Our Mission & Purpose

The Kootenai County Farmers’ Market Association, Inc. (KCFMA) is incorporated by the state of Idaho as a non-profit corporation. Its purpose is to foster local family-operated agriculture, forestry, and arts and crafts.

This purpose provides a special opportunity for direct dialogue between consumers and producers. A fee is charged for membership and space rental to provide for market sites, nursery license, and the employment of a Market Manager. An elected Board of Directors guides the KCFMA.

Strong Roots: The Market’s History

Since 1986, the Kootenai County Farmers’ Market has been providing our community with the freshest produce available and an ever changing array of local products—from cheese to chairs, artisan bread to pickles. There is also music, children’s activities, a food court, a community table, a Master Gardeners booth, SNAP, and special events.

From a small group of 25, the KCFMA has grown to over 100 vendors at two prime locations in Kootenai County:  A ponderosa pine dotted acre in Hayden, Idaho, for the Saturday market, and the beautiful shop lined streets of Main Street, Riverstone Village in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, for the Wednesday evening market.

Originally the Kootenai County Farmers Market was formed and found its first home on Sherman Avenue in downtown Coeur d’Alene. That first year, the city closed off Sherman, and 25 vendors sold out of the back of their pickup trucks in the middle of the street.

The next year was less than idyllic in a vacant lot across from the jail, where only eight members persevered. Luck changed the following year with the offer of a treed space on the corner of Highway 95 and Dalton Ave., where we shared space with Ekness Meats for the next seven years.

In 1994, after outgrowing the location, the KCFMA moved to its current location on the corner of Highway 95 and Prairie Avenue in Hayden. This pine-dotted acre has been our Saturday home ever since, and we have worked hard to create a venue that our members and the community can be proud of.

Seventy redwood-painted booths now fit around the trees in the park-like setting. There is a stage with tables and benches for friends to enjoy the weekly music. It is this ambience that has made the Saturday market a destination for locals to shop, meet, eat, and enjoy the music!

The Wednesday market caters to the “What’s for Dinner” crowd.

Our mid-week market has moved to Main Street at Riverstone in Coeur d’Alene. At our charming new location, over 60 vendors will offer truly locally grown, vendor produced, fruits and vegetables, baked goods, honey, milk, eggs, meat, fresh flowers and plants and fabulous crafts. Shoppers will enjoy live music with much to do in the area after shopping.

Two Markets Rain or Shine!