Opening Day @ Columbia City Farmers Market

May 3rd – October 11th • Every week on Wednesday, 3 pm – 7 pm

True story: I once happily ate six red-gold nectarines in a row. When I was in college, I took a summer job selling deliciously life-changing stone fruit at Seattle’s many farmers markets. Columbia City Farmers Market stood out as a gathering place: I carry a sweet memory of an elderly gentleman with his small grandson, passing out flowers to vendors on a sunny day. 

Established in 1998, this neighborhood institution is at the heart of one of the country’s most diverse zip codes. The market runs weekly on Wednesdays through October 11th, at 37th Ave S & S Edmunds St, just off Rainier Ave S. In honor of opening day on May 3rd, I made a lil’ shopping guide to steer you through my top picks for late spring: 

🍒 Martin Family Orchards
A little biased here! Bing cherries are out first, followed by famous yellow-pink Rainiers. 

🍒 Alvarez Organic Farms
Check for candy cane beets and tender asparagus shoots. 

🍒 Teng’s Garden
Scoop up the last of the season’s daffodils and irises.

🍒 Lesedi Farms
Founder Dorcas Young grew up farming in Botswana! Preorder her fresh fava bean pesto or the scarlet runner bean salad. 

And these prepared goods are available throughout the season:

🧀 King’s Mozzarella
I can’t pass this Oaxacan cheese purveyor without buying their mozzarella balls in herbaceous chipotle marinade. 

🧀 Sam’s Salmon Sales
Alder-smoked Bristol Bay salmon and bagel fixins’ for Sunday brunch??

🧀 Selva Central Goods
Mayra’s (vegan) Pan de Coco with caramel filling is my fave.

🧀 Dragon’s Head Cider
Straight from Vashon Island! Grab a bottle for your market-inspired dinner. 

Protip: bring a picnic blanket and relax in Columbia Park with a post-market snack from one of the food stalls. I’ll be scoping Lily’s Salvadorean for pupusas and housing Kathmandu MoMoCha’s spinach momos.

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