To qualify for membership benefits in the Washington State Farmers’ Market Association
(WSFMA), Maple Valley Farmers’ Market must submit a yearly vendor roster showing
at least five vendors who are classified as “farmers.” These farmers must raise
the produce, plants, or animals that they sell on land they own or lease/rent in
Washington or in counties bordering Washington. The farmers also may process produce
grown on their property into a value-added product, such as jam, cider, or salsa.
To further insure that farmers are the main thrust of the Maple Valley’s Farmers’
Market, the WSFMA requires that the total combined gross annual sales of processors
and/or resellers not exceed the total gross annual Market sales of the farmers.
With such a strong emphasis on the farmer—the essential backbone of all farmers’
markets--and to further promote awareness of farmers’ markets and of the contributions
farmers make to daily life in America, it makes sense that MV Farmers’ Market will
celebrate Saturday, August 6, as National Farmers’ Market Day. As our community
has experienced over the past three years, our local Farmers' Market offers affordable
and healthful products sold directly from the farm in their freshest possible state,
increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables for children and families, which
can help promote child health and reduce childhood obesity. In addition, Farmers'
Markets play a key role in developing local and regional food systems, support family
farms, revitalize local communities, provide important outlets for producers and
the opportunity for farmers and consumers to interact. When you come to our Market
this Saturday, please make it a point to introduce yourself to our farmers and thank
them for the role they play in sustaining farmland in America and for bringing fresh
local produce to our community.
Always a crowd pleaser, our very own Dan Nichols, of the Maple Valley Historical
Society, will bring in his 1951 John Deere Row Crop Tractor to exhibit. Children
of all ages (and adults, too) always enjoy this feature of celebrating National
Farmers' Market Day! This year, Dan's selected choice of his 1951 vintage tractor
has special meaning to our Farmers' Market Manager, Victoria Laise Jonas, as both
the tractor and Victoria will be celebrating their 60th birthdays!
The farmers’ stands will be in abundant array this Saturday, as they are on every
Market Saturday. Xee Yahn Garden, Outlook Produce, Hayton Farms, Mai Garden, Ze
Chage Gardens, Calhoun Family Fruit Farm, Cha Farm, Thistlewood Farms, Lavender
Valley Farm, Cha and Shao Farm, Shong Chao’s Farm, and Ramon Ayala Farms will have
booths again this Saturday, selling fresh vegetables, including beets, squash, lettuce,
spinach, cucumbers, and chili peppers; fresh fruits, including berries and plums;
alpaca products; fresh flower bouquets; herb pots; and lavender plants. Visitors
can chat with the farmers to learn how and where the item is grown, and how recently
it was harvested (sometimes that same morning!), while they admire the hard work
and great love that farming entails. With twelve farmers’ booths, visitors can certainly
fulfill their entire week’s produce shopping list before moving on to the 30 stalls
displaying processed foods, meats, cheese, milk, art, and sugar-laden, hand-baked
delights.
Third-year MVFM business sponsor, Dr. Caviness, owner of Wilderness Animal Hospital
in Maple Valley, will be joining us on Saturday with an informational/educational
booth set-up. Caviness, who is a Washington State graduate and has practiced veterinary
medicine in Western Washington for the past 23 years, is especially interested in
preventative care, dentistry, and internal medicine. Her mission is to provide quality
medical pet care by a compassionate staff. Wilderness Animal Hospital is a full
service veterinary facility, offering preventative medicine, disease treatment,
dentistry, surgery and digital radiology.
Our local non-profit organizations joining in this Saturday festivities include
Valley Girls & Guys, Maple Valley/Enumclaw Master Gardeners, Maple Valley Food Bank
& Emergency Services, and Serenity Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation.
At 11:00, the band Cheap Therapy will provide its sweet therapy for tired feet and
weary souls with their acoustic songs from the 1960s to today, including some original
tunes. With over 30 years’ experience between them, they can create a memorable
musical experience for Market visitors.
While it’s National Farmers' Market Day, it’s also a great day for customers, so
don’t miss this eighth Saturday of the third season of your local Maple Valley Farmers’
Market, the “Saturday morning place to be” from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Rock Creek
Elementary School. More information on Maple Valley Farmers’ Market is available
at 425-463-6751 or at info@maplevalleyfarmersmarket.org. All MVFM fans are encouraged
to “Friend us on FACEBOOK."
