Summit-Waller now has its own farmers market

Summit-Waller now has its own farmers market
By Dawn Quinn
Tacoma Weekly
dquinn@tacomaweekly.com

http://www.tacomaweekly.com/article/3327

Photos by Dawn Quinn
NEW TASTES. The brand new Summit-Waller farmers market offers up plenty of fresh, healthy options to families on the other side of town. Fresh herbs, onions, spinach and beets are piled high and ready to be taken home from Chueneng Farms, located in Carnation.
If the usual array of farmers markets in the area such as the Broadway market downtown, the Saturday Proctor farmers market or the new Sixth Avenue Tuesday farmers market were not enough, Tacomans now have another option for getting their fresh fruits, vegetables and hand-crafted wares. The Summit-Waller neighborhood now hosts a farmers market on Fridays and Saturdays, as well.
This particular market was started simply because there was a need for it and there had never been one in the area, said Dee Durbin, coordinator of the Summit-Waller farmers market.
“(We) wanted to do a farmers market, too,” Durbin stated. She noted that as part of the organization “Wanna Be Green,” the farmers market is held on 31 acres of ranch space and all proceeds from the market and related events will go towards domestic violence prevention and supporting at-risk youth and families. An organic vegetable home delivery service will also be available through the organization in the future.
The Summit-Waller farmers market has a plethora of space for many different vendors supplying food, craft and artisan works.
Joe Long brings his organic barbeque sauce to the table, Lyall and Sons are providing plenty of fruits and vegetables, Gradwohl Farms brings their Covington-raised beef, Lori McClellan offers up her array of homemade candles and heavenly smelling potpourris and Molly Buffham cooks up donut holes fresh from the fryer of her new company, Donut Junkie. There are also many more flower and vegetable vendors, a lavender farmer, and snow cone and snack vendors to provide anything a visitor could need or ask for.
The market is just starting up, but as soon as it gets settled it will offer up many more produce options, as well as provide some family-friendly entertainment.
“(We’re going to have a) petting zoo as a form of kid-friendly entertainment and on Aug. 22 we will be holding a concert called ‘Greenstock,’ or a Woodstock spin-off. We’ll also have gardens that little kids can plant in on their own and that they can visit to check on the progress. We have a preparation sink which is ready for food demos. Holy Trinity Mission will be selling brisket, ribs, chicken and links. Hopefully we’ll also have Jamba Juice and Ben & Jerry’s selling their products,” Durbin said.
The market opened July 10, and will continue every Friday and Saturday through Oct. 31. According to Durbin, this farmers market aims to become an annual event. “Tell people to come out and have a good time.”
The Summit-Waller farmers market will be taking place every Friday from 3-7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The market is located at 3501 104th St. E. For more information, call Durbin at (253) 882-1144 or visit http://www.wannabgreen.biz.
Published on July 16, 2009