Farmers Market Celebration

Judy Kirkhuff, Markest Master of the Seattle Farmers Market Association, writes:

I thought I’d take this opportunity to put a word in for a coming celebration we’ve planned at the Market during the State’s Farmers Market Week that is August 4-10. Earlier this year, Wallingford Farmers Market was awarded the title of Best Farmers Market in Washington for 2012 by the State Farmers Market Association.

How’d we pull that off? Especially after the initially controversial move from Wallingford Center to Meridian Park? The Wallingford Farmers Market blog helps explains:

The new location – Meridian Playfield, behind the historic Good Shepherd Center – is the site of the market master’s dreams. It is the same grassy spot used for the historic Seattle Tilth Harvest Fair, an annual event that inspired the creation of all neighborhood farmers markets in Seattle. But it is off the beaten path, too, out of a direct line of site of the public.  Would the Wallingford community find it?

The Market now hosts some 50% more vendors that it did before the move, and after a strong 2011 at the new site, it added even more exciting new vendors in 2012.  These include two farms from within Seattle city limits – one just a few blocks away – a new egg vendor that increased the Market’s egg sales five-fold, a ranch grilling its own sausages and burgers, a pickle maker, a chocolatier, a Hispanic knife sharpener, and two new organic vegetable farms, one run by a young Hmong immigrant, and another run by a young Iraqi immigrant – both women. The vendor mix also takes into consideration the broader needs of our community, including having a gluten-free bakery, a vegetarian prepared food vendor, and plenty of space for local small businesses and community groups to drop in to table.  Not only are there more vendors, they are more diverse, too.

Congratulations, Wallingford Farmers Market!

Here’s a tidbit: you know you can get fresh fruits and vegetables at the market. You know you can get wine, cider, cheese and honey. But did you know you could get your knife sharpened? ‘Tis true! From the Wallingford Farmers Market blog:

Your Knife Sharpening Guy has gotten seriously dialed in now, and he wants to show you. So he will sharpen any one knife of yours that is 6″ or less now for just $1. So bring a knife to Market with you today, and see just how sharp and renewed it can be for just a buck. If you’re psyched, bring the rest of your knifes next week! And remember, dull knives are more dangerous than sharp ones. They slip, bounce off food, and when they do cut you, the cut isn’t so clean. Sharp knives save lives!

“Sharp knives saves lives!” That’s your quote of the week.