In just over a week, on Wednesday, June 6th, the 2018 market season will begin in Westcliffe.  We will be located at Jess Price Park, on Main Street, just as we have been in years past.  The market runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m every Wednesday from June to October.

While we are pleased to have several vendors returning this year, we are excited about the new vendors that have signed up. We have added some new items to the market that will give you, our customers, more choices to choose from.

There will be a variety of items to tempt you as you shop, but as is the “problem” with living at this altitude, produce may be limited some what for the first few markets.  We will have Scot and his wonderful greens, Nola Naturals is returning this year with their organic produce and meats and there may be some others that jump in as crops start producing.

If you are a vendor and have sent in your applications and payments, I have received them and all payments that I have received will be deposited this week.

If you are looking to be a vendor and have not printed out your application, or have any questions about vending at the market, please contact me at westcliffefarmersmarket@gmail.com or at 719-213-9498.  If you get my voicemail, please leave me a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can.  Vendor registration is never closed until we fill up the park and can’t fit any more vendors.

We have finished updating all of the paperwork to better fit what we are aiming to do and to streamline the process for the market staff and for the vendors.  If you click on the tab that says “Calling All Vendors” you will find an updated description of the market and the types of vendors we are looking for.  You will also, about 2/3 of the way down the page, find the links for both the Vendor Application and the Vendor agreement.  I tried to tie both of the forms together to do it in one click and couldn’t make it work.  It was probably operator error, but they are both there, and both the new and updated versions.

As it states in the paragraph above the links, vendors must fill out both forms and mail them, along with the appropriate fee, to the market at the address provided.  We would like to have those applications by May 15th, if at all possible.

We are also looking for a food concessionaire to sell food at the market.  We think that will add to the overall atmosphere of the market and give the attendees another choice when it comes to having lunch or a snack, here in town.

Kathy Taylor, who did an outstanding job of scheduling music for last years market, has agreed to do so again this year.  We so appreciate the local musicians that come and share their talents with us…it just adds that something “more” to the market.  Thanks Kathy!

We are in the planning stages for the new season for the farmers market.  We have decided to change the name to better reflect exactly what our market is and what we provide.

Our new name is the Westcliffe Farm and Makers Market.  You can reach us by emailing westcliffefarmersmarket@gmail.com or by messaging us on facebook messenger from facebook on the page for Westcliffe Farmers Market.

This season’s market will run from June 6th to October 10th and will be held on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The paperwork for the vendors is being revised and will be available here on our web page as soon as that is finished.

Our market is open to vendors who locally grow, make or create their products or who add significant value with their own hands.  Produce should be grown or gathered as locally as possible and raised in a healthy and environmentally responsible manner.  All food products are required to meet the standards of the Cottage Foods Act of the State of Colorado.  All non-food products and art should be original and of high quality.

If you think you would make a good vendor for the Westcliffe Farm and Makers Market, please submit an application with the appropriate fees.  Our board will review all applications.  The Market reserves the right to return applications that do not meet the above requirements.

If you have any questions, please email and we will be happy to answer those questions.

We now have the first three markets under our belts and everything is running well.  We had both of our full time produce vendors at the market this past week with great options for your produce needs.

Scot Bowers, a local grower from Centennial Ranch has been bringing gorgeous greens for you all to snap up, as well as a few baked goods that his daughter is producing.  They all look so good.

Brick Street, from Salida, had greens and lovely apricots at the last market.  We look forward to all of the other produce that they will be bringing us in the weeks to come.

There is a possibility of Palisade peaches at our next market on July 12th, as I got a call from someone interested in bringing peaches from his friends farm out in Palisade.

Please come out and support your local farmers market.

I would like to, first off, apologize for the miscommunication on the opening of the farmers market.  There were some circumstances that were beyond my control that delayed the opening of the farmers market.  The problems that delayed the opening are being righted and everything should be back on track for the opening on June 21st.

We have some great vendors that have committed to the market and we will have fresh produce, pottery, jewelry,  hand crafted lotions, soaps and essential oils.  We will also have other drop in vendors that will bring things like hand woven rugs.

Please, don’t let the circumstance that prevented the opening on June 14th, keep you from coming and enjoying the market when we open.

The beginning of the Market season starts this Wednesday, June 14th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  I am looking forward to working with the vendors and making the market a- good place to come and get some fresh produce and baked goods, or things like pottery, lotions, soaps and handmade items.

We are still looking to supplement the produce vendor(s) we have and would invite all gardeners that garden without the use of pesticides or other chemicals from the area that have a surplus to come and sell at the market.  There is nothing better than fresh, locally grown vegetables to supplement your diet.

We are still trying to fill out the roster of vendors, so if you are a vendor that would be interested in setting up at our market, please contact me, the market manager, at 719-783-0593 or 719-213-9498.

Please come out and join us for the Westcliffe Farmers Market at Jess Price park on Wednesday mornings from June 14, 2017 until October 11, 2017 (weather permitting…hey this is Westcliffe where it can snow in September).

We had our vendor’s meeting this evening and I think it was a great success.  We had a room full of people and 9 returning or new vendor’s signed up for this coming season.

The first market for 2017 will be on June 14th and hopefully we will be able to run the market through October 8th, weather permitting.

If you weren’t able to make it to the meeting, please get a hold of me so that we can get a vendor’s application filled out so your spot is reserved for this season.

The 2017 vendor’s meeting for the market will be held at the Custer County Library in the Community room on April 21st from 5 – 7 p.m.

If you are interested in vending at the market for the season, or on a drop in basis, please attend the meeting so that I can meet you and we can get a good idea on what the market is going to look like this year.

Thanks in advance for your participation and interest in the farmer’s market.

The farmers market welcomes new manager Lynda Hitt!   We also are happy that Brickyard Produce will be with us again.   Keep an eye out for our April vendors meeting  Time and place TBD.    Thanks again and see you at the market

Westcliffe Farmers Market is just around the corner!   Once again our market will be held every Wednesday morning from 9am-1pm, June til October.  With the goal of promoting healthy, local foods to Westcliffe and surrounding communities, the Wet Mountain Valley Food Cooperative hosts this local food and craft market each summer. The Co-op board is currently recruiting new vendors to sell naturally grown produce, prepared foods, local honey and free-range eggs .

The Wet Mountain Valley Food Cooperative will host an organizational meeting for potential Westcliffe Farmers Market vendors in late April get on our email westcliffefarmersmarket@gmail.com. New and returning vendors are encouraged to attend this informational meeting to learn more about participating this season of the Westcliffe Farmers Market.