Moscow Farmers Market begins again
The Farmers Market returned to Main Street in downtown Moscow Saturday, as local farmers, cooks, artists and crafters took to the street to sell their goods.
This year will be the fourth year at the market for Ray Templeton, owner and creator of a unique line of homemade seasonings called Redneck Seasonings.
“My main thing is to be different,” Templeton said.
His newest flavor is honey habanero, and Templeton said what makes it unique is the powdered honey in the base of the seasoning so the jerky he makes with it has been soaking in the honey flavor for the entire process.
Templeton is just one of many community members who contributes to the Famers Market. The market will be open every Saturday through October on Main Street.
This season marks the 10th year Yinghua Wang has been selling his Chinese calligraphy at the market. He currently has quotes for Mother’s Day and for each Chinese Zodiac sign in addition to famous historical quotes he has written using calligraphy. He also takes requests.
Wang moved from China to Pullman in 1997 and said he has been practicing calligraphy for most of his life.
“This is art that takes a long time,” Wang said. “(And) I can write whatever you want.”
There wasn’t much fresh produce at the market last Saturday because it is early in the season. However, farmers like Pat Allan, owner of the Allen Family Farm, had starter plants for sale that can be replanted in a home garden.
Allan also had fresh eggs and apricot jam from his farm and he said later in the season he will have lettuce, corn, tomatoes, peppers and many other kinds of produce.
“In June we have tons of produce,” Allan said.
After being a middle school and high school teacher for 26 years, Allan moved back to the Palouse to pursue his dream of farming. He has a six-acre farm east of Pullman, where he hopes his family will continue to work on the land.
The Allan Family Farm is also participating in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), a program where people can pay $100 a month or $350 for the season to help support a local small farm and each week they get a return on their investment.
“Every week they will get something from the farm,” Allan said. “Typically, people get more than they can eat.”
Graham Perednia can be reached at [email protected]