ARTS & AG

from Moab Area Real Estate Magazine—July/August 2023

This is the good country life.

OUTDOOR MARKET OFFERS LOCALLY-GROWN PRODUCE, HAND-CRAFTED ARTISAN GOODS, FREE ENTERTAINMENT

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE THE FLAVOR OF A FRESH-PICKED TOMATO – OR ANY SAME-DAY HARVESTED FRUIT OR VEGGIE FOR THAT MATTER. THAT’S ONE ADVANTAGE TO HAVING A COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKET WHERE PRODUCE IS TYPICALLY FRESHPICKED AND LOCALLY-GROWN. FOR FARMERS THOUGH, MARKETS ARE TIME-CONSUMING ENDEAVORS THAT INVOLVES HARVESTING CROPS THAT MORNING, PACKING IT ALL UP, HAULING THE PRODUCE BOXES TO TOWN, SETTING UP A BOOTH, AND THEN TAKING IT ALL DOWN AGAIN AT THE END OF THE DAY. IN A SMALL TOWN LIKE MOAB, IT CAN BE CHALLENGING FOR A FARMER TO EARN ENOUGH TO MAKE IT WORTH THE TIME.

So, local food lovers will be glad to learn that fresh produce from area farms will be available monthly, May through August, at the Arts and Ag market at Swanny City Park, with the help of local foods enthusiast Shiree Duncan. Duncan purchases fruits and veggies wholesale direct from farmers and then brings them to market to make available for purchase – a win-win for farmers and consumers alike. This summer’s remaining Arts and Ag markets will take place July 21, and August 18.

Duncan cofounded Moab Grown Local Food Guide with Utah State University’s Roslynn McCann. The guide is a publication of the USU Extension Sustainability and Grand Conservation District and is designed to help connect restaurants, stores, and residents with local farmers and the food they produce. So, when a city employee suggested to Duncan that she make local produce widely available by collecting it herself, she jumped on the idea. The produce will be labeled to designate where it was grown, she says.

Those farms include Youth Garden Project, Easy Bee Farm, and Manzana Springs Vegetable Farm, plus fruit from Early Morning Orchard in Palisade, Colorado. Duncan also plans to offer melons from Dunham Farm in Green River and vegetables from Paradox Produce in Paradox, Colorado. Additionally, Castle Valley Farms may have a booth at the market. And if not, Duncan says she will collect their produce and bring it herself.

“I’m happy to do it,” says Duncan, regarding being the middle-woman in the process. “And I think it’s a great idea to coordinate with other events happening at Swanny Park to draw more of a crowd.”

Special Events

The city’s Moab Arts department decided to change things up a bit for this year’s Arts and Ag by scheduling the monthly markets during evenings when other fun events, starting at dusk, are also happening at the park, located at 100 W. 400 North. For example, the May market included a free movie screening of The Bad Guy that evening. A family-friendly dark skies-themed event is scheduled for July.

For the July and August markets, Moab Arts coordinated with the Moab Free Concert Series – there will be free live music both those nights. An 11-piece Latin music band called Nosotros will perform in July. And in August, Pixie and the Partygrass Boys will take the park stage. (Additional concerts are scheduled for other, non-market evenings – as part of the free concert series.)

In addition to all the fresh yummy produce for sale, there will be local and regional artists selling their artwork, plus informational booths about various Moab organizations. Approximately 50 artists participated in last year’s Arts and Ag events.

Marketgoers may want to stay for dinner that evening. Moab Kitchen food truck will be there, offering their plant-based foods, like the MoabBetter Burger made with vegetable protein, brown rice and veggies. Normally based at 180 W. Center St., Moab Kitchen also makes burritos, nachos, salads, smoothies and house-made kombucha. Many of their dishes are made with organic, locally-sourced food when available, says manager Christina Cretella.

There will be other food options there, as well. Casa Bien will be selling empanadas and plantains, and Grand County High School’s Native American Club will offer Navajo tacos.

Various Vendors

One of the many vendors returning to Arts and Ag this year is florist Jess Oldham who will be selling cut flowers that she grows in Moab. For part of the summer, she plans to have specialty tulips and other spring flowers available at the market. Later in the season she says she’ll be bringing ranunculus, zinnias, asters, dahlias and other flower varieties.

“I love the market; it’s always been a social event,” Oldham says. “I do a lot of floral events, so I have a lot of clients out of town. It’s nice to meet clients in-person. I also get to talk gardening – a lot of people ask questions about my growing process.”

Wild Raven Soap Company owners Jen Hancewicz and Kai Malloy will also operate a booth again this year. The couple will be selling a wide variety of products created at their shop, at 37 E. Center. There they make 18 different types of soaps – including dog, dish, and shaving bars – plus beard care products, cream deodorants, lip balms, body oils, clay masks, massage oil, shampoo and conditioner bars, and various sprays – for sleep and for room fresheners.

Wild Raven uses all natural, and gluten-free ingredients, including mostly organic oils. And, they use only essential oils – no synthetic fragrances are added. The vast majority of their products are also vegan. Plus, Hancewicz and Malloy incorporate into their soaps regional teas and flowers they grow in their backyard.

“(The market) is definitely a really enjoyable event,” Hancewicz says. “We appreciate the opportunity to meet visitors, and local folks her seven-month residency in the parks. She’ll be selling postcards, prints, plus a few original works. Her artwork includes painting with watercolors on top of photographs, which are all handmade on cotton rag paper, a high-quality archival paper.

Metzner’s work can be found at Moab Made, 82 N Main St., and across the street at Back of Beyond Books, 83 N. Main St.

“The market is a nice community event,” she says. “It’s a fun way to see local happenings, and connect with people. Arts and Ag is a nice balance of vendors.” who haven’t been to our store yet who are out and about, to chat and see what we’re doing.”

Brothers Chris and David Wilson, who own a coffee roasting business called Curve Coffee, will also be there again this year selling cold brews, and regular brewed coffee – including decaf, plus bags of coffee to take home. The company sells its coffee mostly wholesale to other businesses around town.

Another returning vendor is Samantha Metzner, who served as the 2022 Community Artist in the Parks for the National Park Service’s Southeast Utah group of parks: Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, and Hovenweep National Monument.

Metzner is a photographer who works mostly with historic photographic processes. Much of her work involves landscapes. Visit her booth at Arts and Ag to view pieces she created during

The market is one of the best ways to connect with the local community, says Chris Wilson.

“It’s how we’ve gained a lot of our wholesale customers,” he says. “It’s a great way to get to know people, and other vendors.”

The Wilsons roast all of their coffees in town – mostly at the Youth Garden Project, where they set up their roaster inside YGP’s commercial kitchen. They create blends, as well as offer single-origin coffees that vary with the season.

Moab Arts is based at the Moab Arts and Recreation Center, 111 E. 100 North. In addition to Arts and Ag, the city promotes arts and culture in Moab by hosting community art exhibits throughout the year, offering a variety of classes at the MARC, an arts and rec camp, Moab Art Walks from May through November, the Red Rocks Arts Festival, and a Holiday Craft Fair.

Experience a glorious summer evening in Moab by checking out the Arts and Ag market where you’re bound to run into neighbors and friends. And remember to bring a chair or a blanket to relax and take in the free entertainment happening on stage. n last. Product availability, pricing and offer dates may vary

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