Lane County Farmers Market moves to 5th Ave starting April 3rd
The Lane County Farmers Market will be held on 5th Avenue, between High Street and Oak Street, every Saturday, April 3rd through December 18th, 2021.
The Market’s temporary relocation is the next step to allow continuing work on the Eugene Town Square project and the construction of the Market’s permanent home. Demolition of the Market’s site at 8th Avenue and Oak Street (the Butterfly Parking Lot) is set to begin this spring. The construction at 8th and Oak Streets will not affect the Eugene Saturday Market this year, and starting in April they will hold their market on the Park Blocks at 8th and Oak as usual.
The Farmers Market staff and Board of Directors worked closely with the City of Eugene in the search for the Market’s new location for its 2021 season. Some factors important in determining a location were staying as close as possible to the Market’s regular site downtown, ample parking for customers and vendors nearby, and enough space for the full LCFM membership to vend. Closing down 5th Avenue between High Street and Oak Street offered a location that met the Market’s booth space requirements while also keeping the Market close to its former site. The 5th Street Public Market has generously offered the use of its parking lots nearby, which creates a total of 700 parking spaces available for customers and vendors.
“The Lane County Farmers Market and 5th Street Public Market are both community institutions that have been serving customers in downtown Eugene since the 1970s,” says Irene Alltucker, vice president of real estate. “We were delighted we could offer a temporary home for the Farmers Market during construction of their permanent facility because we felt it was very important to keep the market downtown where it has been for more than 40 years.”
While the Farmers Market staff and vendors will miss having the Eugene Saturday Market as neighbors directly across the street, everyone is pleased that the Market will remain as close as possible to the downtown area this year. Market Manager, Alexis Molinari says "Lane County Farmers Market is excited to be welcomed by the 5th Street Public Market and the surrounding businesses as we kick off our main season! This temporary location will provide plenty of room for all our vendors, as well as plenty of parking for our customers, and will allow the organization to keep thriving while we wait for our permanent home to be constructed down at 8th and Oak."
Lane County Farmers Market provides an opportunity for the community to purchase fresh, in-season, locally grown farm products and value-added products while interacting directly with the growers and producers. The Market is proud to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, making fresh food more accessible for individuals and families.