WAITSBURG—Fresh produce, hand-crafted soaps, and local art are just a few of the items that Noelle Olson, Doug Biolo, and Janet Lawrence hope to see at the upcoming Waitsburg Farmers Market.

Olson, owner of Dusty Britches Farm in Waitsburg and market manager; and Biolo and Lawrence, co-owners of Nancy’s Dream Garden Center in Waitsburg, are excited to announce plans for a summertime market that focuses on locally grown fruits and veggies, local art, handicrafts, and foods, featuring businesses from Waitsburg, Prescott, and Dayton. Olson played a key part in starting a farmers market in 2019, but said that the 2020 pandemic closed the market for the season.

“It’s going to be a community thing, to help people get their products out there and make a little income,” said Biolo. “The more local, the better.”

The farmers market is currently set to open up on Memorial Day weekend, and run through Labor Day weekend, though Olson noted that the season could possibly go longer depending on the market’s summer success. The market will be open every weekend during the summer, with hours to be announced.

The goal, according to Olson and Biolo, is to have at least ten vendors committed to the summer season. Space rental is $10/per day, plus tax, and vendors are required to provide necessities like coolers. Vendors are liable for their own products.

Olson said that two vendors, Dusty Britches Farm and Walla Walla Butter, have already committed to the market for the summer, and she is particularly interested in bringing in a local honey vendor, hand-crafted soap and/or cosmetics company, a metal and/or wood artist, additional produce vendors, and artisanal foods vendors.

The group said that they are also very interested in bringing in a food truck or other lunch vendor, as long as it does not conflict with businesses already in Waitsburg.

The Waitsburg Farmers Market will be adhering to COVID-19 guidelines, enforcing social distancing and current masking requirements.

If businesses are interested in participating in the Waitsburg Farmers Market, or if there are any questions, contact Noelle Olson at (509) 205-4344, or Doug Biolo at (971) 219-6137. The market is also on Facebook, and updates will be provided on both the Waitsburg Farmers Market and Nancy’s Dream Garden Center Facebook pages.