8A | WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2019 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
Market from A1
decades, with venues ranging
from parks to parking lots
that achieved varying levels
of success and organizational
cohesiveness. The market’s
current iteration on Seventh
Street started in 2016 and
was also the beginning of an
effort to create a solid net-
work and structure.
“The market has been
sort of informal over many
years,” said Mull. “There’s
always been a need to try to
find local sources of healthy
food in our community …
so there’s always been an ef-
fort to try to network and get
their communication united
somehow.”
Choosing Thursdays for
markets was a small token
of this as it coincided with
the Bread Club gatherings
in neighboring Kalapuya
Books, which Mull felt add-
ed a touch of community fel-
lowship.
To expand the network,
though, a deeper change was
needed.
The year 2016 also saw
the market officially become
a 501(c)(6) nonprofit, a tax
status similar to 501(c)(3),
but is reserved for “business
leagues,” such as chambers
of commerce which derive
much of their funding from
member fees and dues.
One immediate advantage
to the status change has been
the market’s access to gov-
ernment programs such as
the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP),
the Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Wom-
en, Infants and Children, the
Double Up Food Bucks pro-
gram and the Oregon Farm
Direct Nutrition Program.
“We’re also fully insured
and licensed,” Mull added,
“so that anything that hap-
pens during the market cov-
ers and protects our vendors
and ourselves from litigation
… so it’s kind of like we have
more of a business structure
now.”
DAMIEN SHERWOOD/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
Shoppers browse the various offerings at the Farmers Market, which is open
from 4 to 7 p.m. each Thursday through Oct. 31.
Networking with other
farmers markets and expo-
sure through tourism pub-
lications has come with the
organization’s new status as
well.
As such, membership fees
with the market are $50 per
year, which gives members
a seat and a vote at meetings
whether or not they set up a
booth. Vendor spots are $10
per day for members or $15
for non-members.
Though the past few years
have seen a relatively mod-
erate membership size, in-
creased interest in the orga-
nization was generated this
year when a $2,700 donation
was made by an anonymous
source to provide eight
weeks of free vendor space to
new members of the group.
“Basically, your first eight
markets are free if you’re a
member,” Mull said.
Membership with the
group holds deep impor-
tance for some.
Owner of Branch Road
Farm, Andhi Reyna, has
been a vendor at the vari-
ous versions of the market
for about eight years and
is a current member of the
board.
“By
having
the
farm-to-consumer
aspect
that we are able to do here,
we can help bring some ed-
ucation to the community,”
she said. “It’s helped farmers
get the word out about their
place and be able to have an-
other avenue to sell, to edu-
cate, to keep us alive here as
well.”
Reyna’s 73-acre farm, just
four miles from downtown,
produces veggies, lamb and
goat meat and chicken eggs,
but also offers field trips for
various school districts, kids’
cooking classes and summer
camps.
“I think the education-
al side of what this farmers
market can do is educate the
consumer of why organic is
important — why local pro-
duce is important,” she said.
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S entinel
With the enhancement of
the group’s organizational
structure, Reyna sees an op-
portunity to create a deeper
impact in the community.
Access to SNAP, for ex-
ample, has not only given
low-income people access
to locally-sourced food, but
also imported the Double Up
Food Bucks system.
“I think that’s the biggest
educating point,” Reyna said.
“All income levels can be
supported here. You spend
$10 at the info booth and
you’ll get $20 back to actual-
ly spend.”
It’s through such edu-
cation that Reyna says she
wants to “get rid of the myth
that nutritious food in inac-
cessible.”
Indeed, in a typical su-
permarket, organic food
is noticeably pricier than
mass-produced food. The
United States Department of
Agriculture estimated in its
last economic study on the
topic in 2010 that organical-
ly-produced food can cost
anywhere from seven to 82
percent more, depending on
the season and food type.
Programs now accessible to
the South Valley Farmers
Market have potential to re-
duce the financial burden of
shopping for organic food.
“I think the more we can
interact in conversations
about it, the more we can
make some bigger steps,”
said Reyna, who pointed to
some partnerships between
vendors and small businesses
in the community as steps in
the right direction.
“The awareness for oth-
er businesses to know that
farmers are here — we’re also
seeking to grow in our busi-
nesses and how to mutually
support each other,” she said.
On top of these benefits,
Reyna believes the general
community spirit of a farm-
ers market can bring with it
meaningful local connectiv-
ity.
“The community camara-
derie and helping lift people
up individually, things like
this can help to do that,” she
said.
For these reasons, South
Valley Farmers Market
members are eager to explore
options for their own expan-
sion.
“I think there’s huge room
and opportunity and need
for growth,” said Reyna.
“And I think for one thing
that would be helping more
vendors come to the market.
When you have more ven-
dors, you have more people
interested, curious, coming
through more often.”
To realize this, the group
has been planning on push-
ing the market down Seventh
Street to E. Washington Ave.,
however the city recently
denied a permit for such an
expansion.
City Manager Richard
Meyers cited ongoing con-
struction involving lead in
the Armory and alley access
as reasons for not issuing
the permit, but did not rule
out the possibility in future
years.
The market’s current per-
mitted space can accom-
modate up to 25 vendors in
the neighboring park and
parking lot, though Mull said
she has a list of more than
35 vendors and access issues
preclude fully utilizing the
space they’ve been given.
For now, Mull has her eyes
set on not just improving the
market, but also the energy it
attracts.
“I’m trying to actively
work with making this a vi-
brant downtown,” she said.
This year’s market runs
May 2 to Oct. 31.
Worship
Directory
DRAIN:
HOPE U.M.C.
131 W “A” St. Drain, OR
541-315-1617
Pastor: Lura Kidner-Miesen
Fellowship & Song: 11:30am
Potluck Lunch: 12:00pm
Worship: 12:30pm
COTTAGE GROVE:
6th & Gibbs Church of Christ
195 N. 6th St. • 541-942-3822
10:00am
Christian Education:
Pre-K through 5th
www.6thandgibbs.com
Calvary Baptist Church
77873 S 6th St • 541-942-4290
Pastor: Riley Hendricks
Sunday School: 9:45am
Worship: 11:00am
The Journey: Sunday 5:00pm
Praying Thru Life: Wednesday 6:00pm
Church of Christ
420 Monroe St • 541-942-8565
Sunday Service: 10:30am
Cottage Grove Bible Church
1200 East Quincy Avenue
541-942-4771
Pastor:Bob Singer
Worship 11am
Sunday School:9:45am
AWANA age 3-8th Grade,
Wednesdays Sept-May, 6:30pm
www.cgbible.org
Cottage Grove Faith Center
33761 Row River Rd.
541-942-4851
Lead Pastor: Kevin Pruett
www.cg4.tv
Full Childrenʼs Ministry available
Services: 9:00am & 10:45am
Delight Valley
Church of Christ
33087 Saginaw Rd. East
541-942-7711 • Pastor: Bob Friend
Two Services:
9am - Classic in the Chapel
10:30am - Contemporary in the
Auditorium
First Baptist Church
301 S. 6th st • 541-942-8242
Pastor: David Chhangte
Sunday School 9:30am
Worship Service 11:00am
Youth Wednesday 6:30pm
cgfi rstbaptist.com
First Presbyterian Church
3rd and Adams St
541-942-4479
Rev.: Karen Hill
Worship: 10:00am
Sunday School: 10:00am
fpcgrove.com
Seventh-day Adventist Church
820 South 10th Street
541-942-5213
Pastor: Kevin Miller
Bible Study: Saturday, 9:15 am
Worship Service: Saturday, 10:40
Mid-week Service: Wednesday, 1:00
Hope Fellowship
United Pentecostal Church
100 S. Gateway Blvd.
541-942-2061
Pastor: Dave Bragg
Worship: 11:00am Sunday
Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday
www.hopefellowshipupc.com
“FINDING HOPE IN YOUR LIFE”
Trinity Lutheran Church
6th & Quincy • 541-942-2373
Pastor: James L. Markus
Sunday School & Adult Education
9:15am
Sunday Worship 10:30 am
Comm. Kitchen Free Meal Tue & Thur
5:00pm TLC Groups
tlccg.com
Living Faith Assembly
467 S. 10th St. • 541-942-2612
Worship Services Sundays: 9a & 11a
Youth Worship Sundays: 11a (all ages
welcome)
Mondays: 5:30p (6th-12th grades)
United Methodist Church
334 Washington • 541-942-3033
Pastor:Lura Kidner-Miesen
Worship: 10:30am
umcgrove.org
Non-Denominational
Church of Christ
1041 Pennoyer Ave
541-942-8928
Preacher: Tony Martin
Sunday Bible Study:10:00am
Sunday Worship:10:50am & 5:30pm
www.pennoyeravecoc.com
Old Time Gospel Fellowship
103 S. 5th St. • 541-942-4999
Pastor: Jim Edwards
Sunday Service: 10:00am
Join in Traditional Christian Worship
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
and St. Philip Benizi
Catholic Churches
1025. N. 19th St.
541-942-3420
Father John J. Boyle
Holy Mass:
Saturday Vigil – 5:30 PM
Sunday – 10:30 PM
For weekday and Holy Day of
Obligation schedule see website
OLPHCG.net
Confession: 4 PM to 5 PM
Saturdays or by appointment
St. Philip Benizi, Creswell
552 Holbrook Lane
Sunday 8:30 AM
“VICTORY” Country Church
913 S. 6th Street • 541-942-5913
Pastor: Barbara Dockery
Worship Service: 10:00am
Message: “WE BELIEVE IN
MIRACLES”
CRESWELL:
Creswell Presbyterian Church
75 S 4th S • 541-895-3419
Rev. Seth Wheeler
Adult Sunday School 9:15am
Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am
website www.creswellpres.org
Worship
With Us!
St. Andrews Episcopal Church
1301 W. Main • 541-767-9050
Rev. Lawrence Crumb
“Church with the fl ags.”
Worship: Sunday 10:30am
All Welcome
C ottage G rove
116 N. 6th Street, PO Box 35
Cottage Grove, OR 97424
541-942-3325 • cgsentinel.com
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S entinel
C ottage G rove
541-942-3325
116 N. 6th Street
Cottage Grove, OR
