Take a class to sell food at the Pagosa Farmers Market

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By Pauline Benetti

Special to The PREVIEW

Spring is here. The bluebirds speak of it, but still the nights are freezing and days are windy and very wet; however, those with domes, hoop houses and cold frames have already started to plant and those with gardens are making plans.

As you plant and plan, keep in mind the Pagosa Farmers Market, which runs June 20 to Sept. 19. Fresh, natural produce sells out every Saturday. This is an opportunity to add some extra money to your budget and provide the community an essential product. That would seem to be encouragement enough to increase the size of your yield.

The market offers a couple of plans: 1) have your own booth for $118 for the season or $15 each market if you cannot make the entire season, or 2) participate in the Small Growers Co-op, where you can sell when you have extra produce and leave when you are sold out. The cost of this booth is shared by those present to sell.

For those folks who like to cook rather than grow, the Cottage Food Bill passed in 2012 and allows for more liberal regulation of the types of food that can be produced in home kitchens for direct sale at farmers markets. The Pagosa Farmers Market invites vendors who are certified under this program to participate in the market this summer.

There is also other exciting news — next week, on Wednesday May 27, a certification class will be offered at the CSU Extension building. The registration deadline is tomorrow, Friday, May 22, and the cost is $30.

For more information, call Wendy Rice at 382-6461 or email wendy.rice@co.laplata.co.us or, to register, call Susan Armstrong at 382-6463 or email susan.armstrong@co.laplata.co.us.

Vendors who lack a business license or sales tax license will be cared for by Southwest Organization for Sustainability (SOS), sponsor of the market; SOS offers an umbrella Colorado sales tax license and Town of Pagosa Springs Business License for a small fee. How simple is that?

Pauline Benetti is market coordinator for those interested in their own booth and can be reached at 264-5232. Those interested in the Small Growers Co-op should call Barbara Asprey at 264-1240.

If you have visited the market in the past, you know that just being there is a fun community experience. Find us at the East Side Market in downtown Pagosa Springs, where you will also find craft vendors, local musicians, food and a nice place to sit down and enjoy it all.