In Good Taste
Taste the Sustainability
Shopping at farmers' markets benefits local farmers, the environment and you.

No shrink wrap, no ingredient list, no pull-by date. Grocery stores can’t compete with the freshness of farmers markets. But besides the quality of the food, are there added benefits to patronizing your local fruit stand? Yes, says Chris Curtis, executive director of the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance. “Farmers markets are the best opportunity to buy local—and I mean local—grown within 100 miles, which, of course, reduces the use of fossil fuels.”

Curtis also notes that produce recently harvested, as opposed to harvested weeks ago from California or Mexico, is far more nutritious. “Farmers markets truly are the best option for folks wanting to make the best green decision when purchasing food.”

Now, you can even pick up “green” wine from farmers markets. Gerard and Jo Ann Bentryn of Bainbridge Island Vineyards and Winery have been producing wine from their sustainably grown grapes for 30 years. The couple adheres to strict policies against irrigation and pesticide use, making their farm one of only two in Washington to be certified “Salmon Safe,” and making their wines some of the most eco-friendly products in the state. “Keeping [this] land beautiful would not be possible if we hauled in grapes from [Eastern Washington],” Gerard pointed out. You can find the results of the Bentryns' painstaking labors at the Bainbridge Farmers Market and the Pike Place Farmers Market.

For more tasty and environmentally friendly food, we offer a list of western Washington farmers markets:

Bainbridge Farmers Market
Saturdays, April 14–Oct. 20, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Town Square at City Hall Park

Ballard Farmers Market
Sundays, May 4–Sept. 30, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Ballard Ave Northwest between Northwest 20th Avenue and Northwest 22nd Avenue

Bellevue Farmers Market
Thursdays, May 17–Oct. 11, 3 p.m.–7 p.m.
1717 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue

Broadway Farmers Market
Sundays, May 13–Nov. 18, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Broadway and East Thomas Street

Burien Farmers Market
Thursdays, May 10–Oct. 4, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Southwest 152nd between Second Avenue Southwest and Sixth Avenue Southwest, Burien

Carnation Farmers Market
Tuesdays, May 1–Sept. 25, 3 p.m.–7 p.m.
SR 203, Tolt Avenue and Bird Street, Carnation

Columbia City Farmers Market
Wednesdays, May 2–Oct. 31, 3 p.m.–7 p.m.
4801 Rainier Ave. S. at Edmunds Street

Crossroads Farmers Market
Tuesdays, May 22–Oct. 9, 12 p.m.–6 p.m.
Crossroads Bellevue parking lot, just south of Circuit City, Bellevue.

Des Moines Farmers Market
Saturdays, June 2– Oct. 27, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Des Moines Marina, South 227th and Dock Street, Des Moines

Duvall Farmers Market
Wednesdays, June 6–Sept. 26, 3 p.m.–7 p.m.
First Avenue between Stella and Stephens streets, Duvall.

Federal Way Farmers Market
Saturdays, May 12–Oct. 27, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
The Commons Mall (South 320th and Pacific Hwy), Federal Way

Friday Night Market at Juanita Beach
Fridays, June 1–Oct. 5, 3 p.m.–7 p.m.
Juanita Beach Park, 116th and 100th, Kirkland

Issaquah Farmers Market
Saturdays, April 14–Oct. 13, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
1730 10th Ave N.W., Issaquah

Kent Farmers Market
Saturdays, June 2–Sept. 29, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Second and Harrison Street, Kent

Kirkland Wednesday Farmers Market
Wednesday, May 2–Oct. 10, 12 p.m.–6 p.m.
Park Lane East between Third and Main, Kirkland

Lake City Farmers Market
Thursdays, May 17–Oct. 14, 3 p.m.–7 p.m.
Northeast 127th and 30th Avenue Northeast

Lake Forest Park Farmers Market
Sundays, May 13–Oct. 10, 3 p.m.–7 p.m.
Bothell Way and Hwy 104, Lake Forest Park

MadCap Hill Farmers Market
Fridays, May 4–Sept. 28, 3 p.m.–7 p.m.
East Union and MLK Jr. Way

Magnolia Farmers Market
Saturdays, June 2–Oct. 13, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Magnolia Community Center, 2550 34th Ave. W.

North Bend Farmers Market
Thursdays, June 29–Sept. 28, 4 p.m.–8 p.m.
Si View Park (400 S.E. Orchard Dr.), North Bend

Phinney Farmers Market
Fridays, June 15–Sept. 28, 3 p.m.–7 p.m.
Phinney Neighborhood Center, North 67th Street and Phinney Avenue North

Pike Place Market
Every day, year round, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Pike Place between Pike Street and Virginia Street

Queen Anne Farmers Market
Thursdays, June 14–Sept. 27, 3 p.m.–6 p.m.
Queen Anne Community Center, First Avenue North and Crockett Street

Redmond Saturday Market
Saturdays, May 5–Oct. 27, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
7730 Leary Way, Redmond

Renton Farmers Market
Tuesdays, June 5–Sept. 18, 3 p.m.–7 p.m.
South Third between Logan Street and Burnett Street, Renton

Snoqualmie Farmers Market
Saturdays, June 9–Sept. 29, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Maple and SR 202, Snoqualmie

Tukwila International Farmers Market
Wednesdays, July 11–Aug. 29, 12 p.m.–6 p.m.
South 144th and Tukwila International Blvd., Tukwila

University District Farmers Market
Saturdays, May 5–Dec. 29, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Northeast 50th and University Way Northeast

Vashon Saturday Farmers Market
Saturdays, April 7–Oct. 27, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Vashon Highway and Bank Road, Vashon

Vashon Wednesday Farmers Market
Wednesdays, July 18–Sept. 26, 3 p.m.–7 p.m.
Vashon Highway and Bank Road, Vashon

Wallingford Farmers Market
Wednesdays, May 16–Sept. 26, 3 p.m.–7 p.m.
North 45th and Wallingford Avenue

West Seattle Farmers Market
Sundays, April 29–Dec. 30, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
California Avenue Southwest and Southwest Alaska

Woodinville Farmers Market
Saturdays, May 5–Oct. 13, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Woodinville Village, Hwy 202 and Woodinville-Redmond Road, Woodinville

For more information on local farmers markets, check out:
Neighborhood Farmers Markets Alliance
Washington State Farmers Markets Association
Puget Sound Area Farmers Markets