After a tumultuous offseason, the Queen Anne Farmers Market (QAFM) is set to kick off its fifth season this Thursday, June 2nd, with a larger operation, expanded hours and plenty of fun for the whole family.
The Thursday market will run from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and will be operating between June 2 and Oct. 6. It will be held along West Crockett Street, where it intersects with Queen Anne Avenue.
The market’s fiscal sponsor, Queen Anne Neighbors for Responsible Growth (QANRG), have stated in a press release that they are steadfastly committed to creating a sustainable market that can continue to serve the community for years to come. In recent months, the QANRG had been locked in a spat with former market director Julie Whitehorn. After months of difficult negotiations over Whitehorn’s role and her salary ended with no resolution, Whitehorn left the market and QANRG took greater control over the market’s operations.
With the recent difficulties behind them, QANRG officials are moving forward with an expanded market for 2011. They wrote in the press release that, “This year’s market builds on a successful 2010 season that saw customer attendance increase by 94 percent and an expanded selection of farm and prepared food vendors.
The organization writes that they have a dynamic roster of more than 40 farmers and prepared food vendors, and a diverse event schedule that includes live music and adult and kids cooking demonstrations by Seattle’s favorite chefs.
Opening Day Schedule
is as follows:
3:00 Live Music: Mariachi Monarcas of Seattle, sponsored by Umpqua Bank
Welcome – George Counts, M.D., Market Founder & Secretary, QANRG
John Hay Elementary Chorus
Remarks by: Richard Conlin, Seattle City Council President
Senator Jeanne Kohl Welles
Representative Reuven Carlyle
4:00 Market musician: Vincent Mtz & the Great Blue Yonder
4:00 Chef Demo: Seth Caswell, Emmer & Rye
5:30 Kids Cooking Class
Season sponsors include Metropolitan Market; Umpqua Bank; Rene Stern, Windermere Real Estate; and HomeStreet Bank.
“The Queen Anne Farmers Market has become an important resource, not just for the
neighborhood but for the greater Seattle community,” said Dr. George Counts, Market Founder and Secretary for QANRG. “The market’s success is a real testament to the hard work of the many volunteers, sponsors and staff that are responsible for transforming an ordinary street into an extraordinary farmers market that builds community through the shared celebration of food, family and friends.”
The market also has a new website this season at www.qafma.net. The site will include a changing line up of vendor information; fun market videos; recipes from its acclaimed Chef Tent series; “What’s Fresh at the Market” updates; and other content to help customers make the most of their market experience this year. Updates are also provided on: Facebook.com/QAFarmersMkt and
Twitter.com/QAFarmersMkt.
About the Queen Anne Farmers Market.