Tulips and daffodils filled the Issaquah Farmers Market last weekend for the grand opening, but there were little vegetables to be seen.
“We rely on mother nature,” said florist Kristy Cha, while she bundled a handful of red and yellow tulips. “When it’s flooded, you can’t get to your farm.”
Most of the edibles start coming out in June, but it didn’t stop patrons from thumbing through kale, bok choy and stringy carrots.
“We try to come down most weekends,” said Jim Cline with wife Lauren. “Early in the year, it’s good for getting local fresh produce.”
Regulars at the Issaquah market for 12 years, they have a subscription with an organic farm in Carnation.
Typically the snap peas come up in mid-June, but the weather has been too cold and too wet to plant much, said farmer Mee Vue.
All of the water in the fields has made it too tough to plow and plant peonies, which are you usually transplanted from greenhouses this time of year, she said.
Still, she’s happy to be back at the Eastside’s largest market, and so are her customers, she said. “They’re happy to see me.”
So far, Issaquah already has 150 vendors signed up for this year, and that is expected to rise to 200 by the end of the season.
So early into the season, several spots were left open in The Pickering Barn parking lot.
Once the market is in full swing, abut 115 vendors turn out weekly.
About 30 produce farmers come out by mid-summer, in addition to 8 flower farmers.
The market expects about two or three meat vendors, fresh eggs, and a creamery with fresh cheese.
About a dozen food concessioners plan to offer everything from Thai to Italian in a street-food style.
Crowds were light Saturday, but on a warm summer day, about 4,500 people come to shop.
“The market movement is taking off,” Cline said.
Issaquah Farmers Market
When: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., saturdays, April 16-Oct. 8
Where: Pickering Barn, 1730 10th Ave. N.W., Issaquah
Cost: Free
Lauren Cline purchases produce at the Issaquah Farmers Market April 16. A weekly patron for over 10 years, she comes to get fresh produce. Celeste Gracey/Issaquah Reporter
Only a couple produce farmers attended the farmers market opening day, more expected to come in around June when fruits and vegetables are ready. Above Preston Villanueva of Full Circle Farms freshens produce with a spray bottle. Celeste Gracey/Issaquah Reporter
Farmer Mee Vue, examined her bouquets of flowers at the Issaquah Farmers Market April 16. Rainy and cold weather has made it too difficult for most farmers to plant peonies, but the market was full of tulips and daffodils. Celeste Gracey/Issaquah Reporter
Kristy Cha wraps up flowers from her family’s farm in Carnation at the Issaquah Farmers Market opening day. Celeste Gracey/Issaquah Reporter
