The Fresh Food Market Season is here

The weather is getting nicer which makes me think of all the outdoor fresh food markets available with different types of produce and other foods fresh and ready for purchase.  We do have some local markets that operate year round while others are about to open for the season.  The Neighborhood Farmers Markets Alliance has 7 convenient locations and is a producer-only market, does not carry crafts and does allow dogs at some of their locations.  I have posted their dog policy below.  The markets operate during the warmer months of our weather.  (I will post the other fresh markets/craft venues also under FREE Events/Venues) and all are on the Seattle Announcements Calendar with relevant information.

I love to cook and actually enjoy baking just a bit more.  I am not an expert on when foods are readily available and fresh so found the extensive guideline sorted by months very helpful.  I have included it and hope that it proves to be a resource for you as well.  You will find this post under the heading LINKS on the Home Page and specifically under FREE Events/Venues.  Ms T.

Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance
http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/markets

Our seven Neighborhood Farmers Markets are local, "producer-only" markets.  This means we sell only Washington State farm produce and processed foods (no crafts, flea markets or wholesalers).  Farm produce includes fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables, herbs, nuts, honey, dairy products, eggs, poultry, mushrooms, meats, fish, shellfish, cut flowers and nursery stock.  Processed foods include jams, preserves, wine, ciders, pickled vegetables, fresh pasta, artisan breads and other baked goods.  Everything on the market tables is grown or produced in Washington by the farmer or vendor who is selling.  Our seven markets are:

Broadway (Sundays, 11am - 3pm, May 9 through Dec 19, 2010)
10th Ave E and E Thomas, behind the Broadway B of A on Capitol Hill

Columbia City (Wednesdays, 3pm - 7pm, April 28 through Oct 20, 2010)
4801 Rainier Ave S, at S Edmonds

Lake City (Thursdays, 3pm - 7pm, June 3 through Oct 7, 2010)
NE 125th and 28th NE, next to the Library off Lake City Way

Magnolia (Saturdays, 10am - 2pm, June 5 through Sept 25, 2010)
Next to the Magnolia Community Center at 2550 34th Ave W

Phinney (Fridays, 3pm - 7pm, May 28 through October 1, 2010)
67th and Phinney Ave N, in the lower lot of the Phinney Neighborhood Center

University District (Saturdays, 9am - 2pm, Year-round)
Corner of 50th and University Way NE, in the University Heights lot

West Seattle (Sundays, 10am - 2pm, Year-round)
California Ave SW and SW Alaska, in the heart of the Junction

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The markets that allow dogs are: Columbia City, Magnolia, Broadway.
No-dog markets are: West Seattle, U-District, Lake City, Phinney.

Dog Policy at the Farmers Markets

Every season we get asked why we allow dogs at some markets but not others.  Shoppers on both sides of the equation (pro-dog and anti-dog) often have strong opinions, and many valid reasons both pro and con for including canines at the markets.  Farmers markets in Washington State are free to make their own rules about dogs at their markets (in other states, such as California, it is illegal to allow dogs at any farmers market).  Our policy differs from neighborhood to neighborhood based partly on shopper survey results and partly on the logistics and setting of each market.  The majority of dogs are well-behaved, but we have had incidents of dogs jumping up and eating samples off vendors' tables, dogs getting into fights with each other, and dogs on leashes causing obstruction or safety hazards.  Fortunately these incidents are uncommon, and because the markets are walking destinations and leisurely outings for many, many shoppers, we try to accommodate dogs where we can.  Of course, service dogs are allowed at all markets.

 
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Produce Calendar

Below is the short list of what's on the market tables each month of the year (the complete list of all the varieties we see at the markets would fill several pages!).

Be aware that offerings may vary slightly from market to market, and harvest times can change from season to season, depending on Mother Nature.  Each market day is an opportunity for discovery; something new, different, unusual - or an old favorite whose peak season has come around once again.  For a detailed list of what's on the market tables this week, see the Ripe 'n' Ready Report.

January-February:

Apples, pears, Asian pears, winter greens and lettuces, winter squashes, potatoes, leeks, onions, garlic, parsnips, cabbages, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, beets, rutabagas, turnips, dried shelling beans, carrots, wild mushrooms.  Also available: artisan breads and baked goods, pasture-raised meats (pork, beef, lamb, goat, poultry, sausages, jerky), eggs, dairy products, gourmet cheeses, salmon, shellfish, honey, ciders, hard ciders, dried fruits, dried herbs, dried wild mushrooms, pickles and preserves, confections.

March:

Salad greens, wild greens, carrots, radishes, broccoli, turnips, potatoes, rutabagas, winter squashes, fresh herbs, garlic, apples, wild mushrooms, dried shelling beans.  Also available: artisan breads and baked goods, pasture-raised meats (pork, beef, lamb, goat, poultry, sausages, jerky), eggs, dairly products, gourmet cheeses, salmon, shellfish, honey, ciders, hard ciders, dried fruits, dried herbs, dried wild mushrooms, jams, pickles and preserves.

April:

Asparagus, radishes, sunchokes, spring greens, garlic shoots, cabbage greens, hothouse cherry tomatoes, cauliflower, wild mushrooms, wild foraged greens, fiddlehead ferns, baby vegetables & greens, nursery stock & vegetable starts, cut flowers, dried beans, rhubarb. Also available: artisan breads and baked goods, pasture-raised meats (pork, beef, lamb, goat, poultry, sausages, jerky), eggs, dairy products, gourmet cheeses, salmon, shellfish, honey, ciders, hard ciders, dried fruits, dried herbs, dried wild mushrooms, jams, pickles and preserves.

May:

Braising greens, wild greens, lettuces, asparagus, celery, sweet salad onions, potatoes and root veggies, radishes, cauliflower, green garlic, fresh herbs, radicchio, hothouse cherry tomatoes, rhubarb, dried beans and fruits.  Also available: artisan breads and baked goods, pasture-raised meats (pork, beef, lamb, goat, poultry, sausages, jerky), eggs, dairy products, gourmet cheeses, salmon, shellfish, honey, ciders, hard ciders, dried herbs, dried wild mushrooms, jams, pickles, condiments, spreads and preserves.

June:

Strawberries, cherries, currants, raspberries, sugar snap peas, fava beans, sweet onions, dozens of greens & lettuces, wild mushrooms, wild sea beans, rhubarb, apriums, squash blossoms, pea vines, fiddlehead ferns, shelling peas, radishes, cucumbers, bamboo shoots, carrots, sunchokes, radicchio, hothouse tomatoes, asparagus, celery, cauliflower, scallions, beets, turnips, potatoes, peanuts, fresh herbs (coriander, lemon balm, mint, oregano, chives, thyme, sage, tarragon, basil), hazelnuts.  Also available: oysters, clams, mussels, geoduck, tuna, dried beans, dried fruits, pasture-raised pork, beef, lamb, goat, poultry, eggs, goat and cow cheeses, wild salmon, fresh pasta, honey, pastries, artisan breads, ciders, hard ciders, jams, jellies, sauces, spreads, preserves, syrups, seasonal cut flowers.

July:

Raspberries, strawberries, tayberries, blueberries, marionberries, loganberries, red gooseberries, wild black berries, huckleberries, cherries (Attika, Skeena, Summit, Bings, Rainiers, Vans, Baliton, Montmorency), apricots, (Riland, Rival, Perfection), haricot verts, maroon & golden carrots, golden beets, cucumbers, radishes, nectarines, peaches, Romanesco cauliflower, apriums, lettuces (Wildman’s Green, Prizehead, Romaine, Galisse, Red Oak, Sierra, Black Seeded Simpson, Jericho, Red Riding Hood, Merlot, Bronze Arrow, Esmeralda, Capitain, Cardinale, Redina, Red Rumple, Iceberg), braising greens (Pea Vines, Kairan (rare Japanese variety), Chicory, Chinese Spinach, Chinese Broccoli, Red Russian Kale, Lacinato Kale, Tatsoi, Dandelion Greens, Sorrel, Mizuna, Broccoli Rabe, Spinach, Chinese Mustard, Red Mustard, Collards, Arugula, Bok Choy, Shinguko, Shiso, Pac Choi, Mibuna Hanana,  Swiss and Rainbow Chard), shelling peas, sugar snap peas, squash blossoms, onions, garlic tops, sunchokes, radicchio, hothouse tomatoes, asparagus, cauliflower, red beets, French turnips, Fava beans, Ozette potatoes, eggplant, sweet corn, peanuts, hazelnuts, fesh herbs (Coriander, Lemon Balm, Mint, Oregano, Marjoram, Chives, Thyme, Sage, Tarragon, Basil).  Also available: oysters, clams, mussels, geoduck, tuna, dried beans, dried fruits, pork, beef, poultry, goat, eggs, goat and cow cheeses, wild salmon, fresh pasta, honey, pastries, artisan breads, ciders, hard ciders, jams, jellies, sauces, spreads, preserves, syrups, seasonal cut flowers.

August:

Pole beans (Romano, Yellow Wax, Green, Haricot Vert, Blue Lake), shelling beans, garlic, sweet and hot peppers, tomatillos, chantrelles, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, plums, apples, all kinds of melons, cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, rhubarb, dozens of lettuces and greens, sweet corn, eggplants, okra, summer squashes, radishes, cucumbers, cabbage, fennel, kohlrabi, carrots, onions, radicchio, heirloom tomatoes, lilac and golden cauliflower, Romanesco cauliflower, broccoli, beets, French turnips, favas, leeks, potatoes, fresh herbs (Basil, Anise Hyssop, Summer Savory, Lemon Verbena, Spearmint Lemon Basil, Purple Basil, Cinnamon Basil,  Dill, Rosemary, Cilantro Root, Dill, Coriander, Epazote, Lemon Balm, Mint, Oregano, Rosemary, Marjoram, Chives, Thyme, Sage, Tarragon, Flat Leaf Parsley).  Also available: oysters, clams, mussels, geoduck, tuna, dried beans, dried fruits, pork, beef, poultry, goat, eggs, goat and cow cheeses, wild salmon, fresh pasta, honey, pastries, artisan breads, wines, ciders, hard ciders, jams, jellies, sauces, spreads, preserves, soup stocks, syrups, seasonal cut flowers.

September:

Apples, golden raspberries, peaches, pears, ground cherries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, melons (Crenshaw, Charlynn, Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Watermelon (orange fleshed and seedless), Ice Box Watermelon, Yellow Doll Watermelon, Charentais, Butterscotch, Japanese, Bittermelon), Asian pears (20th Century, Ichiban, Kosui, Yakuma, Hosui, Tojuro), plums (Duarte, Burbank, Shiro, Sun, Small “Wild” varieties, Italian Prunes), Pluots, lettuces (Speckled Amish Butterhead, Cherokee Red Crisphead, Wildman’s Green, Prizehead, Romaine, Galisse, Red Oak, Sierra, Black Seeded Simpson, Jericho, Red Riding Hood, Merlot, Bronze Arrow, Esmeralda, Stem Lettuce

Thanks to http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/ripe-n-ready/produce-calendar for this fabulous calendar!