ABOUT
This is the story of the little market that could, powered by a community that is passionate about great food and local farms.
In 2006, the community nonprofit Queen Anne Neighbors for Responsible Growth, fresh from a successful battle with megacorp Kroger to keep our local grocer Metropolitan Market, held a visioning session. Out of this came the Queen Anne Farmers Market Association (QAFMA), which founded the first farmers market on the hill. George Counts served as chair of the QAFMA steering committee in 2007.
Dr. George Counts, 2007 QAFMA Chair, with Kemp Hiatt of QANRG
Our inaugural season was a smashing success, with an average of 1,850 visitors a week and over $211,000 in sales. The following year, with Nancie Kosnoff and Julie Whitehorn serving as cochairs, QAFMA continued to sponsor the market with public relations, outreach, and special events. Each week, our volunteers collected and delivered surplus produce to Seattle Children’s Home.
This second year of our market saw a small decline in traffic but a 19% increase in sales, despite our “hidden” and shifting locations (for the last four weeks of the season, the market moved a block south to accommodate returning McClure students). QAFMA began preparing in Fall 2008 for a 2009 move to the West Crockett location, meeting with developer Joe Geivett (of the Eden Hill and Sweetbrier buildings) and city officials.
(In early 2009, our manager voided his contract with QAFMA and sought to relocate a market independently at the Coe Elementary School playground, citing concerns with West Crockett’s costs and limits to growth. Given the late date, alternate management teams were not available, and QAFMA had a choice of self-managing the market or allowing it to disappear. We determined that it was in the best interests of the neighborhood and our vendors to self-manage the market, and continue to do so.)
On June 18, 2009, we reopened on West Crockett Street, sheltered by lovely brick facades, boasting al fresco dining, dappled shade, and ample parking in surface and underground lots. Opening Day brought over 2,000 people to the market and $16,000 in vendor sales. The multiplier effect meant local retail stores, including Metropolitan Market and Chocolopolis, saw their busiest day of the week. The season included some of the hottest days on record and the worst financial times since the Great Depression, but vendor sales increased ten percent over 2008. The community came out, week after week, to support the farmers and vendors. Our business community rallied with donations and sponsorships, and our neighbors volunteered hundreds of hours.
What’s new for 2010? We’re extending the season by three FIVE weeks in response to vendor and customer requests. We’re expanding the site to include the adjacent Aquatics Center parking lot. And we hope to extend the hours during midsummer, so folks can stay at the market after 7 pm. We’ll accept WIC and Senior FMFP checks, and hope to be qualified for SNAP (food stamp) redemption.
The great food and fun events will continue. Stay tuned!
Bob Geivett (father of Joe Geivett), Karen Selander (Office of Economic Development), and Mayor Greg Nickels, Grand Opening
View from Eden Hill, Opening Day. Photo by Derek Pai
