Some of the offerings at the Original Jackson Hole Farmers Market
Tucked away in the Movieworks Plaza you will find a small fruit stand back by Twigs Nursery. Hidden from street view and away from the tourist hustle and bustle of downtown Jackson is a true gem for anyone who is looking for fresh produce.
The original Jackson Hole Farmers Market started out next to the old Maverick station on Broadway. It was operated by Ashley Patterson, who would sell fruit from her family’s farm in Wapato, Wash., along with the occasional special order for Utah produce. At the end of a summer season, Ashley asked an employee if she would consider buying the business. Sloane Bergien accepted the offer, that was 20 years ago.
After a change in location and expansion in selection, Bergie is still at it sourcing some of the produce from surrounding areas. Working with more than 40 farms, her offerings change with the seasons and reflect the top offerings from around the region such Bear Lake raspberries or delicious Washington cherries.
“I love walking through orchards and picking peaches, down rows of berries and sampling them when they are still warm,” Bergien said. Her love of food is obvious in the amount of time she spends between her own farmers market and organizing the Town Square market as well. While the food is what drives the market, it is the connections that really matter. “Relationships are the best part,” Bergien said. “The people that come every week make my business. Not just logistically – they make it worth while.”
You can still find fruit from the Patterson’s orchard along with the best produce of the season in the Movieworks Plaza, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
