The Toledo Thursday Market is moving back to the outdoors starting May 6. They will again be at the boat launch and this year they are going to offer many several opportunities and ways to buy their produce and foods.
Also new this year is their site manager, Meagan Kirby. The funds were donated by Timberland Bank to provide the funds for the site manager. Meagan has been living in Southern Oregon and recently moved up to the area.
There will be a variety of vendors at the outdoor market, they will have produce that includes: mushrooms, vegetables, eggs, plant starts along with flowers and different foods. We had the opportunity to talk to a few of the vendors and this is what they are offering to the Thursday Market.
This year they also have several programs to help residents and seniors. This year they have the SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. They also have the SNAP Market Match, where they match up to $40.00. They also have the ability to take WIC, Women Infant Children cards, also known as EBT or PEBT for kids. Toledo Thursday Market also participates in the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, you can get your vouchers through the Lewis County Senior Centers. Many options are available to help you get access to market foods. If you have questions, they will assist you.
Rainy Karnesand and Robert specialize in growing culinary mushrooms, most are available year round. "We grow Lion's Mane, Blue Oyster, Pink Oyster, Maitake and Wine caps, and even have grow kits available, a fun learning experience for young and old alike, for people to grow at home," they said. "We also raise Nigerian Dwarf goats, which are known for having double the butterfat of standard dairy breeds.Products available can be found on our website:www.ravenswindfarm.org."
Matthew Frazier with Black Cat Coffee stated, "My family and I moved to Toledo in 2018. The Toledo Thursday Market was the first place we connected with people of Toledo. I've been roasting coffee for personal use for 15 years and was pushed by friends to start selling our coffee. The Toledo Thursday Market was the natural place to start."
Dancing Dahlia Design is known for its upcycled jewelry and accessories handcrafted from repurposed game-pieces and other small items like postage stamps, bottlecaps, guitar picks, yard sticks, postage stamps and used gift cards. The results are amazingly quirky and sometimes whimsical resin-coated necklaces, earrings and key rings made from every day, mundane items that would otherwise be overlooked or tossed in the trash. "Even my business cards started life as lowly playing cards," said the owner, "I source materials from second hand stores, garage sales; my own recycling box; friends, family and customers; Starbucks and online."
Linda Aitchison from Dragonfly Chocolates stated, "I have been making chocolates (truffles, caramels and bars) for about 20 years. I am a one woman operation that uses as many natural ingredients as I can find.
If you have not been to the Toledo Thursday Market, it's worth the time. They are open from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. every Thursday.