To market, to market

A new monthly community market opens Tuesday in Moscow, featuring new vendors and a festival-like atmosphere.

The Tuesday Community Market is a "community development activity," said Iris Mayes, with the University of Idaho Extension, a program partner for the market. It aims to fill a niche not currently met by the weekly Moscow Farmers Market.

The new market will not only provide a mid-week opportunity for experienced producers to sell their goods, but it's a low-risk opportunity for new farmers and vendors to sell their product in an entry-level environment. The weekly Saturday market is a big commitment and costs more money, Mayes said, so it can be an intimidating leap for those entering the marketplace.

A monthly market opportunity will give new producers experience in things like laying out a vending table, interacting with customers, counting change and other aspects of selling their product. It also helps them see if their business of choice is a good fit earlier in the process, Mayes said, without having high upfront costs.

The market evolved out of the Tuesday Grower's Market held in recent years by the Moscow Co-op, Mayes said. In an effort to strengthen the event, it has developed into a multi-entity market that will be offered monthly rather than weekly. Market partners include the UI Extension, Moscow Food Co-op, Latah County Fair and Events Center, Backyard Harvest and Rural Roots.

The market will be held in a different neighborhood than the Saturday market and will largely feature different vendors selling items such as farm fresh food, crafts, food trucks, local beer and more. The event will also have live music and kids' activities.

"It's a chance to have dinner and a beer and buy a few mid-week fruits and vegetables," Mayes said.

The inaugural market will focus on plant starts - a wide variety will be available for purchase for home gardens - and the Moscow Brewing Company will have a beer garden.

The market will be held Tuesday and July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4 and Oct. 2. Those interested in selling at this or future Tuesday Community Market events can contact Holly Carter at hcarter@latah.id.us or (208) 883-2267 for more information.