The Phinney Farmers Market opens for the season on Friday, June 3, with special events for kids, live music and cooking demonstrations. Bluegrass band $4 Shoe plays from 3- 5 p.m. and kids’ entertainer Caspar Babypants plays from 5-7 p.m.
The Phinney Farmers Market is organized by the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance. It is open from 3-7 p.m. every Friday through Oct. 7 in the Phinney Neighborhood Center parking lot, 6532 Phinney Ave. N.  The market accepts EBT (food stamps), WIC and Senior market coupons. Gift certificates are also available. Check out what’s ripe each week with the Ripe and Ready report.
This year the market welcomes 2 exciting new vendors to our roster: Lantern Brewing and Tahoma Farms. Lantern Brewing is a new micro-brewery in Greenwood that produces delicious pale and seasonal ales made with ALL Washington-sourced ingredients. Tahoma Farms is located on 40 acres of land in the fertile Orting Valley, on the banks of the Puyallup River. They produce a lovely variety of certified organic vegetables and herbs, including lettuces, pumpkins and even some luscious strawberries.
Returning farmers bring a full selection of all-local, sustainable fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses and other good foods: Willapa Hills Cheese, Seattle Urban Honey, and Olsen Farms heirloom potatoes and pastured beef, to name a few. As the season progresses, look for new crops such as squash blossoms, cherries, raspberries, braising greens and other straight-from-the-farm, seasonal produce. Unless you grow it yourself, nothing is fresher than the produce at the farmers market! This year, as last year, we’re experiencing a wet, cold spring, so crops will likely be ripening a week or two later than in warmer years – but be patient and relish the flavors of each season in their turn.
For desserts, treats, and food to go, check out the homemade ice cream, jams and preserves, pastries and hot foods including Veraci Pizza, Pan Africa, Patty Pan and other locally made goodies.
Special Events at the Market:
On August 19 the market hosts the first Phinney Phruit Phestival, a celebration of our local farmers’ delicious varieties of summer fruits. Canning demos, taste comparisons, farmer info, recipes and more will be part of the day’s activities. The market also hosts local musicians, including great stuff for kids, nearly every Friday. And mark your calendars for the Zucchini Races on Sept 9th!
