Katie Stanger, second from right, helps Bonnie Engle of Hermiston bag cucumbers during a past Hermiston Farmer's Market. <br><I>File photo

The Hermiston Farmer’s Market, which opens Wednesday, is expanding this year.

In addition to being open Wednesdays from 4-7 p.m., on Northwest Second Street between East Main Street and East Gladys Avenue, the market also will open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, in the parking lot of the Hermiston Conference Center, 415 S. Highway 395.

Last year the market operated on Wednesdays in downtown Hermiston, while previous years it had been held on Saturdays at the conference center.

Kelly Murray, the market’s manager, said she sees the change as being the best of both worlds.

“I know the customers are going to be different,” she said.

Murray said based on last year’s experience, the Wednesday shoppers came with a purpose.

“They’d get what they needed and go home and take care of their family,” she said.

Murray said the behavior of the Saturday crowd was different.

“It’s more of an event where they’ll come and spend time,” she said.

The market’s board had moved to Wednesdays last year to accommodate some of the vendors who would go to Pendleton Friday evenings and found it difficult to pack up and come to Hermiston the next morning.

Murray said now vendors have more options.

To sell produce or crafts at the market, vendors need to pay a yearly membership fee of $25. Additionally, produce vendors pay a weekly stall fee of $15 and crafters pay $12. Murray said if a vendor desires a guaranteed location, they can pay an additional $100 fee.

“I know we’re going to have produce and lots of different artisan products,” Murray said. “Last year I had people coming from as far as Eugene.”

The types of wares Murray expects to see includes jewelry, candles and wood crafts.

Murray anticipates the market will grow as produce comes into season.

“If the Saturday market is anything like previous years, we’re going to be in the 30-plus vendor range,” Murray said.

In addition to the vendors, entertainment also will be part of the market experience on Saturdays.

For more information or to reserve vendor space, contact Murray at 571-1952.