Moses Lake Farmers Market to have Winter Market
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 4 months AGO
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | December 3, 2021 1:00 AM
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Farmers Market will have a Winter Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the Commercial Building at the Grant County Fairgrounds, 3953 Airway Drive NE, in Moses Lake.
Market manager Dawn Leslie said the winter market has attracted a wide variety of vendors.
“There are quite a few (vendors). I’m going to say more than 35,” Leslie said.
Many of the vendors are veterans of the summer farmers market in McCosh Park.
“Our goal is to continue to support our vendors in the off-season, and give them a venue,” Leslie said.
This is the fourth year organizers planned a winter market. The 2020 winter market was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s a new venue. Previous winter markets were at the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center, but 2021 attracted a lot of vendors.
“We outgrew that venue,” Leslie said. “We so appreciate that they were our starting point.”
The winter market is part of a weekend of events all around Moses Lake, including the Agricultural Parade & Street Party Friday night; the Farm Family Brunch, Cocoa for K9s and winter market Saturday and Light Up Moses Lake Saturday night.
The winter market is open to all small businesses, and some direct sales vendors will have booths. Leslie said there will be some new vendors, as well.
Fresh produce is the backbone of the summer farmers market, and Rowley & Hawkins Fruit Farms will sell fresh fruit, while Royal Produce will have fresh vegetables, Leslie said. Royal Produce is a first-time vendor and will sell root vegetables, including potatoes and carrots. Gordon Gardens, of Soap Lake, will have fresh microgreens.
Longtime vendors, like Pies By Ronna and BevBeJammin will be at the fairgrounds, along with newcomers like Old Timers Pork Rinds. People can buy goodies from Risen Indeed Cakes & Pastries and Boyce’s Famous Fudge.
Alicia’s Tamale Express is a popular vendor at the summer market, Leslie said, and she will be selling tamales at the winter market.
“They sell out during the season. I want to say I’ve never seen a tamale available after 10 a.m.,” Leslie said.
Other vendors include Tin Roof Blacksmith, maker of handcrafted knives and metal art, A+ Woodshop, makers of “wood burned art,” and Morando Sculptures & Concrete Statues, which works with cement. Dairies, jewelers and crafters will sell at the winter market, as well, Leslie said.
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Road closures, roundabout, mean construction season underway
EPHRATA — The grass is starting to turn green, the trees are starting to leaf out, construction crews are starting to build roundabouts – hey, it’s spring. At least one roundabout project is in its final phase, held over from fall 2025. The intersection of State Route 282 and Nat Washington Way will be closed the week of April 6 to allow crews to install permanent lights. “This really is the final (closure),” wrote Grant County Administrator Tom Gaines in a media release. “The roundabout will close at 6 a.m. Monday, and we plan to reopen by Friday, possibly sooner if the work finishes early.”
Ybarra announces run for Washington Senate
QUINCY — State Representative Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, has announced his candidacy for the Washington Senate. If he’s elected, he would replace Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, who announced her retirement in March.
Othello Community Museum to open April 25
OTHELLO — With a couple of new exhibits, a new heating-cooling system, rearranged displays and a thorough cleaning, the Othello Community Museum will open for the summer April 25. The goal, said Molly Popchock, museum board secretary, is to operate for a full season.