Stevenson Downtown and Famers Market to join forces in 2022

From Stevenson Downtown Association and Stevenson Farmers Market:

Stevenson, Wash. -- The Stevenson Downtown Association announced the plans to absorb the Stevenson Farmers Market beginning in 2022. Each organization’s volunteer Board of Directors voted unanimously in favor of the move.

“We have similar goals of a vibrant downtown, visitor experiences, community activation, entrepreneurial support and connection to the waterfront,” shared Kelly O’Malley-McKee, Executive Director of the Stevenson Downtown Association. “Both entities agreed it is a natural fit to combine assets and resources to benefit the community.”

One of the market’s most valuable assets is the 7-years of experience that Pharaoh Skinner brings to the table as Market Manager, who will now become an employee of the Stevenson Downtown Association, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

“We’ve been under the umbrella of Community Enrichment of Klickitat County since I’ve been involved in the Stevenson Farmers Market,” said Skinner. “I’m excited to bring our non-profit status closer to home and partner with the Stevenson Downtown Association. I believe this will open doors to strengthening the community we love farmers market: Prosser, Walla Walla, Downtown Yakima, Downtown Kennewick, Downtown Pasco, Puyallup and Gig Harbor.

As part of the merge, volunteers serving on the Farmers Market Board will become a committee of the Stevenson Downtown Association and will continue to support Skinner in planning, advice, strategies and market coordination.

“Sponsors, vendors, market customers and the public won’t likely notice this big change from the outside,” adds O’Malley-McKee. “It’s still the quaint waterfront market we all know and love. It will become a Stevenson Downtown Association program – with mostly behind-the-scenes and marketing-focused efforts to enhance the market and provide stability for years to come.”

The Stevenson Farmers Market recently experienced its best two years in market history after moving to the Stevenson Waterfront location on Port of Skamania property.

Annual sales increased 93% and customer visitation increased 116% since the move to the waterfront. The trend is expected to continue as we come out of the pandemic. The Stevenson Farmers Market operates from mid-June to the beginning of October.

The mission of the Stevenson Farmers Market is to enhance the quality of life in Skamania County by providing access to fresh, locally grown produce for all income levels, providing alternative marketing opportunities to local agricultural and cottage industries, fostering food education, and social gathering/interaction within our community.

The market’s services function to attract and retain visitors, promote exploration of our city and foster a sense of community friendliness. More information at stevensonfarmersmarket.com.

The Stevenson Downtown Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, affiliated with both Washington Main Street and Main Street America. This coalition of local business owners, public officials and community leaders works to promote and revitalize Downtown Stevenson and enrich our local heritage. By embracing the Main Street Approach, we envision a historically preserved, economically vibrant downtown where locals and visitors alike come together for community, culture and connection to the Columbia River. More at stevensonmainstreet.org.