Locally grown garlic is found nearly year-round at the indoor Lower Valley Farmers Market in Wallowa.

WALLOWA — If you’re missing the local farmers market, head to Wallowa and check out the year-round Lower Valley Farmers Market for locally grown food as well as handmade gifts and clothing.

It is held every Saturday in the building at Highway 82 and Pine Street in Wallowa.

In late November, the market had a variety of greens and roots, like kale, parsnips and potatoes, as well as eggs and frozen salmon, chicken, rabbit and beef — some processed just a mile or two out of town. The market also sells household goods and apparel such as throw rugs, blankets, hats and scarves, along with wooden carved items from Ralph Anderson, greeting cards featuring photography by Debbie Lind and Olaf pottery.

Deb Reth of Wallowa owns the building that now houses the Lower Valley Farmers Market and the Wallowa Resale Shop. She helped start both enterprises. Having the market and the resale shop in the same building saves money, Reth said, as they share maintenance and utility costs.

Luckily moving the two businesses into their new home didn’t leave empty storefronts — the Telephone Building is now a medical clinic and the food bank is in the former Resale Shop.

The Lower Valley Farmers Market started outdoors in 2012, bringing a new shopping and selling opportunity to the western end of the county. After two years it was moved to the Telephone Building across from Wallowa Food City.

“Having everything inside made it easier instead of having to set up and break down each week,” Reth said.

It also allowed the market to be open year-round, albeit on a limited basis. Producers and vendors were charged a nominal consignment fee and some helped run the store that provided shelf, refrigerator and freezer space.

During “the COVID year,” Reth said she didn’t charge a consignment fee, but this coming year it will be set at 5%.

Reth, who farms outside of Wallowa, has provided produce to area restaurants as well as the market for many years. Her greenhouse allows her to grow greens most months of the year and her roots are stored to be available well into the spring. She encourages other local producers to sell their wares at the market.

“We are always looking for new vendors and for people to help run the market and the Resale Shop,” Reth said.

The pre-Christmas shopping buzz was palatable on the Saturday before Thanksgiving as a steady stream of customers filed through both stores, some from the upper Wallowa Valley on a weekend drive, looking for locally grown and produced food and gift items.

The Lower Valley Farmers Market is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. every Saturday, and the Resale Shop is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

The Lower Valley Farmers Market is open 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. every Saturday and the Resale Shop is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the corner of Highway 82 and Pine Street in Wallowa.