stamp their passport and receive an additional $2 in tokens. PoP tokens can be used by the young shoppers to purchase fruits and vegetables (or a food producing plant) direct the farmer. When this program is underway, there are young shoppers everywhere! They bring their parents and teach them a thing or two! We also introduced a Taste the Place sampling booth in 2016 so that adults and children alike can taste what a vine-ripe tomato named Brandywine really tastes like, or experiment with the nutty taste of kohlrabi with a kick. There exists an atmosphere of discovery and delight every week while learning about, and tasting, something new from the local farmers.

Promotes sustainability and conscious environmental stewardship

Farmers selling at Yelm Farmers Market and other area markets minimize the amount of waste and pollution they create. Many use certified organic practices, reducing the amount of synthetic pesticides and chemicals that pollute our soil and water. A growing number are also adopting other low-impact practices, such as on-site composting, that help mitigate climate change and other environmental issues. While most food travels 1,000 miles from large production farms to the average American plate, local farmers are coming right here from Yelm, and some from no further away than about 50-100 miles.