Portland Farmers Market has announced that the Sunday King Market, the newest of Portland Farmers Market’s five weekly markets, will stay open until Sunday, October 25, 2009. Shoppers, farmers and other food artisans requested the neighborhood market located in North/Northeast Portland remain open an extra month.

This location first opened May 3, 2009, through a partnership with Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods (NECN), an umbrella organization for 12 neighborhood associations and more than 30,000 households located in inner North/Northeast Portland. The market is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays, near the intersection of NE 7th Avenue and Wygant Street. It was originally slated to close its inaugural season at the end of September.

“The Sunday King Market has exceeded our expectations to date and we expect it will keep growing in both sales and attendance,” said Ann Forsthoefel, executive director of Portland Farmers Market. “It has become a wonderful weekly gathering place for neighborhood residents.”

The market hosts eight produce vendors, including Groundwork Organics, Wintergreen Farms and Natures Fountain Farm. Other food artisans include Jacob’s Creamery, Ancient Heritage Dairy and Linda Brand Crab. The market has featured bands like James Clem, Shorty & the Mustangs and Sour Mash Hug Band. Every week, rows and racks of bicycles line areas around the market and the adjoining playground is often filled with families with children.

Foodshare Fund Northeast
In early July 2009, NECN with the support of the Portland Farmers Market launched the Foodshare Fund Northeast (FFNE), an incentive program to improve the access of low-income residents of North and Northeast Portland to the Sunday King Market. FFNE supplements food stamps with a dollar-for-dollar match, providing up to $5 per person per week in matching funds.

The success of the program has contributed to the overall success of the market location. Since the program was launched, the average number of food stamp customers at the market has more than doubled, from 25 to 52 per week and the average amount of food stamp tokens purchased has nearly doubled, from $420 to $780 per week. Because the Foodshare Fund tokens are unique, vendors can readily see the increase in sales due to FFNE and several have expressed their appreciation for the program.

David Sweet, co-chair of the King Farmers Market Community Advisory Council, said, “Community members have told us that they came to the market for the first time because they heard about the matching program. We are delighted by the response to this program and grateful for the generous support of the Northeast community that makes it possible. This is a part of our continuing effort to make the Sunday King Market welcoming to everyone in our community.”

The Sunday King Market is sponsored by New Seasons Market. Portland Farmers Market is generously supported by community partners West Coast Bank and Mix.