Growers Market is an all volunteer not-for-profit food-buying club for buying organic and natural foods. The Market is run entirely by volunteers with a consensus-based democratic process. Our purposes are to provide quality food at exellent price, support sustainable agriculture, and promote social change within our community and beyond (click for our official mission statement). The top floor of our building is made up of offices rented to non-profit social change groups. The Board of Directors of the Growers Market (which includes representatives of both the food buying club and the upstairs tenants) meets once a month, and these meetings are open to anyone who wants to attend.
The 'Banzo is back! The 'Banzo is a newsletter of the food buying club as well as the upstairs tenants. The 'Banzo contains things like market bussiness, announcements, garage sales, places to live, current political actions, and more. Board meetings, coordinator meetings, and available strawboss positions are sometimes advertised here.
We require no membership fee. If you're interested in shopping at Growers Market, you will need to become a member and attend one of our orientations. Members are encouraged (but not required) to volunteer to recieve a work credit discount for each week's shopping. You will have a card to keep track of your volunteer time. For each half hour you will receive one pumpkin stamped on your card. You can work a few hours at once and gather pumpkins to use at your leisure, or simply do one half hour each week. When you use a pumpkin for your shopping, approximately 15% will be deducted from your bill at check-out.
As you can imagine, there are many types of work necessary to make Growers run. We tally orders from members, recieve food from both local and out-of-town distributors, price and stock all the food, staff the market, maintain records, produce a weekly newsletter (the Garbanzo Gazette), upgrade our space and structures, clean, and organize.
So, please help out if you can! For each half hour of volunteer work, you will receive one pumpkin stamped on your card. When you use a pumpkin for your shopping, approximately 15% will be deducted from your bill at check-out. Tasks are oriented towards preparing the market for opening, staffing during shopping hours, and closing up. If you are looking for a job to earn a pumpkin or two, please be aware that since Growers is run entirely by volunteers, there is no "boss" dictating what needs to be done and when. What this means in terms of work credit is this: if you see something that needs to be done...DO IT!!
For example, building a shelf, upgrading an order form, reorganizing a messy shelf, or devising a new accounting system are all projects that Market members have initiated (many during non-Market hours). You are warmly and enthusiastically encouraged to use your skills and take initiative.
We offer most products you would find at any health food store at much better prices. Food is available to everyone on a first-come-first-served basis. We do our best at keeping an ample stock of all foods, but if you want a large amount of something, it's best to do a special order.
Orders of bulk quantity items carried by our suppliers* can be made through the Market. If you're looking for a large quantity (such as a case of oranges or 50 pounds of flour) of something we do or don't regularly stock, this is the route for you. Talk to a coordinator or see the order board at the rear of the Market for instructions.
(* if you have a list of our suppliers, please contact the webmaster)
There are a small handful of members who oversee the regular operations of the Market on Thursday and Friday. The coordinator on duty can assign you work and answer any questions that you can't figure out for yourself.
What does this word mean in Growers? It refers to a member who has committed to a particular job each week, usually requiring more than half an hour and/or specific training. Some examples of strawboss jobs include cashier, new member orientation, cheese cutting crew ;-) , rag washer, bulk goods stocking, and Garbonzo Gazette Staff. Ask a coordinator or keep your eye on the Garbonzo Gazette if you are interested in a strawboss position.
Although it is somewhat out of print, the 'Banzo was a weekly newsletter of the food buying club as well as the upstairs tenants. The 'Banzo contained Market Bussiness, announcements, garage sales, places to live, current political actions, and more. Board meetings, coordinator meetings, and available strawboss positions were advertised here.
View the Garbanzo Gazette Archive here: https://growersmarket.net/banzo/
"The food buying club’s primary purpose shall be to assist the community in obtaining adequate nutrition through educational information and by making healthful foods available at low cost, especially to the poor and elderly, to whom high quality nutrition might not otherwise be available."
454 Willamette St, Eugene, OR 97401
The entrance to Growers Market is sort of hidden. It is located across from the train station in the same building as Morning Glory Cafe. Facing Morning Glory, go around to the right, past the gaia mural and go up the wooden ramp. The door on the left is the entrance to Growers Market.
Please call us during our shopping hours at 541-687-1145
(It's the best way to get in contact with one of the strawbosses or coordinators)
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