Finding Room to Grow
For almost twenty years the Teton Valley Farmers Market has been a central part of the community and a gathering place for local vendors during the summer months.
The market’s mission is simple: provide a venue for local farmers, food producers, artisans, and nonprofit organizations to connect with the public to enhance the health, economy, and vibrancy of the community.
The Friday farmers market is a part of the weekly routine of many residents and visitors, my family included. Every Friday, we load up our three young daughters in the stroller and walk to Main Street to enjoy the bounty of the season, from locally grown tomatoes and basil to sourdough, eggs, and fresh fruit turned into sweet, tangy jam. It’s a wonderful destination to meet up with friends and support local purveyors.
The team behind the market, however, saw room to grow. “We had been hearing for many years that people with Monday-through-Friday jobs could not come to our market on Friday mornings in Driggs,” says Rob Dupré, board president of the Teton Valley Farmers Market and owner of Chasing Paradise.
In summer 2024, the Teton Valley Farmers Market expanded to Victor, offering a summer evening market on Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in July and August. It was such a success, that this year it’s expanding to ten weeks, from July 8 to September 9.
“[The Victor market] gives the working people of our community, as well as everyone else, an opportunity to come out and stock up on delicious and nutritious locally-grown and produced food, as well as local art and hand-crafted products,” Rob says.
“The farmers market board is working to help remove barriers for our community to access local, nutritious food,” says Susan Lykes, board member for the farmers market. Offering a second market and accepting federal SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are two ways they are doing just that.
Held in Victor City Park, more than thirty vendors fill the grassy field and hometown musicians take the iconic park stage for an afternoon of fun, delicious food, and shopping galore.
Rob says to expect more baked goods and artisan creations like vegan and gluten-free goods from Dulce Baking, cheese and bread from Larks Meadow Farms, and a growing sampling of vegetables and produce from area farms like Growing Acres and the Homestead Institute. Grab a bushel of Mountain Valley Mushrooms and enjoy mead, cider, and pesto from Chasing Paradise.
Expect to see some vendors you won’t typically find at the Friday markets, including local food trucks, Grand Teton Brewing, and more.
Turn a visit to the market into an evening affair. Bring a blanket, grab a favorite treat—we opt for the hand pies from Claire Brandhorst’s Early Bird Bakes— and sit on the lawn to enjoy the live music and soak up the summer evening.
Learn more at: tetonvalleyfarmersmarket.org
