Schedule
Weekly on Saturdays
9:00am – 2:00pm
May 4 - November 23, 2024
Holiday Market
10:00am-2:00pm
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Location
N Charleston and N Central (Google Map)
Parking lots owned by St. Johns Church & St. Johns Bachelor Club
SJFM Social Media
Native Community Garden
In spring 2023, St. Johns Center for Opportunity planted a 2200 sq ft native garden at the St. Johns Farmers Market site. This community garden cleans and enriches the air, soil, and water, while providing food and habitat for pollinators. This garden supports our organization’s mission of promoting climate resilience in our community.
Volunteer at the native garden! We could always use help with weeding and garden maintenance. If interested, contact exec@stjohnsopportunity.org.
Our Vendors
Mission & Values
St. Johns Farmers Market (SJFM) supports a local, sustainable food supply while providing opportunity for BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, immigrant & refugee, disabled, veteran/active service member and low-income farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs; contributing to the health of all local residents; providing free food access programs to food-insecure residents; encouraging cross-cultural connections and dialogue; and enhancing the community and business vitality of St. Johns and North Portland.
SJFM is a program of St. Johns Center for Opportunity (SJCO).
Our values as a Farmers Market include:
Fresh & Local Food: we value providing our community with fresh and healthy foods sourced from their local economy.
Sustainability: we support farmers who use organic, earth friendly, or sustainable growing practices.
Food Access: we provide six food access programs to ensure that our food-vulnerable neighbors have access to free and low-cost nourishment at St. Johns Farmers Market (to learn more, click the Food Access button below!)
Entrepreneurship: we want to support our local farmers and business owners and help them succeed.
Collaboration: we love partnering with our vendors and other community organizations to offer great programming and promotional opportunities throughout the season.
Diversity & Inclusion: we are intentional about creating an environment that is diverse and welcoming to all people and cultures.
Active Listening: we are constantly listening to feedback from our vendors and community members and incorporating their ideas when appropriate.
History
The St. Johns/Lombard Plan, approved by the Portland City Council in June 2004, identified the necessity for a farmers market in the St. Johns town center as part of a broader economic development strategy. The plan outlined the involvement of the St. Johns Neighborhood Association, the St. Johns Business Boosters, and the Portland Bureau of Planning in executing a farmers' market strategy over the subsequent five years.
In early 2008, the Chair of the St. Johns Neighborhood Association initiated discussions about a farmers market with local residents during a series of neighborhood meetings. The St. Johns Farmers Market (SJFM) was established by these committed residents who recognized the community's need for access to fresh, local produce. With the backing of the St. Johns Neighborhood Association, these individuals worked diligently to establish a farmers market that supported "emerging farmers, promoted the health of local residents, fostered cross-cultural connections and dialogue, and enhanced the community and business vitality of St. Johns."
Driven by a profound vision and passion, these neighbors formed the Market's inaugural Board of Directors in the fall of 2009. Obtaining nonprofit status under North Portland Community Works (NPCW) and receiving grants from North Portland Neighborhood Services (NPNS) and Metro, along with generous donations from the local community, the dedicated Board, and numerous volunteers focused on developing the Market's infrastructure. By late 2009, the SJFM hired its first Market Manager and began planning for its inaugural season. The SJFM officially launched its first market season on July 11th, 2009, drawing over 3,000 people to support the Market, with many farmers selling out of produce within two hours.
St. Johns Farmers Market became a program of St. Johns Center for Opportunity in 2014.
The St. Johns Farmers Market stands as an inspiring testament to what neighbors with a shared vision can achieve together. Gratitude is extended to all those who contributed to the vision and dedication that transformed the SJFM into a reality and continues to make it a success!
Our Sponsors
A huge THANK YOU to our sponsors! We simply cannot do it without you!
Interested in sponsoring us? We have different sponsorship levels to suit your budget, and prominently feature our sponsors across our marketing channels. Learn more by clicking the button below!
