The Office of Economic Development’s efforts to support the Queen Anne Farmers Market Association and its chair, Julia Whitehorn, finally bore fruit this Thursday with the re-opening of the Queen Anne Farmers Market at its new, permanent location on West Crockett Street. OED’s work with Julie and the QAFMA was a tremendous collaboration that helped preserve a neighborhood market in jeopardy.

Flats of summer strawberries, cauliflower, rainbow chard, sugar peas, radishes, and even “apriums” (half apricot, half plum) were on hand for the opening, as was Mayor Greg Nickels, joined by Councilmembers Richard Conlin and Tim Burgess, Washington State Representative Reuven Carlyle, community organizers, and neighborhood residents.

In a short speech, Mayor Nickels highlighted the public and private partners that made the reopening a success, and explained how farmers markets benefit from changes in the permitting process and reduced fees for holding markets on public property.

“The changes we’re making will benefit local markets, as well as surrounding businesses,” said Nickels. “Not only do farmers markets provide nutritious locally grown food, they add to the character of our neighborhoods and bring our community together.”

Some farmers markets have struggled to keep, or locate on, large enough privately owned sites. The Queen Anne Farmers Market’s relocation to a public site was made possible by rules Nickels announced last year supporting neighborhood farmers markets. An ordinance will be introduced in the coming weeks that will formalize these guidelines and make additional improvements to the permitting process.

The Office of Economic Development’s Karen Selander, the Queen Anne Farmers Market Association, Emerald Bay Equity LLC, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and the Seattle Fire Department partnered to ensure that the market found an affordable public site that would build community and drive Queen Anne neighborhood businesses.

· Read the complete event press release. 

· Watch KCTS 9’s coverage of the re-opening.

· Click to view a map of the new Queen Anne Farmers Market location.