North Bend Farmers Market begins June 23
June 15, 2011
By Sebastian Moraga
Vendors, musicians, artists and farmers — Minna Rudd has thought of everything when helping plan this year’s North Bend Farmers Market.
Well, almost everything.
“I ordered some sunshine,” said Rudd, recreation coordinator for Si View Metropolitan Park District. “But, of course, there aren’t any guarantees on that.”
Sunshine or not, the Farmers Market is happening from 4-8 p.m. every Thursday from June 23 to Sept. 1, sporting a lineup of concerts, artisans and merchants for every week at Si View Park, 400 S.E. Orchard Drive.
Si View staff The North Bend Farmers Market has fresh, locally grown seasonal produce.
Vendors of prepared foods may be too late to apply for an early-schedule spot, given the two-week period needed to get a permit from King County, but arts and crafts vendors and farmers can still apply, Rudd said.
One of the changes from last year is the music schedule, with concerts commencing a bit later in 2011.
“We had some disappointed moms and dads last year,” Rudd said of the 2010 edition of the market that had concerts start at 5:30 p.m., forcing a rushed commute home and then another harried trip to the park.
This year, the concerts start at 6 p.m. and run until 7:30.
“That way, the music lasts a little bit longer,” Rudd said.
Genres of music include folk, dance, retro pop, rock covers, blues, bluegrass, jazz and instrumental. All concerts are free.
Newcomers to the market include Forest Fairy Bakery and the Snoqualmie Cattle Co.
“It’s a very unique thing for us to have. They raise beef locally in Snoqualmie,” Rudd said.
Those returning to the market include North Bend’s Hermosa Mexican Foods, whose tamales were sorely missed in 2010, Rudd said.
“We had a short season, and we had already committed to another market, so we couldn’t make it,” Hermosa co-owner Karyn Moreno said. “This year, we decided that since we live in North Bend, we are going to support our city.”
The market is 10 weeks long, Moreno said. Most other markets are almost twice as long.
“When you solely rely on the farmers markets, you want them to have a long season,” she said.
North Bend’s market is one of five that Hermosa will attend this year.
“It was definitely on our list,” said Moreno, who has owned Hermosa for nine years. “We already have a following and it’s wonderful.”
Another repeat customer for the market will be Calhoun Family Fruit, from Wapato in south central Washington.
This is the fourth year for the Calhouns at the market.
“It’s a fun community, a fun market,” Heather Calhoun said. “The customers are great and we enjoy coming.”
Comments
Got something to say?
Before you comment, please note:
- These comments are moderated.
- Comments should be relevant to the topic at hand and contribute to its discussion.
- Personal attacks and/or excessive profanity will not be tolerated and such comments will not be approved.
- This is not your personal chat room or forum, so please stay on topic.
