16 | SUMMER 2026 EDIBLE CENTRAL OREGON Ann Pistacchi-Peck wears many hats, all of them green. In addition to being the associate director for regional nonprofit High Desert Food & Farm Alliance, she has been involved with the Downtown Bend Farmers Market for five years, first as customer, then as a volunteer, and now as market manager. She is also on the board of the Oregon Farmers Market Association, a statewide organization dedicated to supporting farmers markets throughout the state. She shares what makes our local farmers markets special, the power of community, and why it’s so important to support local food producers. I was drawn to the Bend Farmers Market because it is a true farmers market centered entirely on food and beverages. It’s basically an outdoor grocery store where the community can shop directly from local producers. Just as importantly, it is a deeply mission-driven nonprofit built on the belief that everyone in our community deserves access to good food. It was the market’s commitment to food access programs that inspired me to volunteer in the first place, and that mission continues to inspire me today Central Oregon’s farmers markets really do have their own character. A big part of that comes from the fact that we live and farm in a High Desert climate. Our growers deal with short seasons, drought, frost, and wildfire smoke, and they still bring an incredible variety of fresh food to market. There is a lot of resilience and creativity behind what you see at the markets each week. Our markets are also deeply community-oriented. They are places where people come not just to shop, but to connect with neighbors, listen to music, talk with farmers, and feel part of something local. You can really feel that sense of relationship and trust as you move through the markets and hear customers talking to their local food producers. Each market also has its own personality. Some are small and rural and feel very close-knit, while others are larger and busier and bring together locals and visitors. That variety is part of what makes the region’s market scene so fun and vibrant. And finally, many of our nonprofit markets care deeply about making good food accessible. Programs like SNAP matching, the Bend Farmers Market’s Protein Perks, and HDFFA’s VeggieRx produce prescription programs help make local food available to more families at places like the Downtown Bend, Redmond, Sisters, and Madras markets. I’ve seen a lot of change over the years, but one of the most meaningful shifts happened during the early days of Covid, when so many people suddenly realized how important a strong local food system really is. When national supply chains fell apart and grocery shelves Farmers Market Lowdown Words by Ann Pistacchi-Peck Start small, ask questions, try something seasonal, and get to know the people growing your food.
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