Seattle Press on Line - New Lake City Farmers Market Will Open This Summer

Lake City

New Lake City Farmers Market Will Open This Summer

By Zachary D. Lyons

Feb 28, 2002 -- The newest farmers market in Seattle will debut this year in Lake City on June 20. To be located behind the Fire Station at 30th Avenue NE and NE 127th Street, the market will host up to 34 vendors each week. It will be a Thursday evening market, open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Lake City Farmers Market will be managed by the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance, which operates markets in the University District, Columbia City and West Seattle. It will be an "all food" market, featuring local farmers, and well as baked goods, fresh pastas and other processed items.

"We already have more farmers wanting to sell at this new market than we have spaces available," said Chris Curtis, co-coordinator for the Alliance.

"We expect the Lake City market to perform as well as the West Seattle Market," said Curtis. That market, which opened in 1999, had one of the biggest opening years in state history. Growth at the Alliance markets has been extraordinary in recent years, creating the need for additional markets. Last year their three markets sold $2.2 million of Washington farm products, up from $1.5 million in 2000.

The Lake City Farmers Market planning process has been a model of how a community should work together. The idea was hatched by community and church leaders in a church parking lot over three years ago, said Aaron Barnett, who sits on the Board of the Lake City Chamber of Commerce.

"From there, we met with Chris Curtis and the State Farmers Market Association to start planning," he said.

Early in 2001, the Lake City Chamber made the market the focus of one of its monthly luncheons.

The Alliance had planned the Lake City market for 2003, but when the Ballard community stumbled in planning for its market last year, the Lake City market moved up the schedule. When planning went into full gear last year, Dick Harris, owner of Alley Chevrolet, offered his lot behind Cranium's as a market location, said Barnett.

"Then A.J. Skurdahl, one of the drafters of the neighborhood plan, pointed out the site originally specified for a market in that plan," he said. "Because it was overgrown, it looked deceptively small. But when we realized just how big it was, we asked City Councilmember Nick Licata about it."

Licata assisted in getting city government support for use of the site.

Curtis says that this is the most appreciative leadership team with which she has ever dealt.

"We have received support and involvement from local businesses, churches, social service providers, etc.," she said. "And the Chamber has played an essential role."

Barnett agreed. "The Chamber really made this happen," he said. "It recognized how a farmers market can serve as a community building event, and it has fully supported the project."

Reader Comments

Discuss this article in the forums!


Norm Soule	Jul 03, 2003	Lake City, WA
Who can I talk to about a booth, (I know your full up)and the logistics of the Farmers Market? Rules, Requirements, etc. Thank you, Norm Soule


Crystal B. Harmon	Sep 22, 2003	Shoreline, WA	Premera Blue Cross, QUE Proces
I am very much interested in setting up a booth. I love to bake and make home-made sweets and goodies. Please let me know what are your guidelines for setting it all up. I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you.