Down on Main Street

COEUR d'ALENE — The Kootenai County Farmers’ Market has found a new home.

The Wednesday evening market will be on Main Street at the Village at Riverstone, with the season opener on May 17.

The Riverstone site will run from 4 to 7 p.m. with homegrown and locally made products, along with food booths and live music.

"We look forward to serving you again," said a press release.

Emily Boyd, executive director of the downtown association, was pleased the Kootenai County Farmers’ Market found a home.

"Our community has really grown in size, so for multiple organizations to be able to provide more opportunities for farmers and artisans to connect with the community is a wonderful asset," she said.

The announcement ends speculation of where the market would end up after having to leave its longtime site in downtown Coeur d'Alene.

The Kootenai County Farmers’ Market Association and the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association, which used to jointly organize the downtown farmers market on Wednesdays, parted ways earlier this year.

The event was popular, with about 50 vendors.

A sticking point arose when the downtown association said it wanted shop owners to have the opportunity to have a booth at the market, as some said they wanted to do just that.

But market manager Natalie Selbe previously told The Press that the Kootenai County Farmers’ Market, which was established in 1986, was for small businesses and locals who grow or make what they are selling.

“That’s the whole basis of the farmers market,” she said.

The Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association has organized and scheduled its first farmers' market of the season, also on Wednesdays, from 4 to 7 p.m. on May 10 at Fifth and Sherman.

About 50 vendors will offer fresh produce, flowers, art, food and more, and there will be music.

"Our market places heavy emphasis on farmers and growers and includes local businesses," says the association's website.