Market Day: ?Carnation farmers market begins new season

Published 4:56 pm Tuesday, May 12, 2015

The Carnation Farmers Market opened for its 11th season on Tuesday, May 5. With 19 vendors on opening day, the growing market is slated to host 30 booths at the peak of the season.

Shoppers can expect big market changes this year, including SNAP EBT (food stamps) payment options, new youth programs and fresh vendors.

“If folks spend $10 in SNAP dollars, we’ll match up to the first $10,” market manager Lindsay Nessel explained about the future food stamp program. “So, they’ll come get tokens for $10 and get $20 worth of tokens…

“We have a new market sprouts program this year for the kids,” she continued. “We have different activities that we’re bringing in; the first is on the 19th of May and it’s about worms and soil.”

When asked about her favorite part of the 2015 market, Nessel said she’s excited about the new faces behind the booths, like Carnation-based Present Tense Farm and the new hot-food vendors.

One of them is “314 Pie, I’m really excited about those guys,” she said. “They’re a prepared food vendor, so it’s giving additional options. If you want to come down, shop and eat dinner while you’re here — they have miniature pot pies.”

Kick-off festivities included a Maypole (made from a piece of unused lumber from the storage shelter’s construction) dance, music from the Poindexters, head wreath-crafting and, obviously, an array of organic produce and treats from Washington-based vendors.

The market’s run by SnoValley Tilth, a non-profit coalition of community farmers, but it is truly volunteer run.

“I’m the only staff person, so the market has me as the coordinator, as the market manager,” Nessel explained. “We have a lot of people who’ve been volunteering with us for several seasons, but we always need more volunteers. Always”

Nessel said volunteers range from 60-year-olds to 5-year-olds, who contribute anywhere from 30 minutes to a full day of work each week.

One of the forces behind the market is Samara Matteo, 5, whose mother runs Tolt River Farm. Matteo explained over a handful of chalk that she sets up signs and cones for her farmers market duties, but some of her favorite attractions are the staple sweets like ice cream, cookies and kettle corn.

When asked if she likes to volunteer she shyly states, “Yeah, ‘cause it’s fun.”

“We’re really dependent on our community,” Nessel concluded. “We’re powered by volunteers and donations.”

Carnation Farmers Market is open from 3 to 7 p.m., Tuesdays throughout October, on the corner of Bird Street and Stossel Avenue.

Market volunteer Samara Matteo, 5, draws with chalk with artists Joe Lee Davidson on the Carnation Farmers Market opening day.

Carnation florists, Flowercharmers, help market-goers craft head wreaths for the Maypole festivities.

Children dance around the Maypole on opening day of the Carnation Farmers Market Tuesday, May 5.