10/11/2026
This is going to be long, but there is so much to say.
First off, I want to say how grateful I am for those who created the People’s Market, later changing the farmers market aspect to be the 9th West Farmers Market. Kyle Lamalfa, James Beck and family, the Isbell family, Tiffin Brough, and more. Without them, we wouldn’t be here now.
The market began in June of 2006, after the community yardsale at the Northwest Multipurpose Center in 2005. I joined the market as a vendor in 2009. The People’s Market was the first farmers market in Utah to accept food stamps. In addition, the board secured a grant to do a Double Up program for food stamp users. Kyle recently informed us that we were the first nationally to do a double up program.
When I joined the market in 2009, it was bigger. At that time, we were the only Sunday market in the area. I am not certain when Park City started theirs. Later, Wheeler Farm’s market swooped in, using many of the same programs we had, and pulled several of our vendors to them
We also had entertainment. James Beck, Paul Fritzler, Galen Young, Paul Boruff, and many others sang for us. Dance groups performed, and even a comedian doing some stand up for us. James told me he knew where I was at all times when there was someone singing. At the end of each song, I loudly hooted for the performer. And for the record, I didn’t need a sound system for people to hear me…yes, I am an extremely loud person.
When I began, I had a really cheap tent set up (I was doing portraits at the time, so the tent was my portable studio). One day, the wind came through, trying to turn my tent into a sail. It knocked all of my jewelry all over the place. I sat down and started crying. Next thing I knew, there were people all around me, assisting with picking up the jewelry and keeping the tent on the ground. One lady came up and wrapped her arms around me and told me that it would be ok. That lady was Marian Reinholtz, who is now one of my closest friends. The type of friend which is there for you through thick and thin, including when I needed to go up to the ER at 3am when I had my very first gout attack. If Marian calls me and asks if I have my car, I know something has happened and I tell her I am on my way, as I know she needs help ASAP.
In 2010, my health had taken a turn for the worse. What I thought was my asthma out of control, making it difficult for me to even walk across my living room without gasping for breath. But it was not asthma, it was congestive heart failure. My ejection fraction which shows how well the left side of the heart pumps out of the heart, was at 17%… quite lower than where it should be at over 45%. I couldn’t work. It was difficult to do anything. That was the year I came to know Larry Proctor. He was one of our vendors at that point, our only loyal produce vendor. I would go to his booth, getting tomatoes, cucumbers, and more. One weekend, I had no money to purchase any produce and I wouldn’t have food stamps (yes, at that time I was receiving food stamps) until the middle of the following week. Larry told me to get what I needed and we would settle up the following week. How many people do such a thing? He trusted that I would pay him later. I had told him that his produce was helping me with my health issues (tomatoes and potatoes and more have potassium which was great cause I hate banana). From that day on, I have had the greatest respect for Larry Proctor. He is one of the best men I know.
In 2011, I joined the board for the People’s Market. In 2014, I took up the mantle of president of the market. I am so grateful to all those who have been a part of the market, helping me keep things going. Marian, Legrand Larsen (bless his soul), Karen Williams, Doug Williams, Jennifer Lownds, Galen and Joann Young, and many more. Most recently, Jeanna Burrill and Judy Odekirk. Without these people, I could not have been able to keep the market running. Danene Peterson, Janet James, Shayden Williams, Mark Walls, and others who were there to aid with physical assistance as well.
I have been asked why I have kept the market running for the last 12 years. It is simple. The people who have become family by heart. Dorothy and Ernie Lucero, who joined the market the same year as me. We lost Ernie a few years ago, and their daughter, Janet, who had been of great assistance in several compacities over the years, passed the following year. Legrand Larsen and his partner were dear friends (Jim still is a friend). Our market brother Lynn, who would bring his corgis Molly and Maggie to see us, then later his chihuahua Bella, and he makes me laugh because if he is there when I am busy with customers, Lynn has stepped in and helps with customers. Same with Danene, who is known as Dee to all of us), who is an amazing part of our market. Sterling and Melissa have been dear friends as well. So many others that it is difficult to keep track of them all.
Over the years, we have had to change things to keep the market running. When, in 2016, Larry decided he didn’t want to be a vendor anymore, we had to flip how we did things. Larry has been the main produce person through the entire time I have been with the market. Fortunately, he continued growing and gave us a wholesale price. So we have been selling his produce for 10 years now from the market booth. We have also increased to a total of 3 small farms and 4 back yard gardeners who bring their produce to the market, making it so we know where all our produce comes from.
During the pandemic, we could have closed for the year. But we knew that the need for food, especially fresh, local food, was going to be a necessity. We set up an online ordering service, even set up deliveries for those who were at risk. We set up the market so that we met with the regulations. That was the year that Millcreek Olive Oil and Salsitas Mendoza stepped in to assist us. With no vendor fees coming in, we nearly lost the market. Both Millcreek and Mendoza had been with the market previously, but had moved on. They came back with donations and discounts so that the market could survive. We have been selling their products for them ever since. Such community support is priceless.
One of the things about the market which makes us stand out differently is our dedication to our community. Last year and this one we have ensured that all children who come to the market are welcome to something to eat. Nonprofit groups have always had free booth space at the market. Last year we became the only market in the area to partner with the Utah Food Bank to offer free sack lunches for kids. Between our backyard gardener and our youth programs, and so many other items we started, we have set a great standard.
So, though it is our farewell to serving the people of Salt Lake City, we are leaving with our heads held high at all we have been able to accomplish over 20 years. Thank you to everyone who has been with the market, whether as a vendor or a customer or a volunteer. You have touched our lives and we are grateful for that. We will be leaving the website up and the page up, so if you need to contact someone later on, feel free to ask us how to get in touch with them. The phone number for the market is mine.
Thank you, all of you, for being a part of our lives. May the things that we started over the years continue to aid people in many ways.
Melanie Schertz
