Two Mount Hood markets are making cautious plans for returning during the
summer season to offer community members access to locally farmed
foodstuffs and artisan goods produced in the region.

Both the Hoodland Farmers Market and the Mt. Hood Artisan Market are
anticipating shortened seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are
planning on opening with a focus on social distancing and ensuring the safety
of the public and vendors at the markets.

“The Hoodland Farmers Market will continue its mission to bring fresh, real
food and locally made goods to the people of Mt. Hood while supporting local
businesses during these unprecedented times,” said the market’s manager,
Lauren Carusona, in a recent press release.

The Hoodland Farmers Market will delay opening from May to June this year.
The farmers market is deemed an essential business during the pandemic and
will return to its previous home in the El Burro Loco parking lot, 67211 E.
Hwy. 26 in Welches every Sunday from noon until 2 p.m. starting June 7.
In response to the pandemic, the farmers market will serve as a place to pick
up pre-ordered items and not a place to gather, browse or socialize in

accordance with social distancing guidelines. Customers can contact individual
vendors and arrange to place prepaid orders for pick up at the market.
Contact information for the vendors will be available on the farmers market’s
social media and in an email newsletter.

Carusona stated the market has been researching safe distancing protocol
used by other farmers markets. No money will be exchanged, a hand washing
and sanitizing station will be provided on site and customers will be required
to maintain appropriate distances while picking up preordered goods.

Carusona highlighted the fact that while the social element of the market was
diminished it was still an opportunity to purchase nutritious, locally produced
food and ensure money being spent was supporting the local economy.
“The silver lining of this difficult time is that our community has all that it
needs and more and it’s safer,” Carusona said.

The Mt. Hood Artisan Market has six dates planned for the summer. The first
artisan market is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend in the courtyard at the
Mt. Hood Village and RV Resort, 65000 E. Hwy 26 in Welches with a market
scheduled every three weeks through September. The schedule is currently
tentative depending on state guidelines over the following months.

“We hope to provide a safe environment for our vendors to come out and
show their wares,” said market organizer Heidi Flanders. “We want everyone
to be safe during these uncertain times and we’ll follow state mandate and
guidelines throughout the summer.”

The artisan market strives to be a starting point for new artists and
craftspeople in the region who haven’t begun to get their art out to the
community.

The markets saw an uptick in interest from vendors and the public after
operating for two years and organizers hope for the potential for community
members to browse and enjoy entertainment including live music, vendors
samples and other activities later this summer if social distancing guidelines
are reduced.

“We’re looking forward to getting back to having more community
involvement,” Carusona said. “At this time we’re working with the pandemic
and making sure we put safety first.”

For more information about the Mt. Hood Artisan Market email
Heidi_flanders@equitylifestyle.com. More information about the Hoodland
Farmers Market can be found on the market’s Facebook page.

[Editor’s note: following publication in our newspaper, it was
announced that the Mt. Hood Artisan Market has been cancelled for
this summer.]