The Pullman Farmers Market is one event that sparks a sense of community. 

The market has been around since 2008, making this the 14th season. It has always been a tight-knit market that takes place midweek at the WSU Visitor Center, said  Morgan Sherwood manager of the Pullman Farmers Market.

Vendors are excited and prepared to show their products, no matter the weather, according to the Pullman Farmers Market Website. 

The quality of service that this market provides creates a sense of loyalty to the foods we eat and the community we live in, according to the website.

“The scope of growth has changed quite a bit. We did see a big drop in vendors during COVID. Due to the restrictions in Washington State and wanting to keep everybody safe,” Sherwood said. 

Not all vendors wanted to go online, depending on their product, so having a location like the WSU Visitor Center to hold this event provides that connection for the community, he said.

There has been some clear growth in numbers coming out this year, he said. The market has a great variety of vendors and the competition stays small since it is such a small market.

This event provides a great opportunity to educate the community on healthy food access and is a huge part of why people involved are so excited to put this event on this year, Sherwood said. 

“We have a lot of programs that support food access for people who need it,” he said. 

The seniors, the women, infants, and children nutrition programs (WIC), and Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) are all accepted, Sherwood said. Locally sourced foods of the highest quality to people in our community no matter the access to food support programs is important, especially for young kids.

The market wants to prioritize the vendors with products such as farm-fresh produce, grains, eggs, dairy and baked goods, according to the website. 

“For any of my markets, it’s essential to me to sell my fish because that’s my family heritage. I’ve been doing this my entire life,” said Shannon Ward, fouth generation fisherman. “I’m always glad to have an opportunity to sell it and talk to people about it and where we come from and why it’s important,” she said.

This passion helped her launch a direct sales business back in 2008. One thing special about fish is that it can be used in so many different ways, she said. 

“The dill smoked canned salmon is very different from a smoked salmon alfredo, which is very different from a fish taco or a pad thai,” Sherwood said. 

Fish is one source of food that can be completely different every time you eat it. That is one thing that makes fish so unique, using different flavor techniques can transform the meal. 

“[Salmon] becomes part of every meal. And so you never get sick of it”, Sherwood said. 

If anything becomes limited to one thing, she wants to have all of it, she said. 

The market will be open every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. until October 12.