7 tips for getting the most from farmers markets

  • Herald staff
  • Tuesday, August 13, 2013 11:26am
  • Life

Farmers markets are really jumping up now with all kinds of produce coming into peak production. Find one in your area or venture afield for a taste of what’s available in other communities.

Birds and Blooms magazine has put together a list of do’s and don’ts for shopping at farmers markets. If you haven’t sample the fruits, vegetables, flowers, arts and crafts sold by your own neighbors at farmers markets, these tips might ease the way.

  • DO bring your own sturdy bag. Vendors often have bags, but you’ll probably buy more than you think, so a big, heavy-duty carryall is best.
  • DON’T be shy. The people who sell the food are probably the same ones who grow it, so ask questions, seek advice and get to know this segment of your community.
  • DO shop outside the box. Never tried kale? Pick up a fresh bunch at the market. Or get a few apples in a variety you’ve never had before.
  • DON’T eat before you go. There’s more to a farmers market than fresh veggies. Local food vendors set up shop as well. Look for bakeries or coffee shops offering sweet treats.
  • DO have a little bit of a plan. The market can be overwhelming when you first arrive. Know what’s in season, whether it’s strawberries in summer or apples in fall.
  • DON’T expect it to be a quick trip. In general, farmers markets are leisurely, and most people peruse the goods at a relaxed pace.
  • DO bring cash, preferably small bills to speed up your purchases.

You can find the original story from Birds and Blooms at birdsandbloomsblog.com/2013/07/18/farmers-market-do-s-and-donts.

Arlington Farmers Market: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays through Sept. 14, Legion Park, 200 N. Olympic Ave., Arlington; 425-330-6105; www.arlingtonfarmersmarket.blogspot.com.

Bayview Farmers Market: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 26, Bayview Corner, Highway 525 and Bayview Road; 360-321-4302; www.bayviewfarmersmarket.com.

Bailey Vegetables: Daily, August through October, 12711 Springhetti Road, Snohomish; 360-568-8826; www.baileyveg.com. Call for hours.

Bothell Farmers Market: Noon to 6 p.m. Fridays through Sept. 30, 23718 Bothell-Everett Highway, Bothell; 425-483-2250; www.countryvillagebothell.com.

Bryant Park Blueberry Farm: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays during harvest season through late August, 5628 Grandview Road, Arlington; 360-474-8424; www.bryantblueberries.com.

Carleton Farm Produce: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Oct. 31, 630 Sunnyside Blvd. SE, Everett; 425-334-2297; www.carletonfarm.com.

Clinton Farmers Market: 3:30 to 7 p.m. Thursdays through August; 6320 Storkson Drive (behind the Dairy Queen), Clinton; 425-308-1894; www.clintonchamberofcommerce.org.

Donnellys Riverbank Blueberries and Vegetables: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, through November, 11827 Reiner Road, Monroe; 360-793-2114.

Edmonds Museum Summer Market: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 5, Fifth Avenue and Main Street in downtown Edmonds; 425-776-7201; www.historicedmonds.org.

Everett Friday Farmers Market: 3 to 7 p.m. Fridays through Oct. 4 in the Everett Mall Sears parking lot; 425-422-5656; fridayfarmersmarket@gmail.com or www.fridayfarmersmarketeverettmall.com.

Everett Sunday Farmers Market: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 6, 1600 W. Marine View Drive. Call 425-422-5656 or see www.everettfarmersmarket.com.

Foster’s Country Market: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Oct. 31 at 5818 Highway 530 NE, Arlington; 360-435-6516; www.fosterscornmaze.com/summer.html.

Garden Treasures: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, 3328 Highway 530, Arlington; 360-435-9272; www.arlingtongardentreasures.com.

Greenbank Farm Sunday Farmers Market: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays through September, Greenbank Farm, 765 Wonn Road, Whidbey Island; 360-678-7710; www.greenbankfarm.com.

Lake Forest Park Farmers Market: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 20, High 522 and Highway 104, Lake Forest Park; 206-366-3302; www.third placecommons.org/farmers-market.

Maltby Produce Market: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays through December, 19523 Broadway Ave., rural Snohomish; 360-668-0174; www.flowerworldusa.com/produce.html.

Marshland Fruit and Produce Market: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays through the end of October; 8102 Marsh Road, Snohomish; 360-563-1200.

Monroe River Valley Farm Farmers Market: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 2, 19829 168th St. SE, Monroe; 425-750-2473; tinyurl.com/monroerivervalleyfarmersmarket.

Mountainview Blueberry Farm: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday through early September, U-pick only, 7617 E. Lowell-Larimer Road, Snohomish; 360-668-3391; www.mountainviewblueberryfarm.com.

Mukilteo Farmers Market: 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through September, 609 Front St., Mukilteo; 425-418-6064; www.mukilteofarmersmarket.org.

Port Susan Farmers Market: 3 to 7 p.m. Fridays through Oct. 18 at Viking Village, Stanwood; 360-202-3932; leslie@portsusan.org; www.portsusan.org.

Skagit Valley Saturday Market: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Sept. 24, Farmhouse Restaurant, 13724 La Conner-Whitney Road, Anacortes, just off Highway 20 between Anacortes and Burlington; 360-770-0320; skagitvalleysaturdaymarket.blogspot.com.

Stocker Farms: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Nov. 3; 10622 Airport Way, Snohomish; 360-568-7391; www.stockerfarms.com.

South Whidbey Farmers Market: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays through October, South Whidbey Tilth’s Sustainable Agriculture Center, 2812 Thompson Road at the corner of Highway 525 and Thompson Road, 6.7 miles north of the Clinton ferry landing; 360-632-4451; www.southwhidbeytilth.org/market.

Sedro-Woolley Farmers Market: 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Metcalf and Ferry streets, Hammer Heritage Square Park, Sedro-Woolley; 360-202-7311; www.sedrowoolleyfarmers market.com.

Snohomish Farmers Market: 3 p.m. to sunset, Thursdaysthrough Oct. 3, on Cedar Avenue between First and Pearl streets, in downtown Snohomish; 425-423-8414; snohomishfarmersmarket.blogspot.com.

Snohomish Sunday Farmers Market: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sept. 29 at Third Street and Lincoln Avenue in Snohomish; fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers, cookies, pies and Kelso hotdogs; 206-412-4630; www.snohomishmarkets.com.

Skykomish Open Air Market: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. second Saturdays of the month through Sept. 10, Depot Park along Railroad Avenue in Skykomish; 360-677-2135.

Willis Tucker farmers market: 3 to 7 p.m. Fridays, through the second week of September, Willis Tucker Park, 6705 Puget Park Drive, Snohomish, three miles east of Mill Creek; 206-683-8209; www.marketatwillistucker.wordpress.com.

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