As the saying goes, May flowers bring out the finest of Seattle’s many farmers' markets. But come September, most of these weekly gatherings will be shutting down. That’s not the case for Seattle’s first year-round neighborhood farmers market, Ballard Farmers Market. Ballard Market is open from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. every Sunday, rain or shine, promoting only Washington-grown cuisine. Being open year-round gives Ballard Market the chance to take part in the seasonality of locally grown food, instead of being limited to only one season’s crop. Before the summer harvest is over, however, here are a few can’t-miss events showcasing the best of Washington’s summer produce:
Cooking Demonstration with Chef Travis Bettinson
When: Wednesday, August 23 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Ballard Market, 5300 Ballard Ave NW
Chef Bettinson owns and operates Junip Foods, a home-style catering service where he and his staff create custom meals for individuals and families (from scratch) in their own homes. You can expect all of the ingredients Chef Bettinson will be using for his demo at the Farmers Market. Therefore, you’ll be able to recreate this professional dish the same day from food you buy at the market. If you feel more like watching than creating, hang around ‘til the end of the demonstration and you may be rewarded with some delicious samples.
Love Food, Stop Waste: Trivia and Games
When: Friday, August 25 from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Ballard Market, 5300 Ballard Ave NW
American’s waste 40 percent of their food every year, according to the National Resources Defense Council’s 2012 paper entitled: “Wasted: How America Is Losing Up to 40 Percent of Its Food from Farm to Fork to Landfill.”
During this Farmers Market event organized in part by Seattle Public Utilities, residents and market attendees will learn how to reduce their food waste. Importantly, attendees will also learn why it’s important to lower their food waste: it protects the environment, it protects your pocketbooks, and in the end it protects your nutritional health and well-being. You’ll learn all this and more by playing trivia games and winning prizes from activities and raffles.
There’s a reason Ballard Farmers Market constantly ranks among the best markets in the country. They have some of the best produce year round, but they also have some great educational events throughout the seasons. If you’re interested in what else Ballard Market has to offer or are in need of a Realtor, please contact us. The only thing we enjoy more than an afternoon at the market is helping people find or sell their homes.
