EVERETT — A local developer plans to build an indoor, year-round farmers market on Grand Avenue just south of the Everett Public Market building.

The market could be open for business as early as late spring 2012.

The 60,000 square-foot agriculture center would go far beyond fresh veggies. Fresh crops could be turned into products at an on-site commercial kitchen and processing facility.

The market would also function as a distribution hub. Farmers would be able to load those products directly onto delivery trucks that would ship them to local stores and beyond.

Products at the market are likely to include fruits and vegetables; locally butchered beef, lamb and goat; milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream; as well as fresh-cut and dried flowers, local honey, soaps, beer and wine.

A newly-formed nonprofit group of area farmers would operate the market.

City and county officials have planned for a farmers market for years.

County leaders hope it will revitalize and support farming in Snohomish County.

Folks at the city of Everett want to create a vibrant, walkable downtown and keep more local dollars here. The market should bring people into town too.

Initially, the city talked about a farmers market at its multimillion dollar Riverfront project. Downtown started to look like a better option partly because it was less expensive to build there, said Lanie McMullin, Everett’s economic development director.

The farmers market will be at the street-level of a mixed-use building constructed by developer Lobsang Dargey’s Dargey Enterprises.

That’s the same company behind the recently completed Potala Village, a new development on the corner of Rucker and Pacific avenues that includes apartments and 15,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.

Dargey is working with the Cymbaluk family, who own a building that used to house their business, Motor Truck Inc., at the location of the planned market.

Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com.