June 17 - October 28, 2006

Every Saturday, 10 am  - 2 pm

Des Moines Marina

The first ever Washington State farmers market dedicated to good stewardship of our health and the environment will be opening at the Des Moines Marina on Saturday, June 17th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The Des Moines community and visitors will find an abundance of freshly harvested foods fruits, vegetables, herbs & spices that go from organic & beyond, plus additional specialty items like farm-made cheeses, jams, dried fruits, sustainable grown fresh cut flowers and unique local crafts.

The goal of the farmers market is to have 100% of its farm fresh vendors qualify as Farming and the Environment Stewardship Farms – meaning the way they grow your food often goes beyond organic to include farm practices that take the larger environmental picture into account. The market is 80% of the way to achieving that goal.

We've received over twenty applications from farmers many who are farming not only in accordance with Washington State organic rules but are also managing their farms to minimize water consumption, prevent soil erosion, develop habitat diversity, protect fish & wildlife habitat, conserve energy, utilize renewable energy systems, and reuse, recycle or dispose of farm waste in a manner that protects the health of our air, water, soil and animals. When food is grown in accordance with these principles and picked fresh by the farmer within 24 hours, you know you’re getting food that is packed with nutrients, great taste and freshness while protecting the health of you, your family and the environment.

Let us tempt your taste buds and shopping lists with a sneak preview of some of the farm fresh stewardship foods coming to market this summer:

Fruits include a wide variety of apples, apricots, blueberries, cherries, grapes, melons, nectarines, prunes, peaches, pears, pluots, plums, raspberries, and strawberries.

Vegetables include artichokes, asparagus, beans, beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, celery, chard, corn, cucumbers, garlic, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radicchio, salad mix, spinach, squash, and tomatoes, and zucchini

Culinary Organic Herbs & Spices including basil, chilies, chives, cilantro, dill, horseradish lavender, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and thyme.

Plus Nuts, herb teas, jams, dried fruit, pie fillings, seeds, plant starts and more.

Join us on Saturday, June 17th from 10 am – 2 pm for opening day of the market featuring the band I-5 South at the Des Moines marina on the corner of S. 227th Place & Dock Street near Anthony’s Restaurant. There will be tasty lunch foods to sit down and enjoy and plenty of free parking at the marina.