Neighborhood-Kids All Local. All for Kids. All the Time.

Experience the Bellingham Farmers Market

by Theresa Carpine6/23/2008 2:48:40 PM

A trip to the Bellingham Farmers Market is no ordinary grocery shopping trip. At what grocery store could you find fresh and locally-grown produce, buy a new hemp outfit, eat authentic French crepes, get a massage, and watch a fire juggling show? If you know of one, I’d love to hear about it and check it out because all these things—and much more—make a day at the Bellingham Farmers Market a special event.

Mike Finger of Cedarville Farms answers questions and sells fresh produce at the Saturday Market.

The current Bellingham Farmers Market has been operating out of its current location on Railroad Avenue between Chestnut and Maple Streets since 1993. Mike Finger, one of the founding vendors and first president, told me that a number of other farmers markets in Bellingham have started and failed throughout the years. He believes that this market succeeded because it started with a good number of vendors (about fifty), and included a variety of crafters and prepared food vendors as well as farm vendors. “The phrase ‘critical mass’ comes to mind,” he said, in between sales of produce to market shoppers from his booth for Cedarville Farm.

The Bellingham Farmers Market’s success was reflected in the opening of a second market on Wednesdays on the Fairhaven Village Green and the construction of the Depot Market Square, a joint effort by the City of Bellingham, the Depot Market Square Committee, and private citizens to give the Farmers Market a covered-space in 2006. The facility is also available for rental on non-market days and after market hours on Saturdays. Today, there are 142 market members from Whatcom and Skagit counties that sell their goods at one or both the weekly markets.

Besides fresh vegetables, you’ll find flowers, potted plants, handmade crafts, and lots more at the Bellingham Farmers Market.

What I really love about the Bellingham Farmers Market is that you don’t have to spend money to have a good time there. You can walk around to see what new selections some of your favorite vendors have to offer, look forward to running into friends (almost inevitable, even on rainy days), or watch chefs from local restaurants give a cooking demonstration with products available at the market. Although I will admit that even when I tell myself that I’m not going to buy anything at the market, I am easily tempted by the kettle corn and fresh-cut flowers.

The Farmers Market is like a weekly mini-festival, the perfect event to bring out-of-town guests to, so they can get a flavorful taste of Bellingham and its lively community in a convenient, market-sized package. No matter how old your guests may be, the Bellingham Farmers Market will delight all ages.

Market Manager Robin Crowder encourages families to bring kids to the market. “Meeting the farmers gives kids a connection to where their food comes from,” she said on a drizzly Saturday morning. “They also see that market produce tastes better. They can tell the difference because it’s so much more delicious than frozen vegetables that have been sitting on a truck.”

Families can also keep themselves amused with the live entertainment acts at the Market, and kids can even participate as vendors on Kid Vending Days.

Families will have a great time exploring the market and finding unique toys for kids.

The Bellingham Farmers Market’s mission is to support local sustainable agriculture by connecting the public with local farmers, artisans, and other producers in an economically viable marketplace. Non-profit groups are also able to share information about their services and needs with the community at Market booths. You can support the Bellingham Farmers Market by purchasing goods from its local vendors, buying Market Merchandise, and volunteering at the market.

The Saturday Market is located at the Depot Market Square on Railroad and Chestnut and is open 10 AM to 3 PM from April through Christmas. The Wednesday Market is located on the Fairhaven Village Green and is open noon to 5 PM from June through September. For more information, visit the Bellingham Farmers Market Official Website to learn about all the great vendors and amenities at the market or stop by the Information Booth on Saturdays.

A Note About the Author: Theresa Carpine

Theresa Carpine is an online journalist for Neighborhood-Kids.com. When she’s not writing, she enjoys knitting, listening to music, and babysitting some really cute kids. Her favorite Bellingham activity is getting coffee at La Vie en Rose and used book browsing at Michael’s Books.