Fresh from Millwood
On any given Wednesday, the scent of sizzling hamburgers and fresh bread drifts through the air as vendors gather in Millwood’s farmers’ market at the Millwood Presbyterian Church.
Among the booths, customers choose from fresh produce, distinctive sauces and handmade goods while taking in the experience.
“The community has been very supportive and encouraging,” said Craig Goodwin, Millwood Presbyterian Church pastor. “They seem to be excited to have something like this in the Valley.”
In just its second month, the market shows strong signs of growth. On May 23, opening day, 13 vendors sold their wares to patrons. Today 20 sellers line the church parking lot.
“I understand we are growing more quickly than expected with the number of vendors,” said Goodwin, “It usually takes a couple years to be established.”
The vibrancy and vitality of its farmers’ market distinguishes the town of Millwood from surrounding communities.
“I think it’s going to be the primo market in Spokane in another year or so,” said David McCullough, owner of Susie David’s Cattle Co., which sells local beef. “Because of the community support. Other markets have support but this one just has a different feeling.”
The idea for a market began more than a year ago with Goodwin, who believed it would help fulfill the church’s mission to “seek the welfare of the city God has sent us to, for in its welfare we will find our own welfare.” Congregational support grew quickly after Goodwin mentioned the idea during a Sunday sermon.
Along with the support of the Millwood community, the Church pursued the idea and began planning.
“We were able to find four key vendors connected in the market community,” said Goodwin. “The rest were word of mouth.”
Vendors from around the area set up shop weekly at Millwood. Brenda Mace and her husband Randy started BJ’s All American Home Style B.B.Q. sauces a year ago out of a commercial kitchen in Davenport, Wash. The Maces offered two varieties when they began. Now, Brenda has 10 different flavors lined up on her table.
“We have regular, garlic, onion, garlic-onion, Hawaiian, the works, spicy, hot, hot hot, and the sizzler,” said Brenda Mace. “We cook three days a week. We don’t stockpile.”
Mace purchases vegetables from the market to use in her sauces, bottling an average of 20 cases in a day.
“It’s like a family,” said Mace. “Everybody helps everybody.”
Tami McCollum, a Millwood resident for 13 years, sampled one and purchased a bottle.
“It’s nice to support local farmers, craftsman and artisans,” said McCollum. “I love the market. I want it to get bigger.”
Duane Wiedrich, owner of That Stuff, a topical pain-reducing spray, approaches his business differently. He bases his success not on the amount he sells, but the amount he gives away.
“I can’t sell this stuff,” said Wiedrich. “As soon as we gave it away we started being successful.”
Jeff Postlewait, owner of the Rocket Bakery, participates for the sole purpose to re-engage the community.
“That is my priority,” said Postlewait. “I knew it wasn’t going to be a money-maker. I did it to support Millwood.”
Even the dog days of July cannot melt the enthusiasm of the vendors. During arecent heat wave of sweltering triple-digit temperatures, the market remained open. Sellers did what they could to stay cool and keep their products marketable.
“We tend to spray the produce more often with water,” said Cindy Elithorp, of Elithorp Farms in Deer Park. “We keep it cool as long as we can.”