The season’s freshest goods are about to arrive, right in the heart of Burns.
Starting Saturday, June 14, the Burns Farmers Market returns to The Palace parking lot from 8 to 11:30 a.m. every week through summer, bringing with it a vibrant selection of locally grown produce, farm-raised meats and eggs, handmade breads, plants, flowers, artisan crafts, and community connection.
This isn't just a market. It's an effort toward greater food security and local self-reliance, and it’s for everyone. Whether you're looking to fill your pantry, support your neighbors, or simply soak in the weekend energy, the market offers a welcoming place for all walks of life.
“Local food should be available to everyone, and the market is one way to help make that possible,” said Kellie Frank, coordinator for Harney County Food Systems. “And it’s not just about shopping. It’s about building relationships and community through food.”
The Burns Farmers Market is one of several hands-on projects of Harney County Food Systems, a grassroots initiative focused on food access, sustainability, and education in Harney County. The initiative is part of the Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative, under the umbrella of the High Desert Partnership, a nonprofit working to build rural resilience through collaboration.
Harney County faces unique challenges in growing food, with one of the shortest growing seasons in Oregon at just about 90 days in a good year. “That makes it all the more important to support local growers and producers,” Kellie said. “The market helps us showcase what is possible here.”
While the market brings fresh food to the city center, it also accepts SNAP benefits and Double Up Food Bucks, making it easier for more families to access nutritious options.
Beyond the market, Harney County Food Systems is cultivating a whole network of local food projects like the Harney Garden of Eatin’, weekly Community Supported Agriculture boxes, farm-to-school programs, food growing and preservation workshops, and bi-annual long table dinners that bring the community together over homegrown meals.
“We’re working toward a future where more of our food is grown here, by and for our own community,” Frank said. “The Burns Farmers Market is a great example of what happens when people come together around that goal.”
So, whether you're a longtime supporter or a curious newcomer, Saturday mornings at the Palace are the perfect place to experience the best of Harney County – one basket, bouquet, or loaf at a time!
For more information about Harney County Food Systems or any of their efforts, contact kellie@highdesertpartnership.org.
