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Growers market opens for season By Vickie Aldous and Myles Murphy Ashland Daily Tidings The Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market sprang to life today after vendors heard word a day earlier that their conditional use permit to use the National Guard Armory site in Ashland had been approved. "I'm pretty excited," ceramics vendor and Ashland resident Bill Francis said this morning. "I think this is a good location - it has pretty good traffic." Tulips for sale from Talent's Fry Family Farm are in full bloom this morning at the Growers Market's new location in the Ashland National Guard Armory. The market runs Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Ashland Daily Tidings/DENISE BARATTA Francis, who has worked the market for three seasons, joined fellow market regulars offering crafts, assorted flowers and plenty of early spring vegetables, such as kale, parsley, spinach, mustard greens, asparagus and lettuce. Trail farmer Sara Hammond added to her offerings batches of fresh morel mushrooms. The tasty fungi are sprouting on her land which was burned in the Timbered Rock Fire in 2002. "They're a blessing from the fire," Hammond said. The future of the market had been in limbo for months as vendors searched for a new location after losing use of the Ashland Christian Fellowship parking lot. Janet Bierbower, market manager, said City of Ashland officials helped find a new venue. "I appreciate how all the departments of the city pulled together and worked with me closely to make sure we had a location for the market," Bierbower said. Vendors were aided in their search by Mayor Alan DeBoer, City Administrator Gino Grimaldi, Parks and Recreation Department Director Ken Mickelsen, Community Development Director John McLaughlin and others, according to Bierbower. Market members initially won approval from the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission for use of a parking lot across from Lithia Park, but decided against that site because it was too small to accommodate all growers and crafters at the height of the season. The market then won approval for use of North Mountain Park parking lots, but the market board by a narrow margin voted against that area because of planned road construction along North Mountain Avenue that could have threatened customer comfort and safety. Although the armory location had been suggested early in the process, some vendors balked at the thought of using the site because of the war with Iraq. The community development department approved the market's permit to use the armory lot after sending out notices to neighbors and hearing no objections, which would have caused delays by triggering an Ashland Planning Commission review. There are also concerns that the out-of-the-way location will not draw as much foot-traffic as a Lithia Park site would have. "There will be no tourists out here at all, and (the delay in opening) hurts the pocketbook," Francis said. "I would love to see this in Lithia Park." Hammond praised the size of the site, but was less sure of the location. "This is a wonderful parking lot, but we'll wait and see about the other things," Hammond said. "I think people will find us." Although it is early in the season, Bierbower said market patrons still can find many offerings. "We have a lot of bedding plants. People can come and get their starts for their own vegetable gardens," she said. "We have cut flowers and nursery-style plants. As far as produce, we do have some greens and even some root vegetables like carrots." Vendors also are showing wood products, garden ornaments, jams, pies, baked goods and other items, she said. The market operates each Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -