Medford Farmers Market: Growers and Crafters Guide

The Medford farmers market is the Thursday market of the Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market. It meets outdoors at Hawthorne Park through much of the year, in the morning and early afternoon, so it makes an easy lunch stop between the orchards and the creamery. Ask the organizers for the current days and hours before you go.

The same organization runs weekly stalls in Medford and Ashland.

When is the Medford farmers market on Thursday?

The market meets on Thursdays at Hawthorne Park in Medford. It runs outdoors and stretches into late autumn. The same organization holds markets in Ashland on other days, as the Ashland market guide describes. Ask the organizers for the days, hours and location of the current season.

What is the Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market?

A producers' market, with farmers, bakers, cheese makers and craft makers, run as a cooperative organization for decades. The name tells you what to expect: growers who sell their own produce, and crafters who sell what they make. Bring small bills and your own bags, arrive early for the best choice and walk the whole market once before you buy, so you can compare what each grower has.

What do Southern Oregon farm stands add?

Roadside stands in the valley sell what the season gives: cherries in June, peaches and tomatoes in August, pears and apples in autumn and squash into winter. Many are tiny, run by a family on the honor system. The pears guide tells the valley's fruit story, and the cheese guide covers another local product.

What do you buy at a Thursday market?

Vegetables and fruit for the week, eggs, bread, honey, cheese and flowers, and a prepared lunch if you are hungry. Arrive early for the best selection, and bring bags and a cooler for hot days. Growers will tell you how to cook what they sell, and they are generous with samples.

How do you eat lunch at the market?

Walk the whole market, find the stall with the best smell and share a plate with a friend. Many markets have a food row with hot dishes, pastries and cold drinks. Eat on the grass, and watch the crowd. If the weather is hot, find shade and keep your produce cool.

Why does a stall need a precise rating?

Stalls move and their stock changes weekly. A rating that says "the Comice pears, early October, buttery and ripe in two days" tells the next buyer what to look for. Name the item, say the week and add tags such as Market Stall, Farm Producer, Vegan and Family Friendly.

How do you keep your market notes?

Open the Mosey app and rate the stall by name and item, then save it to a list called Medford market days. Where a market has a page in the app, you can ask for a reminder on the morning of each market day. Follow friends who shop there and Home shows what they rated and saved. A stall that is not in the app yet can be added when you rate it.

Rate a stall by the item you bought rather than the table: the pears, the loaf, the jar of honey. After a few Thursdays your ratings show which grower you keep returning to, and a friend you follow can see the stalls you saved. Put the best ones in a list and send the invite link to whoever is visiting next.

What practical points are worth knowing?

Parking near the park fills by mid-morning. Bring cash for small stalls. Dogs may not be welcome at food markets, so check the rules. After shopping, lunch is easy to find in Medford: see the cheap eats guide and the US food guides.

What makes a market a community?

The conversations. Growers know customers by name, crafters share tips, and children learn where food comes from. A market is a place where a town talks to itself, and a Thursday morning can be the best hour of the week. Bring a friend and take your time.

Who sells at the market? Farmers, bakers, cheese makers, jam makers, honey keepers, flower growers and makers of soaps, ceramics and wood. The producers sell what they grow or make themselves, which is the rule that gives the market its name. Ask about methods and ingredients, and you will usually get an answer that surprises you. A conversation is half the pleasure of a visit.

What should you bring? Bags, small bills, a hat and a cooler for summer. Bring a list but be ready to change it. Carry a bottle of water, and wear shoes you can walk in. If you plan to buy flowers, bring a container.

Is the market good for visitors from Ashland and the coast? Yes, because a Thursday market is a break in a drive. Travelers heading north or south on the interstate can stop for lunch, a loaf and a bag of fruit, and carry the valley with them. Locals tend to arrive early, so a visit at opening time shows you the market at its liveliest, and the later hours are calm.

Eating your way across Oregon? The Food in Oregon page links every town we cover.

This Thursday next season, download the Mosey app, rate the best thing in your bag and start a list for the harvest.