Diego Lopez, Editor
GRANTS, N.M. — With a light breeze, plenty of sunshine, and vendors filling every corner of City Hall Park, this past Saturday’s July 5 Farmers Market was anything but slow — even if some regulars expected a quieter morning following the Fourth of July festivities.
July 5 offered one of the most relaxed, festive, and creative markets of the season — complete with live music, yard games, a foster dog named Pippy, and dozens of vendors offering everything from garden-fresh strawberries to handcrafted fantasy dice bags.
Among the crowd favorites was Red Mesa Gardens, with a table full of flowers, herbs, and fresh produce. Next to them, plant starts and herbs, always a hit for home gardeners. And Chris Loffler from Loffler Farms was back as well, offering a selection of meats by the pound.
Other market staples included High Desert Farm’s eggs, and handmade resin and wood crafts by local artisans like Emily’s Woodworks. Her custom plant stakes, spoons, and cutting wooden flowers, and more — created a colorful and distinctly local feel across the park.
For fans of handcrafted jewelry, Acoma pottery and beaded necklaces, there was no shortage of options. Shoppers also browsed crocheted creations — including stuffed eyeballs — handmade baby gifts, sewn clothing, and pop culturethemed leather bags with designs inspired by Doctor Who, Marvel, and more.
And for those looking to cool off, boredom was not an issue: freeze-dried treats, connect-four-style yard games, and shaded hay bales made for a great break from the booths. Several city residents could be seen lounging, chatting, and enjoying the mellow post-holiday energy under the gazebo. present with adoption information — plus a friendly foster pup named Pippy, who stole hearts throughout the morning.
The Grants Farmers Market and vendors at it accept WIC, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition cards, SNAP, and Double Up Food Bucks — making healthy, local food even more accessible.
Shoppers using SNAP/EBT cards can stop by the Farmers Market booth to exchange benefits for market tokens — and through the Double Up Food Bucks program, every dollar spent gets matched, doubling the amount of produce a shopper can take home.
The Grants Farmers Market runs every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at City Hall Park, featuring fresh food, live music, handmade goods, and a strong sense of community. Updates are posted weekly on the Grants Farmers Market Facebook page, and new vendors are always welcome.