PORT TOWNSEND — The Wednesday Farmers Market in Port Townsend opens for the season this week “because once a week is not enough,” according to Jefferson County Farmers Markets staff.
The market will open for its first day of the season on Polk Street this Wednesday at 2 p.m. and will close at 6 p.m.
The Wednesday market is one of three managed by Jefferson County Farmers Markets and the final one to open this season. Port Townsend’s Saturday market opened April 1 and the Chimacum Sunday Market opened June 4.
“Each one has their own flavor,” said Jefferson County Farmers Market Director Amanda Milholland. “The Wednesday market is our food-focused market.”
While the Saturday market in Port Townsend and the Sunday market in Chimacum both include food and craft vendors, the Wednesday market only has food and produce vendors.
“It’s all about promoting using local food in our cooking,” Milholland said.
To help with that, the Wednesday market will kick off with a cooking demonstration by Jefferson Healthcare Executive Chef Arran Stark.
“He does a great job of shopping the market and using what he’s most excited about,” Milholland said. “At this point in the season we’re seeing strawberries, maybe some cherry tomatoes, but he really walks around and sees what’s fresh and that’s what he uses.”
With only 10 vendors instead of the 70 often seen at the weekend markets, Milholland said the Wednesday market also tends to be more laid back.
Of those 10 vendors there will be some new faces. Duckabush Mushrooms from Brinnon, Flutter By Pizza Pie and Barbarian Fine Cuisine will all be making their debut at the Wednesday market.
Later in the season, Sovereign Honey — which is in its first year of operation — will also have a stand at Wednesday’s market.
All the regular vendors will be returning, including Finnriver, Midori and SpringRain Farms, and food vendors such as Pane d’Amore and Crust.
According to Milholland, the market is a great place for people who don’t like crowds to check out local vendors. It’s also an easy place to pick up some mid-week groceries or stop and grab a late lunch from one of the food vendors. Like the Saturday market there also will be live music.
“It’s just a bit more relaxed,” Milholland said.
The Jefferson County Farmers Markets run until roughly mid-September every year and are closed for the winter.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
