How Will We ALL Get Through This Together?

A Message from Tamara Cameron, Market Manager of The Boise Farmers Market

Story by Lex Nelson

On Sept. 23, the Boise Farmers Market (BFM) was named the Most Essential Farmers Market in the Pacific Region and the 3rd Most Essential Farmers Market in the nation by American Farmland Trust. It was up to market goers to vote BFM into the top spot, and they delivered — even up against places like Portland and Los Angeles.

The outpouring of support touched Market Manager Tamara Cameron, whose leadership helped the market pivot to an entirely drive-thru operation this year in the face of COVID-19. However, the contest’s $250 prize won’t go far, and farmers are still struggling. Cameron says the best way to support them is simple: shop. At BFM, this means pre-ordering your food online and picking it up on Saturdays at 1500 Shoreline Drive.

“The farmers get the retail prices for the goods that they sell through the online store, so that’s a way to support them,” she says. “If your farmers market is not happening right now, call farmers directly. If you know the farmers that you bought from last summer and you think they might have stuff to sell, call them. Lots of farmers are selling directly from the farm and lots of us have fall CSAs [community-supported agriculture programs] that you can be a part of too.”

To keep their farmers’ wares from rotting in the fields this summer, Cameron and her team made a bold move: They reached out to big corporations like Micron to see if they were interested in buying local produce wholesale. The answer, at Micron at least, was “Yes!”

Accounts like those have helped relieve some pressure, and BFM is also finding other ways to support the community and get its produce to those who need it. Its “veggie van” is making deliveries to Idaho City, and it partnered with the nonprofit City of Good to get meal kits to hungry kids. Still, despite these positive signs, Cameron worries about the future.

“Here's what really keeps me up at night … How will we ALL get through this? Not just the farmers or farmers markets, but our restaurants, small independent businesses, and all the individuals and families who have lost their jobs — what does their future hold?” she asks.

Only time will tell. Until it does, Cameron says, “We’ll just continue to be nimble and figure out ways to get local food out into the community.”