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Farmer's Market Opens April 14
story by Karen West
Yet another sign of spring is upon us. Bare-root plants and tree starts of all kinds were on sale when the Methow Valley Farmers Market opened for the season at 9 a.m., Saturday, April 14, at the Methow Valley Community Center parking lot in Twisp.
Henna Kinzle, secretary of the market board, said beforehand she will be selling organic carrot juice no matter what the weather. She also has a line of specialty foods that includes herbal vinegars and tea blends. Typically, handcraft and food booth vendors join the gardeners early in the season.
Asked what new plans are afoot this season, Kinzle said a different vendor will be featured the first and third Saturdays of each month all summer long. The featured vendor will be advertised on a sandwich board at the market entrance. Vendors may be giving out free samples, handing out literature, or doing demonstrations, as is planned for King’s Garden, which is to be one of the first vendors featured. That demo will be on how to prune perennials.
Kinzle, who has been involved with the market since 1975 when there were only a handful of vendors, said the board figures “the market is at least 35 years old.” She also explained that vendors can’t just show up and expect to open a booth. Registration packets were mailed to last year’s participants and the word has been spreading that “those who want to apply can get an application off the internet.” The form and policy book are available at www.methowvalleyfarmersmarket.com. The market board reviews all applications. “We want to keep the quality high,” Kinzle said.
This season, vendors will pay a $12 annual membership fee plus an $8 weekly stall fee, according to the policy handbook. There are reduced rates for seniors and children.
Bob Elk and Linda Harvey are co-directors of the popular market, which continues every Saturday through October. Willie Getz is market master again this season. Harvey said there is a new person working with the background crew this year, market aide Talitha Parsons, who is on contract to provide business services. Parsons grew up in the valley and has moved back, Harvey added.
The Farmer’s Market in Twisp is the valley’s oldest and largest venue. The Winthrop Sunday market typically opens in late May, and the Mazama mid-week market still later as the weather warms.
first posted 4/6/2012
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