Celebrate National Farmer’s Market Week!

The Farmer’s Market on Orcas  Joins the Celebration of National Farmer’s Market Week next Wednesday, August 8. Artwork by Erica Erickson.

Wednesday, August 8 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Eastsound Village Green

Summer may be on the run, but it won’t bow out before the Orcas Island Farmer’s Market has a big celebration during National Farmer’s Market Week.

Festivities next Wednesday at the Eastsound Village Green include a Scavenger Hunt and lots of music — the Dustbunnies and other groups.

Not to mention the bounty of the harvest. Market Manager Jennifer Pietsch says, “Everything’s coming on; the heat’s even bringing out the tomatoes! We have the second or third incarnation of salad greens, cucumbers, broccoli, new potatoes, beets, carrots, cabbage, artichokes and fava beans! Plus blueberries and raspberries and basil — all the herbs will be there!”

The Farmer’s Market happens every Saturday from May to November; it moves to the Odd Fellows Hall in October. “Everybody loves the Farmer’s Market, and sometimes it’s nice to do something different. It’s a real point of pride what great work the vendors, the farmers and crafters, do every week,” says Pietsch. “Most of them will be at the Wednesday party, and it’s where everybody will want to be.”

San Juan County Parks is sponsoring the event run by the Farmer’s Market, a not-for-profit organization. The Farmer’s Market board includes Chris Morris of Island Thyme as President, Joe Symons, Ian Harlow, Rick Hughes, Ginny Bivaletz and John Welch. They are working with a “fantastic” grant from LTAC, that has helped lower the vendor’s rates this year, which increased the vendors by 25% this year, Pietsch says. “We have great variety, more offerings and we’re glad to be there every week; people living here giving to people who live here and it’s beautiful!”

Pietsch, who has been manager of the Farmer’s Market for two years, adds, “We’re very grateful to County Parks; we couldn’t do this without them.”