Spring starts this week, but we still have a couple months to go before the growing season kicks off in the Pacific Northwest – but fear not, we have some Queen Anne Farmers Market news to whet your appetite for the upcoming season, and make you long for the days when W Crockett St is closed to cars and filled with vendors and locals alike.
Photo courtesy of QAFM
First up, mark your calendar – the QAFM season runs from June 6th – October 31st this year. That’s right, it’ll be around through Halloween and the Queen Anne Ave Halloween festivities, as the market extends further into the fall produce season. Market hours will be the usual 3:00-7:30pm.
Secondly, the market has a new market manager, Tom Tafelsky. According to a market spokesperson, the whole QAFM team is looking forward to a great season of Tom’s and the board’s leadership; Tom has a commitment to community that will help motivate others to volunteer or donate to our non-profit market, keeping it independent, thriving, and growing. A 3-year Queen Anne resident who’s volunteered with the P-Patch giving program, Tom has a commitment to community building. He’s excited about joining the QAFM team and looks forward to connecting with the Queen Anne community while building on the growth and success of the market in 2013.
Next up, QAFM vendors and activities – the vendor roster is still being developed, but rest assured, we’ll see both old favorites and new faces among the 50 farms, artisans, and food vendors. The final list won’t be available until May, but news of Renee Erickson’s Narwahl oyster wagon is joining the food truck line-up has been confirmed by the QAFM. (Erickson’s restaurants include The Whale Wins, Walrus and the Carpenter, Boat Street Café). The ever-popular chef’s tent will return, and new this year will be a kid’s market tour to introduce little ones to various types of produce throughout the season.
Photo courtesy of QAFM
And, finally, just this week, the Senate passed Senate Bill 5674, sponsored by Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles – this bill “would allow up to three wineries or microbreweries per day to offer samples at a farmers market.” The bill now goes to the House of Representatives. If it passes, we can all cross fingers that the QAFM may see Washington state wineries and microbreweries in the future – no applications yet, but this bill certainly helps open the door!
That’s it for now, but it’s certainly enough to get us through the next few months of typical Spring weather. June is in our sights!