Multnomah County’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program invites members of the media and the community to visit REACHing US: People’s Market on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, from noon to 4 p.m. at 18480 S.E Stark St. in Rockwood. The market is hosted by Play Grow Learn. Although the market has been open every Sunday since June 30, the Sept. 15 market will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting Mexican farmers at the market and their goods.
REACHing US: People’s Market is a product of a five-year partnership between the Health Department’s REACH program and Play Grow Learn. The Gresham-based organization is run by co-founders Anthony Bradley and Germaine Flentroy.
“The market provides a sense of ownership,” said Director of the Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division Charlene McGee. “It gives the entrepreneurs an opportunity to showcase their product, helping them to feel more connected. They all have different stories. This has become a space that they look forward to coming to.”
Visitors can expect a range of vendors offering honey, cabbage, jalapeno peppers, corn, fresh eggs, baked sweets like sweet potato cupcakes, free smoothies and light snacks, barbecue, haircuts, jewelry and a pop-up food pantry. County programs will be onsite providing vaccines and raising awareness about health and human services. More than half the nearly two-dozen booths are food vendors, most selling garden-grown fruits and vegetables.
REACHing US: People’s Market is open noon to 4 p.m. every Sunday through Oct. 27, 2024.