Florence Farmers Market Week Celebration Brings Local Food, Activities and Expanded Food Access to the Boardwalk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CELEBRATE FLORENCE FARMERS MARKET WEEK AT THE BOARDWALK

A local-food celebration with the Taste of the Market Experience, expanded food access and Florence outings revealed through an online auction

FLORENCE, Ore. — July 28, 2026 — Florence Farmers Market will celebrate nine seasons of local food and community growth with a special Farmers Market Week event Tuesday, August 4, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Port of Siuslaw Boardwalk.

The City of Florence has proclaimed August 2–8 Florence Farmers Market Week, recognizing the farmers, food producers, shoppers, volunteers and partners who have made Tuesdays on the Boardwalk part of Florence. The celebration arrives during one of the market’s strongest seasons, with nearly 24 vendors participating weekly, up from about 15 last summer.

“You can’t force a farmers market to grow. Believe me, we’ve tried. You set the table, you do the work, and then it’s up to everyone else whether anyone comes,” said Jennifer Ledbetter, Florence Farmers Market Board President. “Nine seasons in, they keep coming. A market isn’t really a store. It’s a town deciding to show up for itself every Tuesday on the Boardwalk. Fresh, local food within reach for every family in the Siuslaw region isn’t a nice extra. That’s the whole point.”

FOLLOW THE TASTE OF THE MARKET EXPERIENCE

Visitors can begin at the market welcome area, pick up the Experience Guide and follow the celebration at their own pace through participating farmers and food producers, children’s activities, Local Matters education and the market’s food-access programs.

At the center of the afternoon is the Taste of the Market Challenge, where local cooks and food partners will create no-heat dishes using ingredients available from market vendors that day. There is no set grocery list; the season decides what is on the table. Visitors can watch the dishes come together, learn practical ways to use local ingredients and meet the people who grew or produced the food. Limited tastes will be available first come, while they last.

MORE LOCAL FOOD FOR THE CELEBRATION

Food access is part of the market experience, not a separate activity. SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, Produce Rx, Little Sprouts, Bucka Bucka Bucks and Abundance to Access help shoppers purchase fresh food while directing those food dollars to local farmers and producers.

For August 4, additional event-only support from the Willamette Farm and Food Coalition will increase the food-access funding available through the market. Partner support expands access, shoppers choose food from market vendors, and those purchases return support to regional farmers and producers.

FROM THE BOARDWALK INTO FLORENCE

The celebration is rooted at the Port of Siuslaw Boardwalk beside Historic Old Town and the Siuslaw River. Visitors can continue the afternoon along Florence’s walkable riverfront and Bay Street, connecting the market with nearby food, shops, public spaces and views of the estuary.

Florence Farmers Market Week is sponsored in part by Travel Oregon, supporting outreach, visitor materials and the public market experience. The market remains the starting point and center of the day.

FLORENCE EXPERIENCES COMING TO THE ONLINE AUCTION

Florence Farmers Market Week will also include a weeklong online fundraising auction supporting the market’s operations and community work. Rather than a catalog of unrelated items, the auction will reveal a small collection of Florence evenings, days out and local outings.

Confirmed contributors include Homegrown Public House, Siuslaw Eco Tours, Darling’s Resort and Waterfront Depot. Each experience will be announced after its details, restrictions and redemption process are confirmed. Auction previews, bidding information and closing details will be shared through the market’s website and social media.

New Florence Farmers Market merchandise will also debut August 4, including market logo stickers and sticker sheets featuring original vegetable artwork from the market’s 2018–2019 designs, produced with support from Rockin’ Stickers of Eugene.

EVENT INFORMATION

Florence Farmers Market Week Celebration — Taste of the Market Experience

Tuesday, August 4, 2026
3 to 6 p.m.
Port of Siuslaw Boardwalk
Florence, Oregon
Free and open to the public

Auction previews, launch information and bidding links will be published through the Florence Farmers Market website, Facebook and Instagram.

MEDIA CONTACT

Florence Farmers Market Outreach Committee
outreach@florencefarmersmarket.org

ABOUT FLORENCE FARMERS MARKET

Florence Farmers Market connects Florence and the Siuslaw Region with local farmers, food producers and makers. The market supports access to locally grown and produced food through SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, Produce Rx, Little Sprouts, Bucka Bucka Bucks and other food-access programs. Florence Farmers Market operates Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Port of Siuslaw Boardwalk during its regular season.