Port Townsend Farmers Market Named Best in State

"If you're in Seattle, you have a lot of great farmers markets with a lot of great diversity," market manager Will O'Donnell says. "But part of what makes our markets so special is our vendors are all based in our county."

Port Townsend's weekly market features 75 vendors selling cheese, baked goods, vegetables, and cider, among other items.

"We've got a guy who makes his own bagels, and a guy who makes the best kimchi and kraut you'll ever have," O'Donnell says.

The mix of products helps draw 2,000 shoppers to the market, an impressive tally in a town of 9,000 people. "We're really proud of that," O'Donnell says.

But O'Donnell concedes market attendees don't come just for the cut flowers and greens. The 19-year old market has added a live-music program, and absorbed adjoining park space for family play. "We make it the front porch for our community," O'Donnell says.

In regions saturated with farmers markets, O'Donnell believes markets can only succeed if they respond to their communities' unique wants and needs. "You need to really meet what your community wants," he counsels.

The Port Townsend Farmers Market runs every Saturday between April and October from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. O'Donnell will be conducting a tour of the market on Saturday, Aug. 13 at 10 a.m.

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