Parting ways

COEUR d’ALENE — The Kootenai County Farmers’ Market Association and the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association are growing apart.

“We’ve gotten to a point where we're two great organizations with different missions,” said Emily Boyd, executive director of the downtown association.

The farmers market association is seeking a new home for the Wednesday evening market that’s been held at Fifth Street and Sherman Avenue from mid-May to September for 17 years.

“The KCFMA regrets that it cannot accommodate recent demands to grant space within the market to non-qualifying retail merchants and, furthermore, has been unable to obtain the necessary permit for that location,” a press release said.

Natalie Selbe, farmers market association spokeswoman, said Friday the downtown association had previously expressed a desire to have the opportunity for downtown shop owners to be vendors in the market, and recently said that would be necessary for the entities to continue their partnership in putting on the downtown farmers market.

But Selbe said the market is for small businesses and locals who grow or make what they are selling.

It is essentially a producers-only market, Selbe said.

She said downtown stores don’t really qualify and no compromise could be made on that point.

“That’s the whole basis of the farmers market,” she said. “The person selling you something made or grew the product you are buying.”

Boyd said the association has “always enjoyed and valued its relationship” with the farmers market association.

They worked together, with the farmers market association responsible for vendors, and the downtown association taking care of closing streets, permits and other details.

Boyd said the downtown association’s main mission is to support the brick-and-mortar stores in the city's downtown core and to provide events that drive customer engagement.

She said several downtown store owners said they would like a space in the Wednesday evening markets.

“The same opportunity as any other vendor at the market,” she said.

Boyd said the downtown association will continue to organize a Wednesday evening farmers market from mid-May to September.

It will take over coordinating vendors, which will include downtown shop owners who wish to participate, as well as those who grow or make their own products.

Live music and other fun activities will also continue.

“We’re excited,” Boyd said.

She said the downtown association will do what it can to support the farmers market and appreciates all it has done in the past two decades.

The Kootenai County Farmers' Market Association was established in 1986 as a producer-only market “to foster direct interactions between local growers, artisans and consumers.”

The downtown market on Wednesday was popular, with some 50 or so vendors offering unique, homegrown and handmade products to hundreds of visitors.

The farmers market association has loved being downtown, Selbe said.

“It had everything we wanted there,” she said.

Selbe said after being unable to come to terms with the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association, she went to Coeur d'Alene City Hall to apply for a permit to hold the Wednesday evening market downtown. But she learned the downtown association had previously secured it.

“That’s why we’re having to move," she said.

The market at Prairie Avenue and U.S. 95 will continue on Saturdays.

Selbe said they are considering other locations, including in Post Falls, Riverstone and at North Idaho College.

An ideal site would have space for 60 vendors, plenty of parking, access for pedestrians and cyclists, electricity, water and shade.

She is confident a new spot will be found, and it will be as successful as it was downtown.