SALT LAKE CITY -- This summer will be the 24th season for the Downtown Farmers Market, and organizers say this year is going to be bigger than ever.
Thursday, community leaders joined with local farmers to talk about what you can expect this year from the market, which is a Salt Lake City summer tradition where farmers, artists and community members share a love of local Utah products.
Whether you're looking for fresh produce, homemade salsa or artisan cheese--market organizers say there's a little something for everyone.
“We draw all ages, all economic backgrounds, diverse cultures to the market and I really think that common ground that we all share as humans is food,” said Market Manager Kim Angeli Selin. “Everybody can embrace great food, and that's what we bring to the market. That’s what our farmers bring to the market and our vendors."
Many local farmers said the Downtown Farmers Market gives them a chance to connect with customers in a way you can't do at a grocery store.
And they said there's nothing like freshly picked produce.
“If you pick them fresh and you get them sold to that customer that same day, and they’re eating them that same day, they get that fresh quality that just can’t be beat,” said John Borski of Borski Organic Farms.
One new feature at the market this year will be an education station that teaches people how to preserve and prepare the food they get at the market.
“We’re really excited about the education station this year, the opportunity to have community members learn more about how to cook healthy foods, to utilize the product they can buy at the farmers market to better their life and to help their children,” said Jim Sheets with LDS Hospital.
The event at Pioneer Park will host more than 250 vendors this summer, and every week the lineup is different. The farmers market officially opens this Saturday and will return each Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. through October 24. Click here to visit their website.
