Present weather indicators aside, summer is coming…we think. A sure sign of the season is the return of the summer People’s Market, and next Wednesday marks the first of summer 2019. For the unfamiliar, these events celebrate food and community on a weekly basis with sales by local producers and growers, local entertainment, beer from local brewing companies and other handmade goods. Every Wednesday, through September 18, the market takes place from 4-7 p.m., at the base of Snow King Mountain.
The People’s Market is brought to Jackson by local non-profit Slow Food in the Tetons, with the goal to “connect community with good, clean, fair food.” Visitors to the market can find locally produced food from farmers, ranchers, food entrepreneurs and prepared food vendors. If you’ve picked up the newest issue of Dishing, you’ll notice a particularly thick insert in its pages. This would be the second annual Local Food Guide- a collaboration between Dishing, Slow Food in the Tetons, Snake River Brewing, and The Hub Bicycles.
We spend a lot of time carefully selecting People’s Market vendors every year with clear selection criteria supporting sustainability and good, clean, fair producer practices. ~Scott Steen, Slow Food in the Tetons Executive Director
The handy food guide lists locally grown and made foods, as well as restaurants that source locally. A key at the beginning of the guide will direct you to producers for beef, poultry, bread, pork, lamb, grains, goat products, produce, packaged food, eggs and dairy.
Visit the stand for Cosmic Apple Gardens to purchase beef, pork, eggs, vegetables, berries, herbs and flowers from the USDA certified organic and biodynamic farm in Teton Valley. At Daily Roots, you’ll find prepared foods that include: raw fermented vegetables, tonic vinegars and more fermented products. Haderlie Farms is a resource for unprocessed milk, cream and butter, beef, pork, honey, vegetables and cut flowers. Arrive early for delicious ice cream to enjoy as you stroll between market vendors. Outside the market, this guide allows you to easily contact these local producers for goods, year-round.
This year presents a special opportunity for the younger generation: a People’s Market Cooking Camp. When Slow Foods began its Summer Kids Cooking and Farm Camp, it quickly sold out, with a long wait list to boot. So Slow Foods added this eight-week program, for kids in grades 3-5, to coincide with the People’s Market. On Wednesdays, during the People’s Market, June 26-August 14, from 4:30-6:30 p.m., students have the opportunity to learn about seasonal cooking, healthy eating and local food producers. Cost for the program is $300 total, and includes snacks and a take home meal. Students must commit to all eight weeks, parents are responsible for dropping off and picking up, and registration can be done by contacting Ashley at ashley@tetonslowfood.org. This camp is a unique opportunity for local children to experience hands-on learning in the local food producer setting.
If you aren’t able to participate in this summer program, or missed out on the other kids camps, sign up for the Slow Foods newsletter to be the first to hear about upcoming camp and cooking class opportunities.
