Buy Local Food On The Peninsula
There will be a farmers market available 6 out of every 7 days somewhere on the peninsula. You need not want for your local food. Here is a directory of local framers’ markets to buy local produce and crafts and get the latest updates on market times and locations:
Bainbridge Island Farmers’ Market
Kitsap Peninsula Farmers Market Openings News
Last modified on 2009-04-09 20:44:08 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
FARMERS MARKET GUIDE FOR KITSAP, NORTH MASON AND EAST JEFFERSON COUNTIES
Customers and farmers alike are gearing up for this weekend’s opening of two of our area’s biggest farmers markets – Bainbridge and Poulsbo. Port Gamble and Keyport are already operating and 13 farmers’ markets throughout Kitsap, North Mason, and East Jefferson counties will be opening at various times up throughout the season.
Dragonly Summer Market Fun
This makes our area one of the most popular in the state for farmers markets says Poulsbo Market Manager, Jackie Aitcheson, who is also executive director of the Washington State Farmers Market Association. She says she is opening ten new markets in the state so far this year, including two in Kitsap – they’re in Keyport and Suquamish.
“Folks in Kitsap will have be able to shop a farmers market every day of the week except Monday. We are anticipating a very successful season for all of our member markets as more and more people want to support their local farmers and producers,” said Aitcheson.
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND:
Where: Town Square at City Hall Park, 280 Madison Ave. N
When: Saturdays, April 11 – Oct. 17, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Info: www.bainbridgefarmersmarket.com
Bainbridge Farmers’ Market Manager, Susan VanderWey, says they are looking forward to a big celebration for the opening of the market this Saturday. At least three new farmers and a shellfish vendor will be added this year and she says several regular farmers are planning to expand. On Saturday, horse and wagon rides will be available and free drawings held throughout the day.
“For our opening, Mayor Darlene Kordenoy will be assuming bridal stance and flinging the traditional ceremonial Goat Cheese into the waiting throngs. Whoever snags the cheese wins a market basket and a host of coupons redeemable for vendor-donated gifts,” says VanderWey.
Bainbridge Island Market Supports Local Farmers
BELFAIR:
Where: Theler Center south parking lot, Highway 3, south of Belfair
When: Saturdays, May 2 – Sept 26, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Info: www.belfairfarmersmarket.com
BREMERTON:
Where: Corner Pacific Avenue and Sheldon Blvd. near Evergreen Rotary Park
When: Thursdays, May 14 – October
Info. www.bremertonmarket.com or (360) 440-5139
GIG HARBOR (2 LOCATIONS AND DAYS):
Where and When:
First location: Saturdays, April 4 – Sept. 26, 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Kimball Drive on west side of Highway 16 off Wollochet exit
Second location: Wed., June 3 – Aug. 26, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Skansie Brothers Park, downtown Gig Harbor
HANSVILLE (DRAGONFLY SUMMER MARKET)
Where: Dragonfly Farms, 34881 Hansville Road, Hansville
When: Sundays, May 3 – Oct. 4, Noon – 4 p.m.
Info: (360) 638-1292
New last year was the Hansville Market, which will also be known as the Dragonfly Summer Market. With a beautiful scenic location in the pasture at Dragonfly Farms on the Hansville Highway a half-mile from Eglon, farm owners Dave and Heidi Kaster say it’s a perfect spot for a Sunday afternoon drive. They say they will have at least three new produce farmers this season and will also have a new vendor with goat products, including cheese. With two greenhouses on the farm, she says they will have plenty of vegetables for their May 3 opening and lots vegetable starts.
“We also have farm tours available by appointment on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and products available on the tours,” says Heidi.
"Window Shopping" at Hansville Farmers Market
KEYPORT
Where: Island Jamz restaurant, downtown Keyport
When: Fridays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. January – closing date not yet determined
Info: (360) 830-9565 or (360) 471-8219
With a January opening indoors inside the Island Jamz restaurant, the new Keyport Farmers Market was the first to open this year. Market Manager, Monica Phillips, who also manages the Silverdale Farmers’ Market (opening April 21), said the market will stay inside until the weather warms. She says she is surprised at the large ratio of farmers to craft vendors at this growing Friday market.
“The Keyport Market has a lot of vegetables and vegetable starts and Luigi brings in a big supply of his wonderful artisan breads,” says Phillips.
Color and flavor at the Hansville Farmers Market
Anne Burkhardt's patio starts for the Keyport Farmers Market
KINGSTON
Where: Mike Wallace Park next to Kingston ferry terminal
When: Saturday, May 2 – Oct 10, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Info: www.kingstonfarmersmarket.com
One of the vendors who supplies both the Keyport and Kingston (opening May 2) farmers markets is Anne Burkhardt. With a farm in Sequim and nursery in Poulsbo, Burkhardt does a lot of traveling to bring her well-known herbs and produce to market. Beginning May 4, she’s also teaching another seven-week series of the popular Urban Vegetable Gardening classes with partner Gayle Larson. Reach them at (360) 981-7127 or at dancingravendesign@comcast.net to sign up.
“Despite another cold spring, we’re all excited about the upcoming farmers market season and look forward to even more people discovering how important it is to buy and eat locally produced food,” says Burkhardt.
PORT GAMBLE
Where: Highway 104 and Puget Way
When: Sundays, April 5 – Sept. 27, 11 a.m – 4 p.m.
Info: (360) 297-8074 or www.portgamble.com
PORT ORCHARD
Where: Waterfront off Bay Street downtown Port Orchard
When: Saturdays, April 25 – Oct. 10, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Info: www.pofarmersmarket.org
PORT TOWNSEND (TWO LOCATIONS AND DAYS)
First location: Saturdays, May 2- Nov. 21, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on Tyler Street at Lawrence
Second location: Wednesday, June 10 – Sept. 30, 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. on Pike Street at Lawrence
Info: www.ptfarmersmarket.org (360) 379-9088
POULSBO
Where: Poulsbo Village Medical/Dental Center at Iverson Street and Seventh Avenue
When: Saturday, April 11 – Oct. 17, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Info: www.poulsbofarmersmarket.org
New at the Poulsbo Farmers’ Market this year is its participation in a pilot technology program through the Washington State Farmers Market Association that allows them to accept EBT food stamps, credit and debit, Quest, and SNAP cards. In addition to featuring more than 50 vendors it will continue with chef demos such as John Nesby at Mor-Mor and Tomas Navarre from Breezy Hill Bistro. A full compliment of music including Latin jazz, opera, Celtic, and Cajun music will again be presented and the North Kitsap High School marching and jazz bands will kick off the opening.
Anne Burkhardt and Kim at the Poulsbo Farmers Market
SILVERDALE
Where: Silverdale Beach Hotel parking lot at 3073 Bucklin Hill Road
When: Tuesdays, April 21 – Sept. 29, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Info: (360) 471-8219 or (360) 830-9565
For its 11th season, Phillips says the Silverdale Farmers Market will have four new farmers, including a vendor for Moscovy duck eggs and the majority of the vendors will be in food products. Also new this year will be workshops and seminars on a variety of topics including worm composting and tips on pruning.
SUQUAMISH
Where: Corner of Suquamish Way and Division in downtown Suquamish
When: Wednesdays, June 3 – Oct. 14, 3 – 7 p.m.
Info: contactus@suquamishfamersmarket.org
“…60 per cent increase in sales in our local farmers markets state-wide…” – Jackie Aitcheson
Last modified on 2008-10-28 01:04:50 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
With worsening weather and the seasonal crop harvest winding down, most of our local farmers markets have closed or are closing soon for the season. Their presence will be sorely missed by those of us who look forward to our weekly junket to our local market to buy the freshest of eggs, meat, poultry, shellfish, and produce.
But Poulsbo Farmers Market Manager and Director of Washington State Farmers Market Association, Jackie Aitcheson, says there’s some good news – it’s been a record-breaking season for the state’s farmers markets.
“From our first reports it looks like there has been about a 60 per cent increase in sales in our local farmers markets state-wide,” says Aitcheson. “And we opened eight new markets this year – it’s just been amazing to watch.”
Aitcheson says she thinks more people want to know where there food comes from and she feels that most want to buy local and keep their consumer spending dollars spent locally as much as possible.
Clint Dudley, Kingston Farmers Market manager says there’s an added community benefit to those who purchase at their local farmers market.
“Statistics show that businesses around the farmers market also receive a lot of sales as a result of people stopping at the farmers market, then doing other shopping in the process. With the price of gas, one-stop local shopping makes a lot of sense,” says Dudley.
Keeping a farmers market going for the season involves a lot of work by volunteers and market managers as well as many farmer-vendors who must get up before dawn to ensure that they have the freshest possible produce available at the market. And many markets have additional attractions to manage such as entertainment, special events, food booths, and craft vendors.
Some of the markets even have vendor-volunteer managers who put in hours of overtime, such as the board of the Bremerton Farmers Market, Kim Schleis, Tiffany Royal, Chuck Muller, Kris Day and Cynthia Jeffries-Cyr of the Bremerton Farmers Market.
Royal says: “It’s been an exceptional year for us and I think the addition of WIC and senior coupons have brought a lot more to market but I think there’s also a growing awareness that people have of the importance of buying local, fresh food.”
Same goes for Laura Pittman-Hewitt and Pam Moyer of the Port Orchard Farmers Market. In addition to all of the duties running the market with such tasks as sales receipt collection, setting up the market, hiring entertainment and demonstration, this hardworking pair is also farmer-vendors in this market. Monica Phillips, long-time Silverdale Farmers market manager does it all…and she’s a vendor-farmer too. Susan Harrington managed the new Friday Hansville market this year and is looking to expand next year.
Most farmers markets couldn’t operate without their many outstanding volunteers.
Mor-Mor restaurant owners, John and Laura Nesby, exemplify some of those community volunteers who have donated their time, service, and goods to our farmers markets. John, a Poulsbo Market board member, served as a guest chef at Poulsbo Market but he has also coordinated and brought in all of the other volunteer chef demonstrators at this market as well as conducting the popular annual Tomato Taste-Off. Laura has instituted a community benefit program that donates five per cent of their Wednesday lunch proceeds from the couple’s restaurant for an entire month to a non-profit community organization – Poulsbo Farmers Market was the beneficiary in June. Mor-Mor is also hosting the market’s fund raising dinner this Sunday.
If you’re still looking for your weekly farmers market fix, the late harvest of some crops has allowed Poulsbo Farmers Market to extend their season through tomorrow, October 18, so local shoppers can have a last crack at buying fresh local produce. They are also hosting a Buy Local For Thanksgiving and Holiday Market at the Poulsbo Library on Sat. Nov. 22 from 1 – 5 p.m.
As this growing season comes to a close, we should all give a word of thanks to our local food growers and producers along with those tireless volunteers who have made our farmers markets possible. The increase in attendance and sales by our markets indicate a positive overall trend that the general public is becoming aware of and buying locally-made food here in Kitsap.
Maybe I didn’t see it, but a one-page printable version of when and where the farmer’s markets are held would be great. That way you can see at a glance where you can go on any given day.
I also would like a one page printable version of when and where farmers markets will be held in this area, e.g. Kitsap County. If you folks don’t and won’t have can you tell me who does?
Bob