The 2011 season is almost here! Mark your calendars, and cross your fingers that it does not rain!
Even if the weather is soggy we’ll be out enjoying the day and our farmers and vendors will be there with their wonderful wares. We want to see all of your there.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Queen Anne Farmers Market Kicks Off 2011 Season
Opening Day Brings Together City Leaders to Launch Fifth Year
Seattle, WA – May 23, 2011 – The Queen Anne Farmers Market (QAFM) is kicking off its fifth season on Thursday, June 2, 2011, with expanded market hours, a dynamic roster of more than 40 farmers and prepared food vendors, and a diverse event schedule that includes live music and adult and kids cooking demonstrations by Seattle’s favorite chefs. The market runs every Thursday, June 2 – October 6, 3:00-7:30 p.m. at Queen Anne Ave. and West Crockett St. This year’s market builds on a successful 2010 season that saw customer attendance increase by 94 percent and an expanded selection of farm and prepared food vendors. In its fifth year as the market’s fiscal sponsor, Queen Anne Neighbors for Responsible Growth (QANRG) remains steadfastly committed to creating a sustainable market that can continue to serve the community for years to come.
“The Queen Anne Farmers Market is one of the sure signs that summer will be here,” said Richard Conlin, Seattle City Council President. “It’s a great place for the community to gather and buy good, healthy food from local farmers. Farmers Markets connect us to the land and the farmers who are so important for our sustainable future.”
Opening Day Schedule
3:00 Live Music: Mariachi Monarcas of Seattle, sponsored by Umpqua Bank
Welcome – George Counts, M.D., Market Founder & Secretary, QANRG
John Hay Elementary Chorus
Remarks by: Richard Conlin, Seattle City Council President
Senator Jeanne Kohl Welles
Representative Reuven Carlyle
4:00 Market musician: Vincent Mtz & the Great Blue Yonder
4:00 Chef Demo: Seth Caswell, Emmer & Rye
5:30 Kids Cooking Class
Sponsors
The QAFM owes a debt of gratitude to its sponsors whose generosity and commitment to the community make the market possible. Season sponsors include Metropolitan Market; Umpqua Bank; Rene Stern, Windermere Real Estate; and HomeStreet Bank.
“The Queen Anne Farmers Market has become an important resource, not just for the neighborhood but for the greater Seattle community,” said Dr. George Counts, Market Founder and Secretary QANRG. “The market’s success is a real testament to the hard work of the many volunteers, sponsors and staff that are responsible for transforming an ordinary street into an extraordinary farmers market that builds community through the shared celebration of food, family and friends.”
New Season, New Online Sites
The QAFM is launching a brand new web site for its fifth season www.qafma.net , which includes a changing line up of vendor information; fun market videos; recipes from its acclaimed Chef Tent series; “What’s Fresh at the Market” updates; and other content to help customers make the most of their market experience. Updates are also provided on: Facebook.com/QAFarmersMkt and Twitter.com/QAFarmersMkt.
About the Queen Anne Farmers Market
The Queen Anne Farmers Market is Seattle’s only independent, non-profit farmers market built by the community for the community. The market takes place every Thursday, from June 2-October 6, 2011, at West Crockett St. and Queen Anne Ave., 3:00-7:30 p.m. and features farm vendors and other local food producers. QAFM features a dynamic roster of live music, chef demos, and children’s activities. The QAFM is sponsored by Queen Anne Neighbors for Responsible Growth.
Find us on: www.qafma.net, Facebook.com/QAFarmersMkt and Twitter.com/QAFarmersMkt.
Media Contact:
Maggie Cuevas
206-491-8150
maggie_cuevas@yahoo.com
We love our logo, and want to give a shout out to Jenny Wilkson who created it. Thanks Jenny! You can reach her at Wilkson.net.
Alm Hill Gardens
Salmon-Safe Certified Farm
Alm Hill Gardens sprawls across 50 acres of land near Everson, Washington. It is one of Growing Washington’s largest farms and operates year round. Growing Washington is a non-profit organization that pairs local farmers with students and workers who want to learn to grow produce and operate farms. Alm Hill Gardens not only provides delicious produce, they are helping to grow future farmers.
In particular, be on the lookout for delicious berries from Alm Hill, their raspberries are spoken of far and wide.
Alvarez Farms
USDA Certified Organic
Alvarez Farms is a family farm with 20+ years of organic growing practices. The farm was founded by Hilario Alvarez who started as an immigrant worker. He eventually became a farm manager and now owns his own 75-acre farm selling 300 different vegetable varieties.
Alm Hill Gardens is part of Growing Washington, a non-profit organization dedicated to projects that are self-sustaining, non-discriminatory, community building, and fun.
Growing Washington is has four core program focuses: Sustainable Agriculture, Environmental and Cultural Preservation, Economic and Community Health, and Doing the Right Thing.
Alm Hill Gardens is Growing Washington’s biggest farming endeavor. Located just 5 miles from the Canadian border near Everson, Washington, the farm covers nearly 50 acres of beautiful, fertile land. As a worker-managed cooperative since 2007, Growing Washington leases the land and manages the day to day production of the farm, growing the farms operations while simultaneously producing dozens of new successful farmers. Many of the same employees that began working with long-time owners Ben and Gretchen years ago are part of the cooperative, carrying with them a wealth of invaluable Alm Hill know-how.
Alm Hill still uses the same labor intensive, environmentally sustainable growing practices to produce a beautiful and delicious assortment of top-notch organic fruits and vegetables including world famous berries, awesome salad mixes, and extra ordinary juicy tomatoes!
Ayala Farms
Ayala grows all kinds of fruit and vegetables near Outlook, Wa. They are especially known for their asparagus.
Billy’s Gardens
USDA Certified Organic
We try to work with nature not against nature. We grow fruit and vegetable varieties we love to grow, featuring a huge selection of heirloom tomatoes every season.
