ABOUT

Mission: The Queen Anne Farmers Market is committed to supporting small farms, helping preserve farmland, and building a vibrant, healthy community through direct sales of local food.

As Seattle’s only independent, community-organized farmers market, Queen Anne Farmers Market has something special going on. Up front and center is an exciting mix of farm-fresh vegetables, fruits (many of them organic and heirloom!), cheeses, meats, breads, wine, flowers, gourmet items, and hot food, all direct from local producers.

Our community-building event schedule, created by neighbors for neighbors, is unique as well. It is poppin’ every week with chef demos, author events, workshops, and live music. Watch it blossom here.

Greater than the sum of its parts, our market’s vibe has been described as “a block party,” “an Italian piazza,” and “a Greek agora.” Adorned with street banners by local artist Elizabeth Mulally, flanked by lovely brick buildings and shade trees in the heart of a thriving retail district (with many local shops), our market is easily accessible, inviting, and dog-friendly, with interesting street food and shopping options. Our regulars like to sip wine al fresco and people-watch at adjacent Pasta & Co. (Get there early for space!) There is ample parking and an ATM just around the corner at Key Bank.

Founders
Our market is truly a grassroots triumph made possible by the vision of a few dedicated neighbors. We owe a debt of gratitude to George and Anne Counts, Nancie Kosnoff, Maria College, Peter and Tara Lawrence, Margaret Okamoto, Sally Mussetter, Jessica Vets, Kimberly McKittrick, and Julie Whitehorn.

Market Milestones

2007
Buoyed by a successful effort to save Queen Anne’s local grocery store (Metropolitan Market), members of the grassroots, nonprofit group Queen Anne Neighbors for Responsible Growth (QANRG) create the Queen Anne Farmers Market Association, with Dr. George Counts as its founding chair. Start-up funds are raised with donations and a city grant. The market is temporarily sited at the McClure Middle School parking lot. Management is outsourced to Jon Hegeman and Judy Kirkhuff, who operate the Ballard Farmers Market and Fremont Sunday Market.

2008
The market grows in size and enjoys a 19 percent increase in vendor sales. Farmers donate surplus produce to the Seattle Children’s Home. QAFMA is cochaired by Nancie Kosnoff and Julie Whitehorn. Judy Kirkhuff remains market manager.

2009
The market, with assistance from the city’s Office of Economic Development, moves to West Crockett Street. QAFMA assumes management and returns to the original vision of an all-food, nonprofit market focused on farms. Market vendors enjoy a 10 percent increase in sales over 2008. Farmers donate surplus produce through the Queen Anne Helpline to the Aloha House. QAFMA chair Julie Whitehorn provides general management, and Full Circle Farm volunteer Patty Spahr is on-site manager.

2010
The season grows by five weeks and the site expands to include the adjacent Queen Anne Pool parking lot. The market applies for the WIC/Senior FMNP food voucher programs and SNAP (food stamp) redemption. A two-track chef demo schedule encourages restaurant chefs and nonprofessionals alike to transfer much-needed skills to an eager public. General management continues under Julie Whitehorn, and marketing professional (and market volunteer!) Margaret Cuevas becomes our on-site manager.

We couldn’t do this without farmers, vendors, hungry folks, and community support from people like you. Thank you!