We encourage student buskers to play at the Salem Saturday Market! Students may bring their instruments, check in at the information booth to get a badge, and play for their community. This is a great chance to practice in front of a live audience! We ask that buskers move spots every 15-20 minutes while at the market.
We have refreshed our Emerging Artisans Program for 2025! This program is a fantastic opportunity for students to experience what it's like to own a business and to have their own booth at a market.
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P.O.P
The Power of Produce (POP) Club is a farmers market-based children program that seeks to teach children about fruits and vegetables, local food systems and healthy food preparation through fun activities.
 
Participants engage in the full farmers market experience, trying new foods, having conversations with farmers, and buying local produce. Fun weekly activities ranging from cooking demonstrations to farmers market scavenger hunts provide nutrition, food, agriculture, and exercise education.
Kids are encouraged to take two bites of the "Produce of the Week". It's a great way to teach them about new and nutritious foods in a fun environment! 
Kids will receive $2 in market currency each week to use in shopping at the market's participating vendors! 
Visit and participate at the POP booth  for 10 weeks for a special prize! We see the most growth in social skills, food education, and exploration when kids keep visiting
We encourage kids to participate in weekly activities such as guessing the mystery vegetable, planting seeds, crafts, and more!
POP Club Vision and Goals

The Power of Produce (POP) Club is made up of three main components:
  1. Supporting healthy food choices, food awareness, and a healthy lifestyle through educational activities each week.
  2. Encouraging children to try new, healthy foods through the Two Bite Club; and
  3. Giving children market currency to spend on fresh produce each week they attend the market.
 
Each of the POP Club’s activities is driven by the triple bottom line:
 
  1. Farmers should earn fair prices for the fruits of their labor by selling directly to consumers;
  2. Consumers gain access to fresh nutritious, local produce; and
  3. Communities regain a figurative ‘town square’, experiencing the many positive outcomes of foot traffic and animated public space.
 
What makes POP unique is that it puts the buying power into the hands of children, giving children the opportunity to be the consumers.