Lane County Farmers Market settles in new home Saturday as new pavilion and plaza opens

Philip Smith describes it as "super-duper" to be back at the Lane County Farmers Market's original home.

After around a year and a half of being relocated on East Fifth Avenue, the market returned to its Eighth Avenue and Oak Street location on Saturday and moved into its new permanent home − the completed Farmers Market Pavilion and Plaza.

Smith, who first started selling at the market with Blessed Bee in 1992, has seen the farmers market expand, gaining vendors and a greater variety of products.

He said the completed pavilion "seems to be quite an excellent improvement," and he doesn't miss the train horns going by as they did when the market was on East Fifth Avenue.

Both the Saturday and Tuesday Farmers Markets will be the pavilion and plaza from now on.

Alexis Molinari, the market manager, said the time situated behind the 5th Street Market has been "positive and welcoming" as an interim location.

"We are thankful for the 5th Street Market and all of the surrounding businesses for not only welcoming us, but working together to create a bustling environment that positively impacted our vendors’ and customers' experience, as well as the 5th Street Market area," Molinari said in a statement.

Though the market was successful on Fifth Avenue, vendors and staff were looking forward to being back and Eighth Avenue and Oak Street, where the city's first farmers market took root more than 100 years ago, according to a news release.

Dan Schuler has been selling at the market for a few years with Moondog's Farm and said the space is both different and similar to past markets.

"It feels much like the market did in the past, but it also feels like a nice level up," Schuler said.

There are some obvious differences, he said, like shelter from the rain. Schuler also noted an increase in traffic and excitement and said it was nice to have some ambient light − he was one of a few vendors inside the pavilion who didn't set up a tent.

Antonina Kuznetsov, who has been selling at the market for 15 years with Northwest Berries, also was optimistic about the permanent home.

It was a big change moving to Fifth Avenue, she said, and she likes that everything is on one block with the move back to the original location.

"I'm hoping it's going to be great," Kuznetsov said. "It feels really good and open, and it's a very nice vibe."

Construction on the pavilion started in August 2021 after a land swap and planning for a new town square including the pavilion and plaza.

Mike Sullivan, who was on the board of directors for the farmers market for nearly 10 years and witnessed much of the process, said the move to the permanent home has been "so many years in the making" and that support from the city and county has been key.

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"The market’s new home can help us achieve so much: support local farmers, support expansion of the market, extend the market season, enhance the community’s access to local, fresh and healthy produce, and support vitality in Eugene’s downtown," Sullivan said in a statement. "We are so grateful for the vision and leadership that has made the market’s new home a reality."

Market staff are excited to be in the pavilion and once again be next to the Eugene Saturday Market, Molinari said.

"The combination of the two markets, side by side, is a strong part of Eugene's identity, and a collaboration that a lot of the community has missed," she said in a statement.

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Molinari said the pavilion also will serve as a space to host community-oriented events and allow the market to actively promote health and possibly create a dedicated space to increase awareness about agriculture, ecology and the environment. The organization also hopes the space will serve as a place where people can feel safe visiting and gathering even on non-market days, she said.

There will be a grand opening celebration from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 26 at the new Farmers Market Pavilion and Plaza. The free event will feature live music, food trucks, speakers, information from partner organizations, and family-friendly activities.

Register-Guard photographer Ben Lonergan contributed to this article. Contact city government watchdog Megan Banta at mbanta@registerguard.com Follow her on Twitter @MeganBanta_1.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Farmers Market returns home, moving into new pavilion and plaza