Benton County is well known as an agricultural destination for farmers and foodies. The multitude of organic farms and farm-to-table restaurants has created an appreciation for local foods that makes Corvallis an acclaimed area for locavores and culinary creatives.
Winter is a slow season for these industries, with the valley flooding with rich nutrients from the rising banks of the Willamette River and its tributaries. However, if you're longing for a mosey downtown through a sea of local vendors, you don't have to wait until summer. The Corvallis Indoor Winter Market provides a unique opportunity for local food vendors to operate year-round!
Founded in the early 90s by a group of artisans and farmers who wanted to provide the public with a market during the off-season, the Corvallis Indoor Winter Market is a non-profit organization governed by a board of directors, with each position serving two year terms and elected each year in the spring. The board reserves the right to accept or reject applications at their discretion to assure that only top-quality foods, local farm products, and handcrafted items are sold at the market.
Located in Guerber Hall at the Benton County Fairgrounds, the Corvallis Indoor Winter Market is open every Saturday from January through April. It has everything you would expect from a typical seasonal farmer's market, only with a roof over its head to keep patrons warm and dry while they browse. Live music, baked goods, crafts, and, of course, locally grown produce all create the ambiance of the farmer's market with a unique opportunity to purchase seasonal items that you might not be able to find in July.
Whether you want to fill your root cellar with potatoes, beets, carrots and turnips, get some seasonal yellowfoot chanterelles, truffles, black trumpet mushrooms, or fresh leeks and greens, you don't have to wait until summer and the clouds clear. You can enjoy the farmer's market experience in Corvallis, rain or shine.
The Corvallis Indoor Winter Market is one of western Oregon’s oldest weekly indoor winter markets. Offerings include organically and conventionally grown vegetables and fruits, artisan baked breads, eggs, honey and a broad range of meats and poultry, as well as an extensive variety of quality crafted items from artist drawings to handcrafted jewelry.
Article by Randall Bonner. Keep up with Corvallis news, events and happenings by signing up for our email newsletter.
