Which farmers market is best

[OnlyTheBest]

tomorrow I am going to the sunday market at ballard but I got to thinking which market do you like the best ? Which is actually the biggest with the most selection? ( and I don't mean Pike Place)

The farmers market here in Gig arbor is very small as is the Proctor market in Tacoma.

SO I have decided to drive up to check out some of the others in the Seattle area?

How does the market in the U district compare to the one at Ballard?

I know the U district is a Saturday market.

I would appreciate your input. Thanks Alot.

[mamster]

My impression is that the U District market is generally considered the best. It's not huge (not as big as the Portland market, for example), but it takes over a whole large parking lot, about half a city block. Anyone want to tussle over this conclusion?

[OnlyTheBest]

Thanks mamster I appreciate that I was thinking it was I will drop by next time I go up that way. But tomorrow I thought I would check out ballard.

I appreciate your input....just trying to find the best place to get the goods.

[LaurieA-B]

I haven't been to the Ballard market, but my impression when I went to the West Seattle market (a couple of years ago, so at the time) was that it had a lot of the same purveyors as U-District, and it was also very good. The Columbia City market, when I was last there at least a year ago, was slightly smaller but still had everything you could want. There were also some stands I hadn't seen at other markets; I remember a peanut roaster. I really like the taco truck that is right by the CC market. Since it's from 3-7 on Wednesday, you can go shopping and eat dinner. Nice that it's a mid-week market, since the others are mostly weekend.

[little ms foodie]

Since I live 2 blocks from the U Dist market we go every Sat. bright and early. I use to go to the Ballard market and I can say this is way better. The vendors are really varied and the market changes dramatically with the season. I'm always sad in the fall when I don't get to go any more.

I think this Thurs I might check out the Lake City Market.

[seattlemary]

I consider myself very lucky in that I live within easy walking distance from the U district market and I love it.

But I often go to Ballard on Sundays because it is NOT all the same vendors - I sometimes get annoyed that the same group of farmers get the spots at U District, Columbia City and West Seattle. Haven't been the Lake City Way one (thanks for the reminder, I must get up there). Ballard was the first one to deal with organic meat and I like to support diversity.

Mary

[girl chow]

I just was reading this thread and wondered how many newcomers we have here like OTB who aren't familiar with all the markets in the surrounding communities outside Seattle. Because I am the official queen of mostly useless resources on this board, I thought I'd share my monster list of farmers markets that I've been compiling for a few years. To revisit the old farmers market thread, here's the actual link: farmers market thread

And for those of you who are just TOO LAZY to point and click on a link, here is my most current list (make sure to call in advance because days and hours change frequently for markets):

SOUTH END

Kent: downtown Kent at the municipal lot at Smith Street, from Fourth Avenue to Second Avenue. Open June 5, Saturdays, 9-3

Maple Valley: fruit/veggie stand, Maple Valley Highway and 214th Street. Open now. Daily 9-7.

Renton: Renton Piazza at S. 3rd & Burnett. runs Tuesdays 3-7, 425-226-4560

NEW THIS YEAR!!: Federal Way: In the Sears parking lot of the SeaTac Mall (err, Federal Way Commons, whatever) at 320th and Pacific Highway South. runs Saturdays 9-2. 253-261-8157

Burien: Fourth Ave around 152nd, downtown Burien. runs Thursdays, 11-6.

EAST

Bellevue: Pace Fruit Stand, 2380 Bellevue Way S.E.. Open now, daily 9-7.

Redmond: 7730 Leary Way, Redmond. runs Saturdays, 9-3, 425-556-0636. www.redmondsaturdaymarket.homestead.com.

Woodinville: 13205 N.E. 175th St., Woodinville. runs Saturdays, 425-485-1042.

SOON TO OPEN?? SUBJECT TO PERMITS: Bellevue, Presbyterian Church at 1717 Bellevue Way N.E., supposed to open June 17 ?? and run Thursdays, 11-3. 425-454-8474

Bothell: Country Village, 23730 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell. runs Fridays, 10-3, 425-483-2250. www.countryvillagebothell.com.

Kirkland: Park Lane East in downtown Kirkland. runs Wednesdays, 11-6, 425-485-1042, www.kirklanddowntown.org.

Issaquah: Pickering Barn, 1730 10th Ave. N.W., runs Saturdays, 9-2, 425-837-3311, www.ci.issaquah.wa.us.

NEW THIS YEAR!! Carnation: Tolt Avenue and Bird Street. runs Tuesdays, 3-7, 425-788-3089, www.ci.carnation.wa.us/farmersmarket.

North Bend: North Bend Senior Center, 411 Main Ave. S., (exit 31 off of I-90). runs Saturdays, 9-1, 425-888-3434

SEATTLE

Ballard: Ballard Avenue. yearround, Sundays, 10-4, 206-781-6776, www.fremontmarket.com.

Fremont: located at North 34th near the Aurora Bridge. yearround, Sundays, 10-5, 206-781-6776, www.fremontmarket.com.

(go to www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org. for info on W. Seattle, Columbia City, Magnolia, Lake City and U-Dist markets, they're managed by the same place):

West Seattle: located at the corner of Alaska and 44th Street Southwest at the Alaska Junction. runs Sundays, 10-2.

Columbia City: Columbia Plaza, 4801 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle. runs Wednesdays, 3-7

Magnolia: Magnolia Community Center, 2550 34th Ave. W., Seattle. runs Saturdays, 10-2

Lake City: Northeast 127th and 30th Northeast, Seattle. runs Thursdays, 3-7.

U-Dist: Northeast 50th Street at “The Ave.” runs Saturdays, 9-2.

White Center: runs Saturdays 10-2. Located at 98th Street, between 15th and 16th S.W. 206-694-1082

Vashon Island: Saturdays and Wednesdays 9-1, located near Bank Road and Vashon Highway S.W. 206-567-4548.

TACOMA/PIERCE/WAY THE HECK SOUTH

Puyallup: , Pioneer Park Pavillion, 330 S. Meridian St. runs Saturdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (and Thursdays later summer) www.puyallupmainstreet.com/farmersmarket.html.

T.H.E. Farmers Market, University Place: 3501 Bridgeport Way, runs Saturdays, 9-2, www.thefarmersmarket.us.

Tacoma Proctor: North 27th Street at Proctor, runs Saturdays, 9-2, www.proctorfarmersmarket.com.

Downtown Tacoma: located between Ninth and 11th Streets on Broadway, Tacoma. runs Thursdays, 9-2, www.tacomafarmersmarket.com.

[kiliki]

Ballard not only has the organic meat guy, but fresh oysters and clams. However, they don't have the variety or number of produce vendors that the U district market has.

Besides the neighborhood markets, I really like the organic wednesdays and sundays at Pike Place when the vendors set up in the street.

I am on a business trip in Berkeley right now, and I made a trip to their farmers market yesterday. I expected to be blown away with all the California produce that is in season already, but the market couldn't hold a candle to any of our neighborhood markets.

[reesek]

kiliki - that's so nice to hear...thanks for sharing that with us.

i live in west seattle and have to say that the U District Market is better (IMO) - bigger. the flowers in WS are very good, but the selection in the U is better. the parking, on the other hand...not ideal.

[tighe]

I haven't been to the Ballard or U-District markets so I can't compare, but I'm always impressed by the diversity and quality of what's available at the Columbia City market.

Despite having just purchased a bunch of produce, I often end up going to La Medusa for dinner afterwards. Can't resist....