Steven Lee, of Chehalis, center, talks with Bruce Yost, who owns Twin Cedars Woodworking, as Yost's dog, Bernice, stares towards Grace, owned by Lee, at the Centralia Farmers Market on Friday. Friday marked the opening day of the market that will go until the end of September. If the weather remains nice the market will stay open into October.
Brett Shankle sits behind tomato plant starts at the Olde Achers Farm booth at the opening day of the Centralia Farmers Market last May.
While the sun has yet to grace our region in satisfying doses this year, the popular farmers market season is already upon us.
Centralia’s Lewis County Farmers Market marked the official start to the season with its inaugural showing last Friday. Following that example, there will soon be colorful markets popping up and drawing conscientious consumers in like bees to sweet nectar from every corner of The Chronicle coverage area.
Centralia
The Centralia Farmers Market will be open on Fridays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. through the harvest moon at its location on the 400 block of North Pearl Street across from The Chronicle. This market is the oldest continuously running farmers outlet in Lewis County with roots stretching back to 1979.
The market moved to its new location last season and found the asphalt parking lot setting to be helpful to shoppers during frequent bouts of inclement weather that bookend the season. With about a dozen vendors in the mix, the Centralia Farmers Market offers fresh produce, baked goods, nursery plants, flowers, herbs and various arts and crafts.
Chehalis
The Community Farmers Market of Chehalis is set to add a new wrinkle to their tried and true approach this year. While the market will continue to be open each Tuesday between June 6 and Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., this year shoppers will be able to check out the offerings during a special Friday evening opening as well. Those experimental Friday markets will run from July 14 through Aug. 25 with operating hours of 4-7 p.m. Both markets will be located at the traditional stomping grounds in downtown Chehalis just south of Market Street on Boistfort Street.
“A lot of people work and they are in their offices during the day and they wanted to take advantage of the market at a time that was more convenient and more accessible to them,” explained Market Manager Vicki Muething. “We’re doing a pilot this year and then hopefully if it takes off, if the response is good, then we’ll expand it for next year.”
The Friday evening market will include nearly all of the same vendors as the traditional Tuesday market, with the addition of a few extra prepared food vendors. Muething hopes that the scene will have, “kind of a date night at the market flavor to it.”
Pe Ell
The Pe Ell Farmers Market will soon be back for its third rendition in West Lewis County. The market is set to open on May 13 and will remain open through the first weekend of October. The quaint roadside attraction is open on Saturdays only from 7 a.m. until noon at the corner of Seventh Avenue and state Route 6 in the heart of Pe Ell.
“We’re very excited,” said market manager Rebecca Ambrose. “We’re always looking for more vendors.”
This year the Pe Ell market will offer fresh flowers, plant starts, gardening tools, hand crafted items and no-spray produce from three local growers. For vendors looking to join the party there is a $5 per week fee, or $25 for the season.
“We’ll just see if the weather cooperates,” added Ambrose, who noted that last summer there were only about four market days where the rain did not show up. “It’s hard to get too excited about vending in the rain.”
For additional information contact Ambrose at (360) 245-3339.
Winlock
After one year of trial and error, the Winlock Farmers Market will have a new location this year as it has packed up from the gravel lot in front of the railroad tracks and headed for the empty lot across from the IGA at 305 E. Walnut St.
The market will be open rain or shine from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturdays from June 3 through Sep. 30. This year the offerings are expected to include fresh produce, artisan crafts, food vendors, flowers and a swap meet.
Anyone looking to join the vending effort can inquire by email to winlockmarket@gmail.com.
Tenino
The Stone City will be kicking off its farmers market season on Saturday, and the good times are expected to roll right on through Sept. 30. For the second year in a row the market will be located on Olympia Street in downtown Tenino with operating hours from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. each Saturday.
The market is seeking additional vendors but already offers fresh, locally grown produce, plants, hand-crafted wares, live music, family friendly events and activities and community outreach efforts. For additional information contact market@teninofarmersmarket.org.
Packwood
Since 2014 the Packwood Farmers Market has been working away to create a dependable destination for shoppers seeking fresh and original offerings. The market, located on the lawn in front of the Mountain Goat Coffee Co., is open every Saturday between June 10 and Sep. 30 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The only exceptions to those openings are on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends when the town is taken over by a swarm of Packwood Days enthusiasts.
The market includes homegrown and handmade goods from local farmers, artists, crafters and musicians from the area. Local producers in the mix include Sweet Dirt Farm, Cowlitz Falls Lavendar Co., Dick Price Woodworking, Thompson’s Farm, 2nd Chance Nursery, Trace Natives, Sweet Water Farm, and Busy Family Farm. Occasionally there are fresh flowers from Big Bottom Flowers, and even carnivorous plants.
“I believe the nearest market to me is the Community Farmers Market in Chehalis. There's one in Yakima too, both one hour plus from us,” said market manager and operator of Sweet Dirt Farm, Gretchen Fritsch. “The local population is absolutely thrilled to have a market in such a remote location and the weekend tourists are also a huge support. It truly is becoming a community gathering place.”
Fritsch added that Sweet Dirt Farm will be accepting Farmers Market WIC checks this season and is working on accepting EBT cards. Anyone with questions or interest in vending at the market should email Fritsch at sweetdirtfarmer@gmail.com.
