About Us - Grants Pass Growers Market

Growers Market Family

The Growers' Market is community in action. For growers and artisans it is a way of life. Our customers experience a sensory extravaganza; spicy petunias, roses and chives, rosemary, thyme, and lavenders, fresh peaches, ripe tomatoes, coffee brewing and donuts frying, wind chimes, hand-scented soaps. There is a silversmith, and an artist in oils, stained glass; the riches of the region shared by friends and neighbors. Fresh eggs, specialty breads, cakes, pies, honey, natural organic beef, seafood, and wood products round out the variety. Members attend from Medford, Butte Falls, Winston, Canyonville, Gold Hill, Roseburg, the Illinois Valley and the Oregon Coast.

About US
The Growers’ Market, located in Grants Pass OR, has become a SATURDAY MORNING TRADITION in downtown Grants Pass. Founded in 1980, the Grower’s Market has provided fresh locally grown fruits, vegetables, plants, baked goods, specialty foods and gourmet herbs and seasonings for 43 years. As the oldest and largest outdoor farmers’ market in Southern Oregon, it has led the region in connecting farmers and their products directly to their customers. At the Growers’ Market you'll find the ripest and freshest local fruits and vegetables within a 100 miles. From asparagus to zucchini, the Growers’ Market showcases a constantly changing variety of products. Over 120 members attend the Growers’ Market serving between 300 to 5,000 visitors each Saturday. Also in the Growers’ Market are various non-profit community organizations who attend as guest vendors including the Humane Society, the Women’s Crisis Support Team, AAUW Kitchen Tour, local school fund-raisers, 4-H and FFA groups, the Audubon Society and Master Gardeners. In addition there is local talent scattered throughout the Growers’ Market when space is available. Look for a mime, a juggler and various musical acts throughout the market. While we honor and respect tradition, political and religious advocacy are not permitted in the Growers’ Market. We want you to feel safe and welcome when bringing your Service Dog to the Market. As much as we all love our own pets, we leave them at home. When visiting the market please leave your pets at home, too.

Who We Are
We are the Southern Oregon Growers’ Association (SOGA); a group of farmers, nursery growers, and individual business owners who create a huge variety of local products. We are a private not for profit membership corporation. Our members are the vendors who participate in the GROWERS’ MARKET. Participation is limited to agricultural products grown in the Southern Oregon, Northern California bio-region and selected arts, crafts and foods from the same area. “We grow what we sell” and Re-sale is not allowed.
The Board of Directors juries all non-agricultural products for quality, style and workmanship before being allowed in the Growers’ Market.
SOGA has a nine member Board of Directors with three members elected annually by the membership. They set policy and oversee the Growers’ Market operations.

Giving Back to the Community
The Growers’ Market is “Community in Action”. Not only does the Growers’ Market bring farmers and the community together, the Growers’ Market has a long history of giving back to the community.

Through more than 30 years of involvement the Growers’ Market has participated in programs involving tourism, economic development, the Small Business Development Center, OSU Small Farms programs, and various programs in Josephine and Jackson counties. The Growers’ Market also serves as a resource and networking base for farmers; connecting them to the “Farm to School” program, eco-tourism opportunities and ways to develop agri-tourism on their farms as well as wholesale buyers when appropriate.

The Growers’ Market is a leader in the local fresh foods movement: believing farm fresh food is always healthiest. The Growers’ Market has been a leader and was a key part of the pilot project for WIC coupons currently used in the market system throughout Oregon. The Growers’ Market accepts WIC and Senior Coupons as well as Oregon Trail SNAP benefits. The Growers’ Market’s staff and volunteers are happy to assist customers. For more information or assistance please visit our information both, which is always staffed during market hours.

"Building to Bring Community Together
In 1986 the Growers’ Market became a founding member of the Oregon Farmers’ Market Association and started Medford’s market in cooperation with their downtown development association.

In 1987 we helped with the start-ups of markets in Beaverton and Gresham.
In 1989 we were part of the pilot project for WIC coupons currently used in the market system throughout Oregon. Also in 1989 the Growers’ Market provided over 3 tons of fresh fruit and vegetables at the 1989 AgriFair held in Portland to celebrate agriculture in Oregon.
In 1990 the Growers’ Market along with city, state, and federal agencies wrote a grant to turn an ugly mud-hole behind the Post Office into a permanent home for the Growers’ Market, parking for the downtown and a facility for celebrations and festivities in the heart of downtown Grants Pass. It has changed the face of downtown Grants Pass and continues to support downtown activities.
In March, 1993 the Growers’ Market opened at the corner of “4th”and “F” Streets. We endearingly refer to this location as our permanent quarters but the facts are that we periodically renew a long term lease with the City of Grants Pass.
In 1995 the project was named the best downtown development project in Oregon.
During 2010 and 2011 the Growers’ Market along with the Oregon Farmers’ Market Assoc. and other interested groups and individuals lobbied the Oregon Legislature and helped create the first farm direct marketing legislation in Oregon agricultural history.