PORT TOWNSEND — Some 400 people attended Saturday’s opening of the Port Townsend Farmers Market for the season, said Will O’Donnell, market manager.
“It was a perfect opening day. All the stars aligned,” O’Donnell said.
“The sun is out, and we couldn’t be happier.”
More than 60 vendors and artisans were on hand to sell food and crafts.
The running of the goats has become a tradition on opening day. A petting zoo and live music also were part of the festivities.
“A lot of the larger markets like in Seattle have vendors from all over the state, but we are all local,” O’Donnell said.
“The vendors are our neighbors,” he said.
“They all come from the county, so it’s in our benefit to support them.”
O’Donnell said people come from all over the state to visit the market “because we have some of the best food in the state.”
The market sells about $900,000 a year in goods and has not suffered from the bad economy.
“We thought we’d take a hit in 2008, but we never did,” O’Donnell said.
Although the rate of growth has slowed, the market has “gotten bigger every year,” he added.
Teresa Verraes, executive director of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, who was on hand for the 9 a.m. ribbon-cutting, said the market was one of Port Townsend’s economic drivers.
“This is an epic market,” she said. “It’s where the circle of commerce happens.”
The market will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Saturday through December on Tyler Street between Lawrence and Clay streets.
For more information, visit www.jeffersoncountyfarmersmarket.org.
________
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
