by Alexander Bigelow
Horizon Reporter
It’s Saturday afternoon on another rainy Bellingham day and the farmer’s market is bustling with business. Located near the intersection of Railroad Avenue and E. Maple Street, the farmer’s market in downtown Bellingham boasts nearly 40 vendors offering goods such as organically grown produce, honey, clothing, massages, chocolate, kettle corn, cupcakes, handmade pottery, garden plants, beef, and many other locally offered products.
“The farmer’s market has been gaining momentum with increasing awareness to buy local,” said Megan Noet, owner of Blue Water Pottery. “In return, giving back to our community is fantastic.”
“No matter what’s being sold, it’s top notch and you can’t find anything fresher,” said Amy Fontain, owner of Terra Verde organic garden.
The vendors at the farmer’s market offer an array of organically grown produce depending on the season. Now, you can find a lot of leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, cilantro, kale and asparagus spears.
The Bellingham farmer’s market is built much around the basis of community. “It’s a celebration of food and feeding and reuniting people with locally grown food,” said Franny Canine, employee of the Spring Frog organic farm. “It’s like a festival every time out,” she added, “It’s a nucleus of awesome.”
Supporting our local economy is important in the success of Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs).
“I like to support local growers and industry,” said Elizabeth Wynja, 53, a student at Whatcom Community College. “It’s more expensive but I prefer to buy local.”
Wynja believes that even though much of what is sold at the farmers market is more expensive than other places, people prefer to buy the better quality despite the higher prices, even students on a tight budget.
“Students, come anyway for the feel of it and budget to try just one new thing,” advised Gayle Livingston, an employee for Broadleaf Farm. “That little extra support really helps (the farmers market),” she said.
“This is community, this is it,” said Livingston looking as she looked out at the masses moseying from vendor to vendor.
The farmer’s market here in Bellingham is more than fruits and vegetables; it’s a social scene reuniting our community with each other with organically grown and supported goods said Fontain.
