There is something so quintessentially small town summer about a farmers market. Winter in Jackson Hole stretches endlessly at times and our trips to the grocery store become a brief, hurried, and necessary yet unappealing chore that may involve running from the car mid snowstorm. For us, mountain folk emerging from a winter full of canned and pickled vegetables, stock soup, and questionable grocery aisle produce, the People’s Market is a sure sign of summer. Come gather in the sunshine and make your shopping experience visceral, delightful, and human once again.
The People’s Market, which occurs every Wednesday from 4 to 7 pm under the shadow of Snow King mountain, was the brainchild of local organization Slow Food in the Tetons, whose mission is to promote our local and regional sustainable food economy. So, they launched the People’s Market as a platform for the community to listen to music from local bands, bring the kids, and buy locally grown produce and art from small community vendors. Intentions of the organization are evident in the use of reusable plates by the food vendors, and the use of reusable cups (be sure to bring your own!) in the beer line for a refreshing Snake River Brewing IPA. The market encourages shoppers to bring their own bags from home, so grab a basket and stroll through aisles of crisp cucumbers, fresh herbs, sunflowers, and a few surprises besides.
Must-try market favorites include bison momos (Nepalese dumplings) from Everest Momo Shack, local cheese from Winter Winds goat farm, the fresh produce grown at Cosmic Apple farm, and locally brewed Teatonic Kombucha. The free bike in movie series, a nod to drive in movies but for the eco-conscious crowd (plus, everything is more fun on a bike), begins in August. Bring your own chair or blanket and relive the good old days under a clear starry sky, soaking in the best of Jackson summer culture. You, too, can forgo the endless grocery store rows in favor of slowing down: all you need is a bike, a backpack, and mug for your beer.
Come to chat with friends and neighbors, try some of Rosa’s tamales and mango flowers, sink into soulful live music by local bands like The Canyon Kids, and say hello to summer in Jackson Hole.
