As many as 45 vendors selling everything from fruits, flowers, vegetables and crafts are expected at the Kent Famers Market opening on June 2.
“Everything is in line and looking good,” said Bill Westcott, organizer of the market sponsored by the Kent Lions Club.”It’s going to the same event as normal, but with new vendors from farmers and handcraft items to new food vendors. There will be a wide variety of stuff for folks to choose from.”
The market runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Saturday through Sept. 29 at Town Square Plaza Park on Second Avenue between West Smith Street and West Harrison Street in downtown Kent.
Vendors will sell fruits, vegetables, flowers, food and crafts at the market. The types of produce available changes every couple of weeks depending on which crops are ready to sell. Strawberries, cherries, corn, onions, peppers, apples and melons are among the local produce that shoppers will find.
The Kent Lions Club took over operations of the market in 1974 after several other groups ran it.
“The one thing the Lions Club always tries to deal with is eyesight and hearing, which is related to diabetes usually caused by obesity,” Westcott said. “So we try to promote healthy eating with fresh fruits and vegetables available at the market, while also encouraging people to support their local farmers.”
Sixty-five vendors have signed up and paid for spots at the market. Another couple of dozen vendors are expected to walk in.
“Our farmers come from all over the place,” Westcott noted. “Most of the farmers that initially come are from Eastern Washington because the farmers on our side of the mountain don’t have good weather to make their crops ride yet. We won’t see our local farmers until around June or July.”
In addition to produce and crafts, market attendees can enjoy live music each weekend.The market is patterning with the City of Kent on June 2 for their bike trail day as well as the Kent International Festival June 16.
“This year will be better than ever,” Westcott said.
The market also accepts coupons from the state’s Women, Infants and Children (also known as WIC) program. State and federal funds are distributed to low-income women to help them buy nutritional food for themselves and their children.
Congress set up the Farmers Market Nutrition Program in 1992 to provide fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables to WIC participants, and to expand the awareness, use of, and sales at farmers’ markets, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture website at www.fns.usda.gov.
Kent Farmers Market
When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, June 2 to Sept. 29
Where: Town Square Plaza Park, corner of Second Avenue and West Smith Street
Details: www.kentfarmersmarket.com or 253-486-9316.
Reach Sarah Kehoe at skehoer@kentreporter.com or 253-872-6600 ext. 5056.
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