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Buy Local Food On Bainbridge Island

The Bainbridge Island Farmers Market will be held on Saturdays during 2009 starting April 11th. Visit Bainbridge Island Farmers’ Market.

More Holiday Local Food Available at Bainbridge Island Market

Last modified on 2009-12-09 21:16:33 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Enliven Your Holiday Table With Fresh Local Food

Although most farmers markets have been closed for a month or more now, you can still get your farmers market fix for a couple of more weeks on Bainbridge Island.  Open Saturdays at the Eagle Harbor Congregation Church on the corner of Winslow Way and Madison in downtown Bainbridge Island from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Bainbridge Island Winter Market will continue through December 19 with a great selection of fresh winter vegetables and other items to grace your holiday home and table.

Betsey Wittick

Venerable local farmers Betsey Wittick of Laughing Crow Farms and Rebecca Slattery of Persephone Farm were both on hand last Saturday with an abundance of vegetables. Even the frigid weather didn’t keep market patrons from stopping by to load up with their favorites. Laura Llewellyn from the Soup Garden, Peter Weber of Farmhouse Organics and others were also on hand with a good supply of produce.

Peter Weber of Farmhouse Organics

At Slattery’s busy booth, Sound Food’s Carolyn Goodwin completed filling her substantial basket.

Rebecca Slattery of Persephone Farm

“It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to continue to buy local farm-fresh produce,” said Goodwin.

Sound Food’s Carolyn Goodwin

Wittick carried quite a variety of items including greens from Butler Green Farms and wines from Bainbridge Island Winery.  Her own produce included ten kinds of potatoes, onions, cabbage, squash, parsnips, beets, and collard greens.

But in addition to the veggies, you can also find some delicious holiday specialty foods such as the Luke Tjesland’s gingerbread cookies.  The recipe, originating in Vienna, Austria has been passed down through five generations and is a special symbol of the spirit of Christmas for his family.

Madeline Hepler and Luke Tjesland

“I think this is the best gingerbread I’ve ever tasted,” said Madeline Hepler who was helping Luke out in his booth.

Other taste treats suitable for a festive holiday meal or entertaining were available too.

Kirsten Boholst of RSVP Party Liaisons Catering

If you don’t have time to prepare food for entertaining, Kirsten Boholst of RSVP Party Liaisons Catering might be the ticket for you, though she also has some delectable items available for purchase at the Market.   Her peanut orange chocolate bark didn’t last two days at my house and her trio of hummus, a spicy red pepper-feta; a black bean and feta; and a sun-dried tomato and basil would be great additions to any appetizer platter.

Perennial Vintners

To go with your holiday meal, nothing is more perfect than a wine from a local vintner and another excellent Bainbridge Island winery, Perennial Vintners, is represented here too.  Wine maker Michael Lempriere is particularly excited about his just-released offering of Melon de Bourgogne; it’s a dry white wine from a grape that he says has been commercially grown successfully in Washington State for the first time at his farm.

And there are other holiday items at the Market available to go with your local food and beverages.  Fresh green wreaths and centerpieces to adorn your home and small gift items may also be purchased.  But hurry – there are only two more Saturdays to take advantage of this final opportunity to shop at a Kitsap farmers market this year and make your holiday purchases truly “bought local”.