First News Story

Pullman welcomes back an Eco-friendly event

Freshly cut, bright flowers popped among the hustle and bustle of the crowd congregated to witness the ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the reopening of the Pullman farmer’s market Wednesday.

Sponsored by the Pullman Chamber of Commerce, the first farmer’s market became a step toward a more sustainable future for the Palouse.

Pullman hosted a fresh food market in the past, but over the years, its popularity fell and the local market became a thing of the past. As a result, the Pullman Chamber of Commerce and WSU Organic Garden worked together to bring the farmer’s market back to Pullman. Local vendors and farmers from the surrounding areas will sell fresh produce and goods at the market every Wednesday until the fall.

“Local markets are actually going on throughout the nation. Everyone is trying to focus on sustainability,” said Tammy Lewis, executive director of the Pullman Chamber of Commerce. “Our goal is to promote healthy eating and living,” she said.

Lewis said the decision to bring the market back to Pullman is based on an initiative to demonstrate to people that sustainability is possible, and that having a local market is one way to move toward that goal.

“The purpose of the market is not only to support local farmers but to also promote the idea of better living,” Lewis said.

She said eating food that is grown locally rather than packaged promotes healthy eating and living. Lewis said the local market will play home to similar vendors weekly with produce varying throughout the season. She said one of the popular harvests is rhubarb; however as the weather gets warmer seasonal berries such as blackberries and raspberries will become available at the market. Lewis said in addition to fresh, locally grown produce, the market will offer a wide array of vegetable plants, flowers, and fresh artisan breads for people to purchase.

“It is great that someone brought a farmers market to this town,” said Kate Jaeckel, market vendor. “I think that the people of Pullman have been itching for an event like this for a while.”

Jaeckel said she and her husband own a half-acre farm and two greenhouses in Moscow and she is excited for the opportunity to provide great fresh products for Pullman residents at the new market.

“There are a lot of loyal buyers already. I hope to see great turnouts every week here in Pullman.” she said.

Jaeckel said the farmer’s market is just adding to the previous efforts made in the area towards sustainability, such as the recent Compton Union Building renovation and the existing Moscow farmer’s market.