Commentary: Mercado del Valle: Odell’s unique market

A project of Gorge Grown Food Network, Mercado del Valle has six goals: Support entrepreneurs and small businesses; increase access to fresh, locally grown food; build community; encourage literacy; celebrate Latino culture; and provide information to improve community health.

Entrepreneurs who have expressed an interest in selling food at Mercado can struggle with various barriers including the cost of renting commercial kitchen space, the paperwork required to obtain licenses or accept SNAP from customers, and other regulatory burdens. In 2024, Gorge Grown secured funding to support six BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) owned start-up businesses by providing stipends and reimbursements to address these challenges and enable vendors to participate in El Mercado del Valle.

El Mercado del Valle also provides professional development for five Latino high school students to bolster their experience, resumes and sense of civic engagement.

Mercado del Valle has been running strong for 10 years. A diversity of funding streams have supported this project including Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, Meyer Memorial Trust, Columbia Gorge Health Council, the Houston Family Foundation, the Knisely Family Foundation, The Roundhouse Foundation, The Ford Family Foundation, government grants,\ and dozens of business sponsors. We will continue to seek varied and creative funding sources to sustain — and expand — el Mercado.

The community’s dream is to find a permanent, covered location to hold the Mercado year-round. Mercado vendors picture a makerspace where small businesses can get a solid start and share kitchen space. They imagine food trucks showcasing a diversity of cuisine with traditional dancing and crafts, and ultimately, a safe, celebratory space where people can connect and thrive. Odell residents have also identified three related projects to strengthen Odell’s food system and local economy: A community garden (started in 2023), a shared food storage facility, and a community crop swap when gardens are overflowing.

The market begins in late June and continues twice per month through early-September for a total of six events. The last Mercado of the year is Thursday, Sept. 5, from 5-7 p.m. on Atkinson Drive. Mercado shoppers can use various forms of currency, including SNAP/EBT and WIC. Customers who spent $20 in SNAP receive a matching $20.

To learn more or support Mercado del Valle, visit www.gorgegrown.com.