Event Story

A little girl in a bright red and yellow striped dress danced to the melody of marimbas and the beat of her father’s clapping. Nearby a young boy twirled with his mother, a smile stretched wide across his face. Early Saturday morning the sun shone over the crowd at the Moscow Farmer’s Market.

The Farmer’s Market in Moscow Idaho, established in 1977, is a place for local farmers, artists, artisans and musicians to directly engage the community. Every Saturday, May through October from 8:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. market goers mingle through Friendship square, browsing the various vendors and enjoying live music.

The market gives priority to vendors of fresh produce. About 50 percent of the vendors sell fresh produce, 25 percent prepared food, and 25 percent artisan crafts such as homemade soaps or handmade jewelry. It also regulates the locality of vendors—everything sold at the market must have been made or grown within a 100 mile radius. Nothing manufactured may be sold either.

Erica L. Dolinky is the coordinator for the market. While she’s only held the position for a month she said she has already seen the impact the market has on the community. The market attracts a large demographic of people Dolinky said. It rained during the first market this year and yet still people were eager to participate in the event, she said.

“Even folks that live in Lewiston want to sell in this market,” said Dolinky, “It’s clear we’re doing something right.”

Affinity Farms sells still planted vegetables and is one of the most popular vendors at the market. On Saturday a line formed in front of the vendor and remained throughout most of the day. Kelly Kingsland, the owner of Affinty Farms, said the market is one of the best in Idaho. She said the market certainly is great for business but for her it’s just as much about the social aspect. Her favorite part of the market is the support she gets from the community. Their gratefulness is very rewarding she said.

“Moscow really loves its farmer’s market,” Kingsley said.

Jane Estocin-Klaiber is also a vendor at the market. She sells hand-crafted earrings and has been selling them at the market for over four years. She described her work as simple and elegant. She most often uses pearls semiprecious stones to make the focal points of her designs.

The market gives Estocin-Klaiber an outlet to present her work. “I love jewelry,” she said,” I had so much inventory I had to find a way to do something with it.”

While by her own admission artisanry like her own is not the most popular item at the market despite up and down sales Estocin-Klaiber said being at the market is wonderful. She said even if someone isn’t buying she loves the chance to talk to people about what she does.

A band called Sesistshaya Marimba performed during the market Saturday. Their music is an African-inspired arrangement of songs all of which are played on up to nine marimbas at once. Doug P. Malm, a self-declared roadie for the band said the market gives the band a place to play, have fun, and sell a couple of CD’s. All the money raised from CD sales goes to an international scholarship fund.

“People get dancing to this stuff,” Malm said. Sure enough as the band played people of all ages danced throughout the market.

There’s something for everyone in this city and the farmers market reflects that Dolinky said.