words by Hayden Seder

There’s a saying that the best way to know a place is to eat its food. During summer and fall, the Wood River Valley flourishes with a bounty of locally produced food, from tomatoes, bread, and eggs to squash, mustard, and sauerkraut. The Wood River Farmers Market displays its homegrown goods and crafts twice a week during its four-month season. Given the relatively short season of the market and the quality of food available, it’s no wonder that lines start forming long before the market’s bell goes off to signal that vendors are open for business.

How It Started

The first Wood River Market was held in June 2000, after a group of farmers who had been sporadically in the area wanted a more structured approach to selling, ideally somewhere in downtown Ketchum. They approached Ketchum’s Atkinsons’ grocery store to see if they could work together in some way. Atkinsons’ knew that Tuesday afternoons were typically slow, so it seemed the perfect time to work with the farmers, who they set up in the city-owned lot across the street that the store used for parking at the time (in what is now the town square). The first market had thirteen vendors and continued for eighteen markets between June and October. Atkinsons’ remained a valued partner to the market in those early years, helping to advertise and promote the market.

In 2003 and 2004, the Hailey Farmers Market started on Thursdays in the Hailey Atkinsons’ parking lot and operated independently of the Ketchum Market, until 2005, when the Wood River Farmers Market Association was formed to provide management to both Ketchum and Hailey markets. The Association is comprised of a board of members who get input from both the local community and government entities. By-laws and rules were established, and a market manager was hired. The Hailey market was also moved to Bouillon Square on Main Street at this time.

In 2009, the Ketchum Community Development Corporation proposed converting the city-owned lot where the market was held into a town square, which was built in 2010, alongside a project to make 4th Street a heritage corridor, which was completed over several years. While these projects were underway, the Farmers Market moved around to continue utilizing their space to the best of their ability. By this time, the market had grown to its peak of 63 vendors.

The Hailey market was similarly having changes at this time, as it moved to the lot on Main Street behind Sturtevants, then in 2016, moved to Carbonate Street between Main and 1st Ave N.

After being located in downtown Ketchum since its inception, the Ketchum market began working with Sun Valley Company in 2019 and moved to the River Run parking lot, while the next year, the Hailey market moved to Roberta McKercher park, then moved to its current location in 2021 to the grassy island at Roberta McKercher visible from Main Street.

The Ketchum market struggled during its years at the River Run parking lot: The heat of the parking lot kept customers away and made it difficult to keep fresh food cool. The City of Ketchum approached the market about moving back into town and proposed Forest Service Park for its 2023 season, where it has been at home ever since.

Now

After many location changes as well as day and time changes, the Ketchum and Hailey farmers markets seem to have found a consistency, with the Ketchum markets in Forest Service Park on Wednesdays from 12 to 4 pm, June 10 through October 7, and Hailey markets at Roberta McKercher Park on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm, June 6 through October 3.

There are about 54 vendors as of the 2026 season, offering a bounty of goods, including vegetables, fruit, eggs, meat and dairy, baked goods, specialty foods and beverages, artisan jewelry and crafts, and fresh-cut flowers. Some are local to the Wood River Valley, like Sun Valley Mustard, Hailey Farms, Hillside Bread, and Squash Blossom Farm. Some commute from farther away, like King’s Crown Organic Farm from Glenn’s Ferry, Prairie Sun Farm from Fairfield, or River’s Edge Orchard from Buhl.

The farmers market is more than just shopping for food, though. There is live music performed by local musicians at both markets each week, as well as numerous food trucks, like the Wylde Beet, Joe’s Juice, and more.